Pumpkinseed sunfish

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Pumpkinseed sunfish

Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. Pumpkinseeds typically are 6-8 inches in length, but can grow up to 10 inches. They typically weigh less than 1 pound, with the world record being 1 pound 6 ounces.
Pumpkinseeds typically live in warm, calm lakes, ponds and pools of creeks and small rivers with plenty of vegetation. They prefer clear water where they can find shelter to hide. They tend to stay near the shore and can be found in numbers within shallow and protected areas. Pumpkinseeds are active during the day and rest near the bottom in protected or covered areas such as submerged logs during the night. They will feed at all water levels from the surface to the bottom in the daylight, and their heaviest feeding will be in the afternoon.