What kind of fish is this?

[T Bone]

My son and his buddy caught this out of an irrigation ditch .....

Bluegill?

If so, it would have been a contender for the CO state record.

 

[Kaitum]

Looks like a tilapia to me. Any aquaculture ponds nearby?

Google Image Result for https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0305197816300278-gr3.jpg

 

[Deleted member 38069]

My guess, without handling it, would be bluegill.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Green Sunfish I believe.

 

[T Bone]

he's kicking himself for releasing it without taking more pictures and measurements.

It's a strange looking fish for sure, it lacks the body coloration of bluegill or sunfish. And there are no fish farms in the area that I know of.

I'm guessing he'll be after it again tomorrow. He wants to be part in the state record book

 

[Muskeez]

I would guess some kind of sunfish hybrid. Several things on it that don't look like a standard bluegill to me. Dandy panfish regardless, and it's always great to hear of kids out exploring and learning on their own. 3 of us that fished together as kids almost every day of the summer still get together once a year for a trip. 40+ yrs later & still remembering those days like your boys

 

[Oak]

Might be a green sunfish/bluegill hybrid. Cool fish.

 

[Sytes]

No clue though you have a geiger counter by chance?

Pretty cool!

 

[azelkhntr]

Looks like a blue to me. Irrigation ditches hold real surprises. Tenkara country.

 

[madtom]

It’s a big green sunfish

 

[Bulldog0156]

Not a bluegill. Green sunfish for sure.

 

[shb]

Bluegill body


Green sunfish mouth



Probably a hybrid

 

[huronmtns]

My son and his buddy caught this out of an irrigation ditch .....

Bluegill?

If so, it would have been a contender for the CO state record.

This may help.

 

[huronmtns]

Rounded pectoral fin - points to a Green Sunfish.

 

[T Bone]

Thanks guys!

 

[Oak]

State records if you’re curious.

 

[nontyp]

It’s definitely at least part green sunfish. most likely a hybrid.

 

[huronmtns]

It’s definitely at least part green sunfish. most likely a hybrid.

I'm curious - Hybrid of what?

There are other subtle anatomical features that reinforce the Green Sunfish species. Examples: Proportional head to body size, Maxillary termination distance in front of eye. Maxillary termination shape. If the fins would have been opened for display we would have more information to aid in identification.

 

[Oak]

It looks like a big green sunfish except for the color. Occam's Razor would suggest that a fish from an irrigation ditch in western Colorado, far from where hybrids are intentionally stocked, is an aberrant-colored green sunfish.

 

[nontyp]

I'm curious - Hybrid of what?

There are other subtle anatomical features that reinforce the Green Sunfish species. Examples: Proportional head to body size, Maxillary termination distance in front of eye. Maxillary termination shape. If the fins would have been opened for display we would have more information to aid in identification.
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Probably bluegill. It is a pretty common hybrid. Could be a pure green sunfish. The coloring just doesn’t look like any green sunfish i’ve caught.
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