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Catching Bluegills...If You Can
Pros/Cons to Fishing for Bluegills
Fishing may be extremely beneficial
to bluegills! Overpopulated ponds and lakes have stunted bluegills
in regard to size. Fishing pressure allows remaining bluegills to
have more nutrients for increased rate of growth. The opposite may
also be true. Many areas are over-fished. This causes a
shortage in males and females at reproductive maturity. Do not be
concerned! Every state has a department that regulates and manages
bluegill populations.
| A Nice Day's Catch! (Image taken by Author) |
Where to Catch Bluegills
As mentioned in the
habitat section, bluegills are present in
numerous bodies
of water across America. During spring months,
fishermen generally have the best luck locating spawning sites.
Aggressive males strike at nearly anything when they are guarding nests.
Great bluegill fishing is not limited to spring months! At other
times during the year, bluegills tend to stay in water that is 5 to 15
feet in depth (Holtan, 1990). Many
anglers even do well fishing through winter ice. Make sure to
check out your state regulations for daily bag limits. Because
bluegills reproduce so efficiently, the limits are extremely generous!
| Bluegill Fillets..Yum! (Images taken by Author) |
Baits to use for Bluegills
Bluegills bite on a wide variety of
live and artificial baits. Some anglers use insects, earthworms, wax worms,
or other worm species such as the
red wiggler. Others use a variety of manufactured baits that
replicate small invertebrates. While bluegills are not picky
eaters, they may have preference for certain baits on different days.
As mentioned in the adaptation section,
bluegills have small mouths. Therefore, it is important to use
small hooks. Be prepared for a battle once they bite!
Preparation of a Healthy Meal
Once harvested, bluegills provide an excellent meal. The white meat is high in protein and low in contaminants. Because they are low in the food chain, bluegills are not subject to high levels of biological magnification. Preparation can be done in numerous different ways. Regardless, the meal is destined to be healthy and delicious!
Check out this video to get some
ideas for a fish fry!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YwO9BikYNo&feature=related
The Popularity of Bluegills
Bluegills may be the most popular
fish in America. In 2007, the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources reported that anglers kept 25.7 million bluegills. In
Wisconsin, the record bluegill was 12 inches in length, and weighed 2
pounds and 9 ounces. It
is no surprise that the world record bluegill was caught in the warm
waters of Alabama (Smith, 2009). That monster weighed 4 pounds and 9 ounces! The
nutrition section describes the relationship
between temperature and growth.