Ah, the quest for a 12-inch 2-pound bluegill, or what most anglers refer to as a northern bluegill, scientific name Lepomis macrochirus macrochirus, not to be confused with coppernose, redear, pumpkinseed, longear, green, or any hybrid sunfish. These other sunfish often are broadly referred to as bluegills or bream, but they are their own subspecies, species, or hybrid.
A little perspective: More 55-inch muskies, 7-pound smallmouth bass, and 13-pound walleyes are caught each year than 2-pound bluegills. So weâre about to discuss a near mythical creature even though we all have a friend, co-worker, cousin, or neighbor who claims to have caught such a fish. They exist but in miniscule numbers and most exaggerated size claims would quickly be debunked with a ruler, a scale, and a camera. Genetic testingâŚ