Ranking The Panfish

[CeeJay]

As far as fighting ability goes, pound for pound, I'm curious about how other anglers would rank the panfish ( which I'll define loosely as sunfish that are not largemouth or smallmouth bass).

For me the number one is easy.  I don't think it's even close...there is number one, and then the rest

 

1- Bluegill.  My undisputed king of panfish.  Very strong and don't really ever give up after hookup.  They almost always seem to be a big fish, even little ones are so strong for their size.  Tangle with a 1 pounder and you'll love it

 

2- Rock Bass and Warmouth.  Mainly because they strike so viciously hard, and at any lure up to their own size!  They do fight hard after hookup, but quickly tire on even 2 lb test line.

 

3- Pumpkinseed and Redear and Green Sunfish.  Pretty much even between those three.  I could possibly rank them in between Bluegill and Rock Bass...

I'll need to get more experience with them though.

 

4- Crappie.  They hit large baits and have a good pull at hookup, but are extremely short winded and usually on their side when landed.

 

Happy Panfishing!

 

[Lunker Addict]

Up here the perch fight like mad as well. I do agree that bluegill sure have heart, they fight like heck.

[Shanes7614]

As far as fighting ability goes, pound for pound, I'm curious about how other anglers would rank the panfish ( which I'll define loosely as sunfish that are not largemouth or smallmouth bass).

For me the number one is easy. I don't think it's even close...there is number one, and then the rest

1- Bluegill. My undisputed king of panfish. Very strong and don't really ever give up after hookup. They almost always seem to be a big fish, even little ones are so strong for their size. Tangle with a 1 pounder and you'll love it

2- Rock Bass and Warmouth. Mainly because they strike so viciously hard, and at any lure up to their own size! They do fight hard after hookup, but quickly tire on even 2 lb test line.

3- Pumpkinseed and Redear and Green Sunfish. Pretty much even between those three. I could possibly rank them in between Bluegill and Rock Bass...

I'll need to get more experience with them though.

4- Crappie. They hit large baits and have a good pull at hookup, but are extremely short winded and usually on their side when landed.

Happy Panfishing!

We have African cichlids and tilapia down here in Florida. Do those count as well. These cichlids can be downright CRAZY!!!! Will eat LIVE bait half there size and never run out of steam. Warmouth is kinda on the line IMO. Too closely related to bass.

[Shanes7614]

Cichlids also have a nasty bite also. Don't want to lip any of those suckers and don't want your small kid unhooking one alone.

[CeeJay]

We have African cichlids and tilapia down here in Florida. Do those count as well. These cichlids can be downright CRAZY!!!! Will eat LIVE bait half there size and never run out of steam. Warmouth is kinda on the line IMO. Too closely related to bass.

 

That's cool go ahead and throw in the cichlids as well  

It's funny I had Tilapia for dinner tonight...just store bought fillets though. 

 

I often wish I lived down there, just for the incredible angling alone. 

[Bluebasser86]

If you throw in the Cichlids then there's no comparison. I only got to catch a dozen or so of them while we were in Florida but they make a bluegill seem like a lightweight in the pulling department.

[CeeJay]

haha ok let's not include the cichlids   Wow I'd love to catch some of them down there though...great pics.

[Shanes7614]

haha ok let's not include the cichlids Wow I'd love to catch some of them down there though...great pics.

They are downright NASTY. And have I mentioned TEETH. They'll cut a shiner clean in half like a razor cut it.

[Shanes7614]

haha ok let's not include the cichlids Wow I'd love to catch some of them down there though...great pics.

Not sure how much experience you have with saltwater bluefish. But these guys to me are their freshwater little cousins. I've caught a handful with a MH bass rod with a spinnerbait that have actually put a decent bend in my rod. Very similar to piranha is how fierce they are. Hands down would be number one. Not taking away from bluegill. But not much comparison either. I'd be afraid to let a small child handle one as they'd do quite some damage to those little fingers if handles wrong.

[Shanes7614]

If you throw in the Cichlids then there's no comparison. I only got to catch a dozen or so of them while we were in Florida but they make a bluegill seem like a lightweight in the pulling department.

Blue, that first one is a chunk cichlid. That size you think you have a 1-2ln bass on the line.

[Bluebasser86]

Blue, that first one is a chunk cichlid. That size you think you have a 1-2ln bass on the line.

Had I not sight fished it, I could see where the mistake could be made. There was a bunch of them that size in the area of the Griffen Rd canal where I was fishing. 

[Shanes7614]

That's cool go ahead and throw in the cichlids as well

It's funny I had Tilapia for dinner tonight...just store bought fillets though.

I often wish I lived down there, just for the incredible angling alone.

Can't beat the fishing here. I've fished NJ, Cali and now here and there's way more fish let alone bass to keep you more then busy. Tilapia aren't the greatest fight but lb for lb would be about tied with bluegill. Cichlids have actually made me think about an ultralight rod again for when the bass fishing gets tough. The warmer the water gets the more aggressive they are. Whereas the bass get more lazy and dormant.

[CeeJay]

Can't beat the fishing here. I've fished NJ, Cali and now here and there's way more fish let alone bass to keep you more then busy. Tilapia aren't the greatest fight but lb for lb would be about tied with bluegill. Cichlids have actually made me think about an ultralight rod again for when the bass fishing gets tough. The warmer the water gets the more aggressive they are. Whereas the bass get more lazy and dormant.

 

I've always planned to spend some time fishing in Florida.  And some day, before I die, I'll somehow make it down there...and Shane I want you to hook me up with some of these fish  

 

Oh man you definitely should break out a UL.  Bass are such great fish, I love them, but sometimes they don't cooperate and it's so much fun to catch the smaller but very hard fighting panfish.

[Shanes7614]

Had I not sight fished it, I could see where the mistake could be made. There was a bunch of them that size in the area of the Griffen Rd canal where I was fishing.

That's funny you say that. Was just down there this past Friday. Caught a few tarpon in that area. Very close to bass pro.

[Shanes7614]

I've always planned to spend some time fishing in Florida. And some day, before I die, I'll somehow make it down there...and Shane I want you to hook me up with some of these fish

Oh man you definitely should break out a UL. Bass are such great fish, I love them, but sometimes they don't cooperate and it's so much fun to catch the smaller but very hard fighting panfish.

Come on down!!! Everyone talks about Okeechobee but personally so far from what I've experienced is its not even the best trophy lake down here to fish for DD bass.

[Nice_Bass]

While possibly not in the "panfish" genera.

The white bass is a tough fish.  May not put it above a bluegill on fighting although I would put it at equal.  Where it does shine above all the rest is in the strike. 

[Darren.]

As far as fighting ability goes, pound for pound, I'm curious about how other anglers would rank the panfish ( which I'll define loosely as sunfish that are not largemouth or smallmouth bass).

For me the number one is easy.  I don't think it's even close...there is number one, and then the rest

 

1- Bluegill.  My undisputed king of panfish.  Very strong and don't really ever give up after hookup.  They almost always seem to be a big fish, even little ones are so strong for their size.  Tangle with a 1 pounder and you'll love it

 

2- Rock Bass and Warmouth.  Mainly because they strike so viciously hard, and at any lure up to their own size!  They do fight hard after hookup, but quickly tire on even 2 lb test line.

 

3- Pumpkinseed and Redear and Green Sunfish.  Pretty much even between those three.  I could possibly rank them in between Bluegill and Rock Bass...

I'll need to get more experience with them though.

 

4- Crappie.  They hit large baits and have a good pull at hookup, but are extremely short winded and usually on their side when landed.

 

Happy Panfishing!

 

Pretty good synopsis. Can't argue much

with any of your numbers as on the average,

bluegills are definitely the most feisty in my

book.

 

I'd echo yellow perch comments. They do

put up a fight. And I've had some crappie

fight like they were largemouth bass. 

[Chris S]

While possibly not in the "panfish" genera.

The white bass is a tough fish.  May not put it above a bluegill on fighting although I would put it at equal.  Where it does shine above all the rest is in the strike. 

I am with ya there!! A 2 pounds white bass is a blast! 

[CeeJay]

While possibly not in the "panfish" genera.

The white bass is a tough fish.  May not put it above a bluegill on fighting although I would put it at equal.  Where it does shine above all the rest is in the strike. 

 

I'd definitely put white bass and yellow perch in the panfish category.  I'm not very strict with my terminology   

Yeah I've heard white bass hit pretty hard.  I'd love to tangle with some...I'm assuming they can be found in the Potomac which isn't very far from where I live.

[blackmax135]

Yall ever catch any redbreast.  I catch a lot in the savannah river and the little ones always make me think I have on a granddaddy redbreast.

[Jar11591]

We could rank the panfish by tastiness 

 

In which case my order would be this:

 

1. Crappie

2. Bluegill

3. Perch 

[Bankbeater]

I used to think bluegill put up a fight until I started catching hybrid bass last year. Those fish are great on UL gear.

[SirSnookalot]

We have mayan cichlids in South Florida, lot of fun to catch.

[Shanes7614]

We have mayan cichlids in South Florida, lot of fun to catch.

Already have been mentioned.

[CeeJay]

Yall ever catch any redbreast.  I catch a lot in the savannah river and the little ones always make me think I have on a granddaddy redbreast.

 

I'm not really sure if I've caught a redbreast...it's possible though.  They're apparently very good fighters especially in rivers, one of my books mentions catching river redbreast sunfish as lots of fun, especially on fly tackle and cane poles 

 

I'm currently working on a little paper to organize the non-bass sunfish by name, since it gets extremely confusing based on regional names for the many varieties.