Thought maybe bluegill or some kind of sunfish.  Just wanted to know the exact species??? Netted it in a canal in Fresno, CA

It's a green sunfish. They go by many names, warmouth and black perch being a couple common ones, but green sunfish is the correct name.

Growing up, we used to incorrectly call them "Rock Bass" because they always seemed to hide in rip rap or around boulders and were as willing as the largemouth to hit lures.

Yeap. Baby green sunfish.

We call green sunfish that size catfish bait.

13 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

We call green sunfish that size catfish bait.

I thought this exactly. ! Ha-ha. I've caught crappie that could take that thing down no problem. 

I wish I could buy them that size. I'd dump in my grand mother's pond every so often and let the bass go to town on em.