Caught 4 years ago in the county lake on a nightcrowlaer and float. One of my favorite all time catches of mine, even topping some bass and catfish because of the coloration. I had never seen a red ear/shellcracker colored up that dark and golden-bronze like before, and I've yet to catch another one like that.  Oh and he was a pig too, pulled and fought like a bucketmouth!

My second favorite fish to target. Nice catch!

I believe those are their spawning colors. I've caught some really colored up redears, but they're not super common in our lakes. The sunfish family has got to be one of the tops in appearance though.

Most of the redears I catch are colored pretty plainly.

@Bluebasser86,

What is the fish in your top photo - is it a longear sunfish?  I don't think we have those here in California where I live.  Interesting coloration.

8 minutes ago, BASS302 said:

@Bluebasser86,

What is the fish in your top photo - is it a longear sunfish?  I don't think we have those here in California where I live.  Interesting coloration.

Yes, that's a male longear in full spawning colors. My son and I were catching them off spawning beds in a shallow creek. That one happened to be one of the most colorful and also a particularly large one. 

Nice pics