Which perch is called sunfish and why?

The original habitat of this predator, which, in addition to the common name "sunfish," also goes by several nicknames, such as "kingfish" and "rainbow perch," was North America. However, over time, beginning in the 19th century, this fascinating species migrated to aquariums, ponds, and lakes in Europe.

Of course, you won't catch sunfish of this genus on Putorana Plateau fishing trips, but there are plenty of other more interesting predators, such as those from the noble salmon family. Among them is the taimen, the master of Siberian rivers.

The rainbow bass, or sunfish, doesn't like the cold rivers of Siberia. It lives where water temperatures drop no lower than 16 degrees Celsius. Let's take a closer look at this predatory fish and learn about the best places to catch it.

Where can you catch sunfish?

Having migrated from North America to our continent, the predator initially inhabited private ponds and aquariums. After conquering the Danube and other European waters, it migrated to the lower reaches of the rivers of the Black Sea and Caspian basins.

The predator's favorite places in water bodies:

The following are considered fishing and trophy:

• Underwater vegetation, thickets of algae, reeds.
• Places with trees and bushes located along the shore.
• Prefers water bodies with a slight current.
• It settles in building structures that are in water (piles, supports, bridges).
• Holes and uneven areas of water bodies also attract the attention of sunfish.
• In lakes, great depths can become fishing spots.

During the cold season, rainbow bass descend to greater depths. It's in these areas that any fishing trip can turn into a trophy.

What does a sunfish look like?

Like the common minke whale, the predator rarely grows to large sizes. On average, it ranges from 15 to 30 cm.

• The body is flattened on the sides.
• Large eyes are located on the head.
• The fins run along the entire length of the body.
• The small scales, like those of its common relative, are tightly fitted.
• The color of the sunfish can vary. It can be greenish-yellow or silvery-gray. In some places, the fish has spots of different colors, reminiscent of a tiger's pattern.

This is what a predatory fish from the striped perch family looks like. How to make fishing for this predator a trophy will be covered in another publication. And we've previously described how to clean a perch quickly and safely.

In conclusion about the predatory emigrant

Sunfish are considered a valuable and popular trophy in their habitat. Catching this predator is as exciting as catching any other bloodthirsty creature. It greedily attacks any live bait offered. And once its jaws snap shut, its greed easily ensnares the hook.

It's worth remembering that you won't be able to catch pumpkinseed on fishing trips through the Siberian taiga, but its big brother, the pumpkinseed, is easy to catch. Even during spring goose hunting, in addition to salmon predators, you often pull out the familiar striped bass, which delight with their bites and are often caught on the hook.