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Bream · Species guide

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Bluegill: Small mouth. Dark spot near the rear dorsal fin.
Small mouth. Dark spot near the rear dorsal fin.
Illustration: Duane Raver / USFWS. Public domain. Fish are not shown at the same scale.

Look for these features

  1. 01A small mouth compared with many other sunfish.
  2. 02Dark spot at the base of the soft dorsal fin.
  3. 03Vertical side bars; color changes with age and breeding condition.

Ponds, lakes and quiet shorelines across Texas. Bluegill are a useful starting species for bank-fishing lessons.

TPWD species reference ↗ · Checked September 6, 2026.

Put it to work

Your next step

Bream is a common name used for several sunfish. Identify the actual species before applying a rule or deciding to use it as bait.

Open the lesson →
Record a catch →Lake O’ the Pines rules →

Identification is one part of the trip. Use current rules for the state and exact waterbody you fish.