Different types of crappie in Texas

Question

yesterday i was fishing in freshwater and caught a fish that was about 1.2 pounds, 8 inches and looked like a crappie or huge bluegill but was blue and it had a red tail. if anyone can help me figure out what it was i'd greatley appreciate it.

Answer 1

Definitely not a crappie.   Neither black or white crappie would have a red tail.   Probably some kind of sunfish.

Answer 2

They way to identify a crappie is their large thin mouth that protrudes from their face when it is open.It's like largemouth bass mouth but on a giant bluegill.Look inside their mouth,it's really neat seeing their bones from the outside.They also only come in black and white.The black crappie being more black and the white just the opposite.If you catch a crappie you'll see why their called "paper mouths."

Sounds to me like a good sized bluegill or something from the sunfish family.

Always keep your digital camera on you if you own one.If nothing more for the memories when you catch something really nice.If you can't afford a new one look on Ebay for a used one that's like 3-5 megapixels for cheap.Definitely stick with a name brand though.

Answer 3

I think what you caught was a red eye sunfish and they get upwards to 2 pounds or a little more. They are all over the midwest from Texas north into Indiana But it could have been a bluegill whos tail was red from using it to make it's spawning bed and uit was blood stained?