A baby bluegill

A few days ago I used a minnow sein to dip this very small bluegill from the edge of a pond. It is only 1 1/2 inch long.

So far, this little bluegill has escaped predation from a number of potential enemies since hatching last year. Bullfrogs, turtles, herons, water snakes, raccoons and larger fish all will catch and eat small bluegill.

Spawning season for bluegill can start in May and extend through summer. An adult bluegill can lay tens of thousands of eggs in a season. This little bluegill will begin to grow quickly as spring temperatures warm, and its food supply of tiny aquatic insects increases. Within three years it will likely grow to about 6 inches long and be big enough to catch on a line and hook. At 5 years of age, it will be a large panfish maybe growing to 10 to 12 inches long.

This image shows the delicate nature of a baby bluegill. You can actually see its backbone and tiny ribs. The two black spots just below the dorsal fin are very tiny parasites that are not unusual and will not harm the fish. I returned this fish to the pond after putting it in a small jar of clear water to capture the photo.