Thread: Are Green Sunfish Good to Eat?

I know a small lake that has the green sunfish in it. After researching this species, it is an undesirable because it has a large mouth and can overpopulate, eat game fish eggs, and become stunted. This is a 12 acre lake and has a good population of bass, bluegill, and catfish. The green sunfish are not stunted at all, as a matter of fact, they're huge. This lake is over 25 years old and in balance. The owner says they've always been in there and not a problem.

My question is are they good to eat? Do they taste as good as the other species, like bluegill and shellcrackers? I'm allowed to keep as many as I want, this is a clean pond.

They taste just like all the other bream species. They are good eating.

What G-3 said.

I've eaten them ... and can't say as they tasted any different than a Bluegill or Shellcracker or Long Ear or whatever other sunfish I've eaten.

If they're "huge" ... obviously they are eating good. One of the "undesirable" traits of a Greenie, is that they don't usually get big enough to bother with cleaning. That may be one of the reasons why they're typically used as Flathead Catfish bait

Last fish I had in my 40gal aquarium, was a Green Sunfish ... :D I caught it at Cedar Creek Lake (where it's NOT supposed to be) and kept it for about 4yrs, before it died.

I'd say go for it .... catch yourself a dozen or so, and clean & prepare them just like you would a 'gill ... then chow down.

... cp

They filet real nice

I agree: they taste like any other bream to me.

i had some yesterday they where very good we catch them out of creeks eat themup

They are delicious! I had them when I camped out and absolutely ate like a king!

They are tastey morsels of delight, if you can leave the skin on/or pan fry them whole bone in like we do!

I think that fish is what we use to call a rock bass or goggle eye, little body big mouth very aggressive little fish.