This is a small and very colourful fish. Read more about the pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus).
"They primarily feed on insects and molluscs as well as small fish."Carl Nicholls, fisheries & angling manager
Appearance: averaging 10-15cm in length, the Pumpkinseed has a moderately compressed shape similar to a bream. They are a creamy golden colour in the main. The single dorsal fin is divided in to two parts, the first half hard and spiky and more soft and rounded towards the tail. The body is covered with translucent blue / green irregular spots. The head is marked with horizontal light fluorescent stripes with a red-tipped gill cover.
British record: 14oz 2dms ( British Record Fish Committee January 2015)
Lateral Line scale count: 33-40 (this is the dark row of scales along the central length of the fishes body).
Lifespan: eight to nine years
A member of the family of Sunfish. Native to Eastern North America and has been introduced and established in many parts of Europe and also in parts of South England.
How to catch a pumpkinseed: locating waters with pumpkinseed in is key. Light float and rod and line tactics with live baits such as maggots and worms work particularly well.
Where to catch a pumpkinseed: we are not aware of this species ever being recorded in the canal network.
Last date edited: 3 May 2018