Bluegill vs Sunfish - What's the difference?

We hear anglers asking this once in a while, "Are bluegills and sunfish the same thing?"  It can be confusing but really it's simple.

In short, all Bluegills are Sunfish but not all Sunfish are Bluegills.

A Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a species of the Sunfish Family (Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes).

There are over 25 species comprising the Sunfish Family.  Some of the most common to North America are:

• Black Crappie
• Bluegill
• Bluespotted Sunfish
• Flier
• Green Sunfish
• Largemouth Bass
• Longear Sunfish
• Mud Sunfish
• Orangespotted Sunfish
• Pumpkinseed
• Redear
• Rock Bass
• Smallmouth Bass
• Spotted Bass
• Warmouth
• White Crappie

So there you have it!  A bluegill is a sunfish.  And one of many species in the Sunfish Family is the Bluegill.