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June 22, 2026

Lake Jocassee holds fishable populations of four black-bass species and produces trophy-sized fish for each, like this redeye, aka shoal bass.

Which bass is which?

Largemouths are not the only black bass that call Lake Jocassee home. The smallmouth, redeye and spotted bass that live in the lake frequently grow to phenomenal sizes. […]

The float rig is a key to success when fishing offshore humps to reduce snagging and hook more shellcrackers.

Fishing the high spots of rock piles that are abundant in Lake Murray is a key to shellcracker success from May through the fall. Guide Brad Taylor uses a special rig to fish these places most effectively. […]

Shellcrackers may be the target, but Lake Murray fishermen will likely wind up with a mixed bag that includes bluegill, largemouth bass, white perch, striped bass and catfish.

Shellcrackers are the rule, but a mixed creel is likely

Terry Madewell

Retired guide Doug Lown said that when fishing for shellcrackers around high spots that drop into deep water, catching multiple species is pretty common. […]

Aggressive cutting late in the season will often cause a turkey to shock-gobble, giving a hunter the chance to set up closer to the bird.

Two slam-dunk, late-season turkey calls

Jeff Burleson

Of all the game species with which North Carolina is blessed, wild turkeys are one of a very few that must be pulled into shooting range with a series of calls. […]

Shellcrackers have a distinct red edge on its ear flap that distinguishes it from other sunfish species.

Shellcracker particulars

Terry Madewell

The shellcracker, also known as the redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), is native to the southeastern United States but can be found all over North America. […]

The length of a gobbler’s spurs are a better indication of his age than body size.

Judge a gobbler’s age in the field

Jeff Burleson

Hunters judge turkeys by a collection of characteristics, including weight, spur length, beard count and beard length. Every hunter wants to harvest an old, trophy gobbler, but, knowing a tom’s age is a tough task in the field — before and even after the kill. […]

Chartreuse is a lure color that is particularly effective under different circumstances.

Go chartreuse or go home

Jeff Burleson

For more than a century, lure manufacturers have tried to develop the perfect size, shape and action to get a fish’s attention. […]

Freshwater mussels of all sorts will attract shellcrackers, which can crack open the shells of the small clams with tooth-like grinders in their throats.

The redear sunfish: nature’s perfect nutcracker

Tony Garitta

The redear sunfish, known scientifically as Lepomis microlophus and informally as bream, stumpknocker, cherry gill, rouge ear sunfish, Georgia bream and shellcracker, is a slab-sided fish with a red or orange edge along its ear flap, a characteristic that distinguishes it from other sunfish. […]

Be careful not to get too close before casting to spring reds.

Be stealthy and keep your distance

Jeff Burleson

During the spring, redfish, trout and flounder step up to the plate and really begin to gather up the groceries. […]

Being bigger on the average than other species of sunfish, shellcrackers are extremely welcome guests at any fish fry.

Recipes for redear sunfish

Tony Garitta

Redear sunfish make heftier and tastier filets than other sunfish mostly because of their larger size. They can be fried and grilled in a number of ways. […]