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. Shellcrackers are found in many lakes across South Carolina, with Lake Murray being among the best in terms of numbers and size of fish.
A shellcracker generally resembles the bluegill, except for coloration and somewhat larger size. It is dark-colored dorsally and yellow-green ventrally. The male has a cherry-red edge on its “ear,” and females have orange coloration in this area.
A favorite food is snails, and the fish are bottom feeders, meandering along lake beds seeking and cracking open snails and other shelled creatures. Shellcrackers have thick teeth with hard, movable plates in its throat that allow it to crunch or crack exoskeletons.
The specialization of this species for the mollusk-feeding niche allows it to be introduced to lakes without the risk of competition with fish that prefer shallower water or surface-feeding such as bluegill and most “bream” species.
The state record for shellcracker is 5 pounds, 7.5 ounces from the Diversion Canal on the Santee Cooper lakes system.
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