Mississippi Public Lakes Receive Redear Sunfish

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) last week stocked Redear Sunfish into four public water bodies around the state.  Approximately 46,000 Redear Sunfish were stocked into Neshoba County Lake, a state fishing lake near Philadelphia.  The lake within the Charlie Capps Wildlife Management Area, located in Bolivar County, received 2,500 Redear Sunfish, and the lake at Tombigbee State Park, near Tupelo, received 4,500 fish.  In addition, 600 Redear Sunfish were stocked into the ponds at Olive Branch City Park in Desoto County.

The fish were reared at MDWFP’s North Mississippi Fish Hatchery located in Enid. “Redear sunfish, also known as shellcrackers or chinquapins, are a species of bream which are popular with anglers.  They often grow larger than bluegill and provide good table fare for those anglers interested in harvesting bream.” stated MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Ryan Jones.  According to Jones, these fish will provide excellent angling opportunities for boat and bank anglers at these lakes.

For more information regarding fish or fishing in Mississippi, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com or call us at 601-432-2212. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), formerly known as the Mississippi Game & Fish Commission, is an agency of the government of the U.S. state ofMississippi responsible for programs protecting Mississippi fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, as well as administering all state parks; it has its headquarters in Jackson. The agency issues hunting and fishing licenses, advises on habitat protection, and sponsors public education programs. It is also responsible for enforcement of Mississippi's fish and game laws. It is separate from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which is the governing body for the state's natural salt-water resources and law enforcement thereof (i.e. Gulf of Mexico, ocean-going vessels, etc.).