Where does the bluegill live?
Bluegills are freshwater fish but can also tolerate brackish waters. • They are common in the quiet, slow-moving waters of the Bay watershed’s lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. • Bluegills prefer areas with a sand, mud or gravel bottom and lots of aquatic vegetation. • Found in shallow, protected areas in the summer; in the winter they often school in deeper river channels. What does the bluegill eat? Bluegills eat a wide variety of organisms, including: • Insects • Crayfishes • Bits of vegetation How does the bluegill reproduce? Bluegills spawn from April through September, once water temperatures warm to about 54 degrees. • It is common for bluegills to spawn more than once per season. • Males build nests in shallow-water areas by making a round hole in the sand or gravel at the bottom. Bluegills will often build nests close to one another, creating colonies. • The male fiercely guards the nest from predators before and after spawning. He uses his tail fin to fan away any particles o
