THE SUNFISH AND BLACK BASS FAMILY Centrarchidae

ROCK BASS Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque, 1817): DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. Rock bass were was first introduced into Massachusetts in 1934. Distribution in this state is primarily western, with the majority of records from the Hoosic and Housatonic drainages, as well as major tributaries to the Connecticut River. Rock bass are locally common in the Farmington, Deerfield, Millers, Chicopee, and Westfield rivers, as well as in Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs.

BANDED SUNFISH Enneacanthus obesus (Girard, 1854): DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. The species is widespread in eastern Massachusetts, but known from only a few locations on Cape Cod. It was found at two locations on Martha's Vineyard during our surveys in 1988, but does not occur on Nantucket. Inland, banded sunfish are known only from the upper Chicopee (Burnshirt and Ware rivers), Nashua River, and from the upper Millers drainages. Banded sunfish are still common in some areas, but have declined in urban and suburban areas due to loss of habitat when small, swampy wetlands were drained.

REDBREAST SUNFIS Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus, 1758): DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. Redbreast sunfish have a scattered distribution in Massachusetts. D. H. Storer (1839) mentioned that this species was common, but currently we have found it to be relatively common only in a few locations; the upper Charles and Sudbury rivers, Quabbin Reservoir, and the mainstems of the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers. In other Massachusetts drainages, this species is not common and it is rare or absent in the southeastern portion of the state and most hillstream areas. It is probable that this species has declined since the mid-1800's due to changes in water quality or behavioral interactions with introduced species, especially bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus.

GREEN SUNFISH Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, 1819: ISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. The green sunfish is not native to Massachusetts. The exact date of their first introduction into Massachusetts is unknown but they may have been accidentally introduced with shipments of bluegill. Green sunfish have a very limited range in this state and are only documented from Nagog Pond, Acton. Photographic evidence of a single specimen shows that some are present in the Buzzards Bay drainage and other verbal reports suggest that this species may be also found in the Taunton, Blackstone, and Quinebaug river drainages.

PUMPKINSEED Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. In Massachusetts, pumpkinseed are very common and are found in virtually all parts of the state where quiet, vegetation filled waters are present. They are found on Nantucket, but not on Martha's Vineyard.

BLUEGILL Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. Bluegill were first introduced in 1917 and are now found in virtually all areas of the state, including Martha's Vineyard. The bluegill is one of the most abundant fishes in the state's warm-water habitats.

SMALLMOUTH BASS Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede, 1802
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. Smallmouth bass was first reported in 1850. They were stocked in many of the state's reservoirs, lakes, and streams, particularly in the middle of this century, and can be considered locally common. The majority of Massachusetts records are from the western and southeastern portion of the state.

LARGEMOUTH BASS Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802)
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. Largemouth bass were first introduced into Massachusetts prior to 1862. Due to extensive public and private stocking programs, the largemouth bass can be found in almost any body of water in the state. It is one of the most common species in many of Massachusetts' warmwater habitats.

WHITE CRAPPIE Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, 1818
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. White crappie's known range is limited to the Connecticut River in the vicinity of the Easthampton Oxbow. They were first introduced to this state in 1930.

BLACK CRAPPIE Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Lesueur, 1829)
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. In Massachusetts, black crappie were first introduced in 1910 and were extensively stocked until 1940. They are common in many portions of the state, particularly in the central and eastern areas.

from: An Annotated Working List of the Inland Fishes of Massachusetts. © 1996. K.E. Hartel (hartel@mcz.harvard.edu), D.B. Halliwell (arcsys@mint.net) and A.E. Launer (aelauner@leland.stanford.edu).

THE SUNFISH AND BLACK BASS FAMILY Centrarchidae

ROCK BASS Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque, 1817)

BANDED SUNFISH Enneacanthus obesus (Girard, 1854)

REDBREAST SUNFIS Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus, 1758)

GREEN SUNFISH Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, 1819

PUMPKINSEED Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. In Massachusetts, pumpkinseed are very common and are found in virtually all parts of the state where quiet, vegetation filled waters are present. They are found on Nantucket, but not on Martha's Vineyard.

BLUEGILL Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. Bluegill were first introduced in 1917 and are now found in virtually all areas of the state, including Martha's Vineyard. The bluegill is one of the most abundant fishes in the state's warm-water habitats.

SMALLMOUTH BASS Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede, 1802

LARGEMOUTH BASS Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802)

WHITE CRAPPIE Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, 1818

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. White crappie's known range is limited to the Connecticut River in the vicinity of the Easthampton Oxbow. They were first introduced to this state in 1930.

BLACK CRAPPIE Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Lesueur, 1829)

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Introduced. In Massachusetts, black crappie were first introduced in 1910 and were extensively stocked until 1940. They are common in many portions of the state, particularly in the central and eastern areas.