Bigger Bluegill Getting Enthusiastic Response

“I really think the bluegill bite is a front-page story,” said Jim Brown, a spokesman for San Diego City lakes.

In this case it’s a short Page 6 story, but for panfish fishermen it’s quite a story nonetheless.

The Florida-strain bluegill--larger than the northern-strain fish prevalent at most other lakes--are on a suicide mission at three of the lakes.

The numbers in the last week: Otay Lake, 4,075 bluegill--in only three days of fishing--San Vicente, 3,260 bluegills and Sutherland, 4,981.

“But the real thing that causes people to get breathless is these bluegill, like the Florida bass, are getting so big,” Brown said. “A lot of them are two-pounders.”