The small reptile was found by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ... The officer checked one of Mercado’s buckets and found several bluegill fish, according to the report, which ...

Bluegills, longears, pumpkinseeds, redbreasts, crappies, and perch provide fodder for fish fries all over the country year. Of course, if you’ve got a big family to feed, you need to catch a lot.

A spring bobber can detect light bites from finicky winter bluegills. / Joe Shead If you wait to feel the classic “thump” of a fish hitting your jig, you’ll miss a lot of subtle bluegill bites.