This is a panfish that is taken by anglers with worms or other small live baits, flies, spinners or poppers. Many people consider the meat to be a worthy meal, though their small size means it can take several to satisfy an appetite. This size issue is one of the few limiting factors in its popularity compared to other sunfish species like the similar redbreast sunfish. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:
Pumpkinseed sunfish have a flat, disk-shaped body with a small mouth and an upper jaw that stops just under the eye pupil. The gill cover has an inflexible rear edge and short, thick rakers on the first arch. The front dorsal fin is spiny and the pectoral fin is long and pointed and can be extended past the eye when bent forward.Its color ranges from olive-green to brown, yellow, green and blue on the top and sides. The breast and belly are usually a light color such as cream, white or yellow and occasionally orange.