page_title: Green sunfish
section_title: Habitat
hierarchical_section_title: Green sunfish / Habitat
caption_attribution_description: English: Green sunfish from Walnut Point State Park, east-central Illinois
context_page_description: The green sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. A panfish popular with anglers, the green sunfish is also kept as an aquarium fish by hobbyists. They are usually caught by accident, while fishing for other game fish. Green sunfish can be caught with live bait such as nightcrawlers, waxworms, mealworms, and blood worms. Grocery store baits such as pieces of hot dog or corn kernels can even catch fish. Green sunfish are aggressive and will hit small lures. They can be caught with fly fishing tackle.
  The green sunfish is said to have polarization sensitive vision not found in humans and other vertebrates mostly which helps in enhancement of visibility of target objects in scattering media, using a method called polarization difference imaging.
context_section_description: The species prefers areas in sluggish backwaters, lakes, and ponds with gravel, sand, or bedrock bottoms.  They also can be found in very muddy waters and are able to tolerate poor water conditions.  Green sunfish tend to spend their time hiding around rocks, submerged logs, plants, and other things that provide cover.
caption: Green sunfish from Walnut Point State Park, east-central Illinois
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