The bluegill is named for the bright blue patch on each gill cover. The colors become exaggerated during the breeding season. School children voted the bluegill Illinois state fish. This beautiful fish,is a native to the western United States, but because of it is so good to eat has been raised in hatcheries and introduced by the millions into cold streams and lakes around the world. Black dots pepper the rainbow s back, tail, fins and the wide red patch on each side.
Some rainbows live in the ocean and migrate to rivers to lay eggs.
Others live and spawn in cold streams and rivers, where they challenge anglers with legendary fighting and leaping agility. Rainbows forage on the bottom for invertebrates and small fishes, or rise to the surface to eat insects or the hopeful fisherman s hand-tied artificial fly. To do this, this tuna must eat a large amount of food every day. At various stages in its life other fish, seabirds, sharks or killer whales may eat the bluefin tuna. The bluefin tuna can be found throughout the southern oceans of the world.