Fishing in the Dunes

During the summer of 2022 I had the pleasure of accompanying a group of teens from Dunes Adventure Camp on a day of kayaking and fishing at Marquette Park in Gary, IN. On this trip, a few of the campers and I fished off a bridge over a small pond. The campers caught some bluegill and almost a smallmouth bass! There was a troublesome turtle chasing down our nightcrawler bait, which slightly complicated our fishing. However, I did manage to catch one of my favorite species of fish in Indiana, the pumpkinseed! 

Pumpkinseed are a member of the sunfish family, which includes bluegill as well. They are a smaller disc-shaped fish growing up to 6 inches in length. They can be tricky to handle because they have 10-11 dorsal spines in their dorsal fin, which grows along their back. They are a very pretty fish with wavy blue lines along their cheek that contrast with their olive green scales. Pumpkinseed get their name from the orange spot just above their operculum, which is the area that covers their gills on the side of their face. This unique feature distinguishes them from bluegills, who lack the orange spot. Pumpkinseed are found in shallow water and are active throughout the day, making them a great fish for all ages to enjoy when casting a line into the water.

As the days are warming up this spring, it’s time for more fishing again! Fishing is a fun way to learn about what’s living under the surface in the Indiana Dunes region.

*Note: In order to go fishing in the Indiana Dunes National Park, you must have an Indiana State Fishing License. It’s always a good idea to check the fishing regulations anywhere you choose to go fishing.

Jarrod Price

Environmental Education Fellow