Recognise the fish in detail
The bluegill’s deep, rounded outline carries a blue-green wash near the head and a prominent dark gill patch. Compare that compact shape with the long profiles further down the directory; recognition becomes easier when you notice the whole silhouette as well as its colour.
Use this close view to learn the outline before returning to the moving water. The picture identifies a species; it does not determine the outcome of a drop. That outcome depends on the original game’s alignment check, followed by the species value and any earned bonuses.
The species component of a catch
Bluegill supplies an 85-point starting value when caught successfully. It is part of the common group, but the final award can exceed that base through closer alignment and a continuing catch sequence. Those additions come from the unchanged Golden Current calculation.
At the catch check, the closest fish must lie within ten lane units of the boat. Keep that gap in view as you prepare the action. An attractive species or large base value cannot compensate for a drop made beyond the permitted distance.
What the spawning group actually means
The common group receives 48% of spawn selections and contains bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie and yellow perch. That percentage applies to choosing the group as a whole; it is not assigned independently to each of its four members.
The fish available during a short voyage need not mirror the long-run proportions. Make the next decision from the actual school on screen, because no particular species is reserved for your remaining drops.