Local anglers may find this is of interest. The sunfish is a non-native species of California. In certain ways, introduced late. The first one found was in a private reservoir in Mecca, Riverside County in 1939. Its origins were believed was introduced by a Mr. Sheets who obtained the fish from the East Coast. What came next baffled fishery biologist. The next catch occurred on July 4, 1942 when members of the Tubbs family caught seven in the Susan River near Litchfield. From that time forward the fish slowly were found in other waters of California.