Nice mess of fish.

They can be tricky when they are both under 12". The easiest way to tell is a Hybrid will almost always have multiple broken stripes. Sometimes you can see this on Sandbass in which case you will have to look at the tooth patches on the tounge. A Sandbass will have one tooth patch near the back of the tongue. A Hybrid and Striper will have two tooth patches near the rear of the tongue with maybe a 1/16" gap between the two. A Hybrid will almost always have a deeper body than a Sandbass of the same length as well. I am not for certain but I think Game Wardens usually go by the tooth patch method in the field which to me is the hardest way for me to tell. 99% of the time I dont even need to look at the tooth patches. If I am ever in a situation where I do feel the need to look at tooth patches I will just toss them back because it aint worth the chance of being wrong. Once you catch enough of both species you can usually tell what you have on the line before you ever see it. A Hybrid pound for pound is the hardest fighting fish in fresh water period! Some would argue Bluegill are but I disagree. If you put a 12" Hybrid on my line and a 12" Sandbass I bet you I can tell you which is which 99% of the time. Same thing with Drum and Crappie. I catch alot of Drum when Crappie fishing and I can tell you which is which before I ever see it. Its all in the way they fight.

Bottom line is if you aint sure what it is its best to put it back. Mis-identification of Hybrids and Sandbass probably account for more tickets than all other species combined.

Wish I had gotten that question before I cleaned them and I would have took pictures of the tooth patches. Real life pictures are far better than the diagrams you see online.

I just knew it but I was wrong.

Wow congrats! You definitely have the talent and skills.

You should start a guide service, no joke.