Bluegill in Florida
Meet the species
Scientific name
Lepomis macrochirus
Overview
Bluegill are common throughout Florida but are best known in lakes and ponds.
Typical size
Big catch minimum: 10 inches or 1 lb
At a glance
- Peak months
- June–august
- Regions
- Statewide freshwater
- Water
- Freshwater
- Bait
- Live worms or crickets are the best bait, either fished on the bottom or suspended below a float. Crickets, grubs, sand maggots or grass shrimp will also catch bedding bluegill. For artificial baits & a 1/8 oz.
Florida fishing record
- Weight
- 2 lb 15 oz
- Location
- Crystal lake, washington county
- Date
- Apr 19, 1989
- Angler
- John LeMaster
- Type
- Florida state record
Record catch notes
2.95 lb; by john LeMaster; on 4/19/1989; at crystal lake, washington county
When to fish
Peak months
June–august
Good months
March–september
Season notes
Peak months jun, jul, aug from FWC profile summer bedding season used as peak angling window for bedding bluegill & good months adds late spring. Cite profile + bream forecasts page. Not a separate published month grid.
Where to fish
Florida regions
Statewide freshwater
Water
Freshwater
Habitat
Bluegill are common throughout Florida but are best known in lakes and ponds.
How to catch
Live worms or crickets are the best bait, either fished on the bottom or suspended below a float. Crickets, grubs, sand maggots or grass shrimp will also catch bedding bluegill. Use a small hook, #6 or #8, with a split shot sinker about 6 inches up the line. Concentrate on water less than 6 feet deep. For artificial baits, a 1/8 oz. “beetle spin” with a white or chartreuse body on ultralight tackle is excellent. Image credit: © duane raver & jr.
Bait
Live worms or crickets are the best bait, either fished on the bottom or suspended below a float. Crickets, grubs, sand maggots or grass shrimp will also catch bedding bluegill. For artificial baits & a 1/8 oz.
Lures
For artificial baits & a 1/8 oz. “beetle spin” with a white or chartreuse body on ultralight tackle is excellent.
Videos
- Bluegill fishing tips with bobbers and plastic lures · Open original
- Easiest way to catch BlueGill · Open original
- Let's catch jumbo bluegill for dinner! (easy way fishing from the bank!) · Open original
- Life of the bluegill and how to fish for bluegill · Open original
- Dinner-plate bluegill! · Open original
- Putting A bluegill into our fish tank lol.... · Open original
- TikTok video · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
Sources
- Myfwc.com (3 pages)
Fishing videos from local voices
- Bass fishing productions: I found an abandoned axolotl pet store...
- The bass guy: fishing with live crickets for giant bluegill (surprising results)!!
- Justin goodman: fort pond montauk bluegill
- Orlando outfitters: tie the gamboozler, a small baitfish fly for largemouth bass, panfish and other predators
Information comes from the supplied source datasets. Check linked FWC regulations for current rules.