Redear sunfish in Florida
Meet the species
Scientific name
Lepomis microlophus
Overview
Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill.
Typical size
Big catch minimum: 11 inches or 1
At a glance
- Peak months
- March–april
- Water
- Freshwater
- Bait
- Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of march and april when their spawning activity peaks.
Florida fishing record
- Weight
- 4 lb 14 oz
- Location
- Merritts mill pond, jackson county
- Date
- Mar 13, 1986
- Angler
- Joseph floyd
- Type
- Florida state record
Record catch notes
4.86 lb; by joseph floyd; on 3/13/1986; at merritts mill pond, jackson county
When to fish
Peak months
March–april
Good months
March–june
Season notes
Peak months from explicit FWC 'full moons of march and april' redear spawn peak.
Where to fish
Water
Freshwater
Habitat
Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill.
How to catch
Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of march and april when their spawning activity peaks. Image credit: © duane raver & jr.
Bait
Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of march and april when their spawning activity peaks.
Videos
- Trophy redear sunfish everglades Florida fishing planet guide · Open original
- How to catch shellcrackers - two great techniques for big redear sunfish · Open original
- How to fillet shellcrackers (redear sunfish) · Open original
- Easy way to catch shellcracker for dinner · Open original
- How to catch redear sunfish · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
Sources
- Myfwc.com (3 pages)
Information comes from the supplied source datasets. Check linked FWC regulations for current rules.