Redear sunfish

US fish and state coverage

Lepomis microlophus

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Mar · Apr
Typical depth
Typical size
Catch minimum
11 inches or 1
National record

See state records · Browse all fishing records

Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.

Overview

Habitat summary
Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill.
Water type
freshwater

When to fish

Peak months
Mar · Apr
Good months
Mar · Apr · May · Jun
Seasonality
FWC bream page: Redear spawning activity peaks on the full moons of March and April; may overlap bluegill beds.

Where to fish

Habitat summary
Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill.
Habitat zone
freshwater
Fishing zone
freshwater

How to catch

Techniques
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 & lures

Preferred bait
Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of March and April when their spawning activity peaks.

Size

Catch minimum (source context, not current legal advice)
11 inches or 1

Records

Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.

state record evidence

Source context: Florida

Record type
florida state
Record weight lb
4.86
Record location
Merritts Mill Pond, Jackson County
Record date
3/13/1986
Record angler
Joseph Floyd
Record catch text
4.86 lb; by Joseph Floyd; on 3/13/1986; at Merritts Mill Pond, Jackson County

Browse sourced catches for this species

Related states & places

Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.

Source-linked directories

Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.

Boat ramps — Florida

Selected examples from 600 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Charter captains: no matching local listing in the source for this species.

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 299 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators: no matching local listing in the source for this species.

For other linked states, local listings are not in the source yet; use the state and species guides above.

Related species

Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.

Source evidence by state

Florida

State guide · State species

common name local
Redear Sunfish
scientific name local
Lepomis microlophus
water type local
freshwater
enrichment status
enriched
range precision
unknown
record catch text
4.86 lb; by Joseph Floyd; on 3/13/1986; at Merritts Mill Pond, Jackson County

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.