Species profile
Dollar Sunfish
Lepomis marginatus
Identify Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app.
At a glance
Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 1,403 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and South Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for its distinctly round, coin-shaped body profile.
- Typically only 3–5 inches long, making it one of the smaller Lepomis species.
- Favors shaded blackwater streams and cypress swamps of the southeastern U.S.
- Breeding males develop vivid blue-green and orange iridescent patterning.
Where Dollar Sunfish are seen
Background
The dollar sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Centrarchiformes. It is categorized as a warm-water panfish. Early settlers said that this species of sunfish resembled a European species they called "bream". Historically it has been found along the Southern Atlantic coastal drainages from North Carolina to Florida, and west to Texas. Lepomis marginatus mainly…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Dollar Sunfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Dollar Sunfish?
Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Dollar Sunfish?
Dollar Sunfish is Lepomis marginatus.
Are there fishing rules for Dollar Sunfish?
Dollar Sunfish does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Dollar Sunfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Dollar Sunfish along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.