Species profile
Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
At a glance
Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 31 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (Minnesota); the most generous is 300 (Ontario).
Across 5 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 8.0 in.
Confirmed by 17,109 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Maryland, and Ohio the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- One of the hardiest sunfish, it survives turbid water, high temperatures, and low oxygen that stress most species.
- It has a noticeably larger mouth than other sunfish of similar size, allowing it to take larger prey.
- Adults typically reach 4–7 inches; fish over 9 inches are considered large.
- Green sunfish hybridize readily with bluegill and other Lepomis species, often producing fertile offspring.
- They are frequently the first fish to recolonize streams after droughts or fish kills subside.
Where Green Sunfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Green Sunfish
Background
The green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. A panfish popular with anglers, the green sunfish is also kept as an aquarium fish by hobbyists. They are usually caught by accident, while fishing for other game fish. Green sunfish can be caught with live bait such as nightcrawlers, waxworms, and mealworms. Grocery…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Green Sunfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.