Species profile
Redbreast Sunfish
Lepomis auritus
Identify Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 8 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 8 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 15 (Georgia); the most generous is 50 (Arkansas).
Confirmed by 9,435 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Maryland, and Virginia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Males display a vivid orange-red belly that intensifies during spawning season, giving the species its name.
- Its ear flap is long, narrow, and solid black — one of the most distinctive ear flaps of any North American sunfish.
- Native to Atlantic slope drainages from New Brunswick, Canada, south through Florida.
- It typically reaches 6–9 inches and is widely considered excellent table fare with sweet, firm flesh.
- Redbreast sunfish prefer clear, flowing streams and rivers over still ponds.
Where Redbreast Sunfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Redbreast Sunfish
Background
The redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (family Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to the river systems of eastern Canada and the United States. The redbreast sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 30 cm (12 in), with a maximum recorded weight of 790 g (1.7 lb).
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Redbreast Sunfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Redbreast Sunfish?
Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 8 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Redbreast Sunfish?
Redbreast Sunfish is Lepomis auritus.
Is Redbreast Sunfish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Redbreast Sunfish has fishing regulations in 8 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Redbreast Sunfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Redbreast 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.