Species profile
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
At a glance
Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 18 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (Florida); the most generous is 50 (Florida).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 8.8 in.
Confirmed by 4,139 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Florida, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Nicknamed 'shellcracker' for specialized pharyngeal teeth that crush snails and clams.
- Can exceed 15 inches and 5 lbs; the world record is over 5 lbs.
- Named for the distinctive red or orange crescent on the rear edge of the ear flap.
- Feeds primarily near the bottom, unlike most sunfish that feed throughout the water column.
- Generally spawns later in spring than other sunfish, often in May or June.
Where Redear Sunfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Redear Sunfish
Background
The redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch) is freshwater fish native to the southeastern United States. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America. It is known for its diet of mollusks and snails.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Redear 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.