Species profile
Spotted Sunfish
Lepomis punctatus
Identify Spotted Sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app.
At a glance
Spotted Sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 2,019 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Georgia, and Alabama the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for rows of reddish-brown spots that align along each scale row on the body.
- Rarely exceeds 8 inches; most adults are 3–6 inches.
- Favors slow-moving, heavily vegetated waters and swamps in the southeastern U.S.
- Often found near submerged woody debris and root tangles.
Where Spotted Sunfish are seen
Background
The spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) is a member of the freshwater sunfish family Centrarchidae and order perciformes. The redspotted sunfish, redear sunfish and pumpkinseed sunfish are its closest relatives. Lepomis punctatus is olive-green to brown in color with black to reddish spots at the base of each scale that form rows of dots on the side. The scientific name punctatus refers to this…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Spotted Sunfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Spotted Sunfish?
Spotted Sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Spotted Sunfish?
Spotted Sunfish is Lepomis punctatus.
Are there fishing rules for Spotted Sunfish?
Spotted Sunfish does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Spotted Sunfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Spotted 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.