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Redbreast Sunfish

Redbreast Sunfish

Redbreast Sunfish are distinguished by their long, dark opercular ear flaps and vibrant coloration.

They're naturally distributed in the Coosa and Tallapoosa river systems where they're common to abundant, but appear as introduced populations in the Black Warrior, Choctawhatchee, and Tennessee River drainages with scattered collections.

Scientific Name: Lepomis auritus

Physical Characteristics:
  • Distinguished by their long, dark opercular ear flaps and vibrant coloration - breeding males display bright orangish-red breasts and yellow fin margins, while females show more subdued light orange to yellowish coloration.
  • These fish average 6-8 inches but can reach up to 12 inches.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Naturally distributed in the Coosa and Tallapoosa river systems where they're common to abundant, but appear as introduced populations in the Black Warrior, Choctawhatchee, and Tennessee River drainages with scattered collections.
  • They inhabit diverse waters from small streams to large rivers and reservoirs.

Key Locations

  • Coosa and Tallapoosa river systems, particularly around Halawakee Creek in Lee County, and various reservoirs where they've been introduced.

Specific Spots

  • Focus on moving water areas with current, fishing around structure like logs, stumps, undercut banks, rocky points, and aquatic vegetation in depths of 1-6 feet.
  • They prefer areas with slow-moving water, pools, backwaters, woody debris, stumps, undercut banks, rocky points, and sandy bottoms while avoiding stagnant or heavily vegetated areas.
  • Target shaded areas and current breaks where they ambush prey.

Redbreast Sunfish FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Redbreast Sunfish in Alabama?

Live bait: nightcrawlers, red worms, crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, or small leeches. Lures: small spinners, 1/16-ounce or smaller jigs (particularly jig-style competition hooks with marabou tails), and tiny streamers that imitate invertebrates.

What flies work for Redbreast Sunfish in Alabama?

Size 12 or smaller patterns including Hare's Ear Nymphs with marabou tails, Squirmy Wormies in bright colors (orange, chartreuse, yellow, red), small Woolly Buggers, Foam Ants, Micro Chubby Chernobyls, and Elk Hair Caddis with rubber legs.

When is the best time to fish for Redbreast Sunfish in Alabama?

Late spring through summer for peak action, with May being particularly productive. They spawn from May through early summer when temperatures reach 68°F.

How do you catch Redbreast Sunfish in Alabama?

Use live bait under slip bobbers or with minimal weight. Thread nightcrawlers completely onto the hook to make it invisible. For fly fishing, fish flies with subtle movement - let surface flies sit until rings disappear before twitching slightly. In deeper water, jig patterns vertically using rod tip movement.

What do Redbreast Sunfish eat?

Opportunistic feeders with the most varied diet among sunfish species - adults consume terrestrial insects, aquatic insect larvae (particularly mayflies, dragonflies, dipterans), small fish, mollusks, snails, crayfish, and clams, while juveniles feed on small aquatic larvae.

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