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Redbreast Sunfish

Redbreast Sunfish

Redbreast Sunfish are one of North Carolina's most widely distributed and colorful sunfish species, found in 23 of the state's 26 major watersheds.

They're common throughout North Carolina except in cold mountain waters, with sparse populations in the Chowan and Pasquotank rivers but increasing densities moving west across the state until reaching the Little Tennessee, Savannah, and Hiwassee rivers where populations drop off again.

Scientific Name: Lepomis auritus

Physical Characteristics:
  • Distinguished by their long, narrow black gill cover extension (up to 1 inch long), bright coloration with green to yellow-brown sides, reddish spots, reddish-orange belly, and bluish streaks on cheeks.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Inhabit waters from sea level to 3,500 feet elevation.
  • They frequently concentrate in pools and backwaters of streams and rivers.

Key Locations

  • The Black River is considered one of North Carolina's premier redbreast sunfish streams.
  • The Tar River from Granville County through Edgecombe County offers excellent fishing, as do most central North Carolina river systems with good cover and running water.

Specific Spots

  • Target them around structural cover like boulders, logs, aquatic vegetation, tree roots, stumps, and undercut banks in slow-moving or sluggish water.
  • Prefer slow-moving water with cover like boulders, logs, aquatic vegetation, tree roots, woody debris, stumps, undercut banks, and rocky points over sandy bottoms.

Redbreast Sunfish FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Small natural baits (nightcrawlers, crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, mealworms), small spinners, spoons, small plugs, and popping bugs. Various lures and baits work at night.

What flies work for Redbreast Sunfish in North Carolina?

Small (1 inch), narrow, bright-colored, durable nymphs like Frenchie Egans and Zebra Midges on size 14 hooks, Bett's Bream Madness poppers, small beetle grub spinners, sponge-bodied ants, and spider patterns. The chartreuse Bully Bluegill is particularly effective, known for first-cast success.

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

Prime fishing from spring through fall, with excellent action in May and June when they're most active. Avoid targeting them in June during spawning when water temperatures reach 71-78°F.

How do you catch Redbreast Sunfish in North Carolina?

Focus on deeper, slower areas over rock and gravel near cover, and fish structure-rich environments. Fish flies using a dropper setup behind larger bass flies.

What do Redbreast Sunfish eat?

Redbreast sunfish have the most varied diet of all sunfishes, feeding on bottom-dwelling insect larvae (particularly dipterans, ephemeropterans, and trichopterans), snails, clams, shrimp, crayfish, small fish, mayflies, dragonfly larvae, beetles, and terrestrial insects.

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