Dollar Sunfish

Body Type & Identification: A small sunfish named for the circular, coin-like body shape and dollar-sized proportions. Olive to brown with rows of red-orange spots and a distinctive long black "ear" flap with a pale edge. A Southeast coastal plain species closely related to the Longear Sunfish. Distinguished by the longer ear flap and more southerly range.

Preferred Water Temperature: 68°F–82°F. A warm-water coastal plain sunfish found in slow streams, swamps, and vegetated backwaters. Tolerates the warm, tannic conditions of southeastern coastal plain streams.

Habitat: Streams, swamps, and ponds of the Gulf coastal plain from North Carolina to Texas. Found in slow, vegetated streams and river backwaters of the Southeast. Often found alongside Redbreast Sunfish, Spotted Sunfish, and Flier in Gulf coastal plain rivers.

Best Lures: Tiny jigs and micro soft plastics near vegetation. Small inline spinners work.

Best Baits: Small crickets are the top bait. Tiny worm pieces work well. Wax worms produce catches. Light tackle with tiny hooks near vegetation in southeastern coastal streams.

Top 5 Destinations: Suwannee River FL, Choctawhatchee River FL/AL, Pascagoula River MS, Sabine River TX/LA, Trinity River TX.

A small sunfish named for the circular, coin-like body shape and dollar-sized proportions. Olive to brown with rows of red-orange spots and a distinctive long black "ear" flap with a pale edge. A Southeast coastal plain species closely related to the Longear Sunfish. Distinguished by the longer ear flap and more southerly range.

Streams, swamps, and ponds of the Gulf coastal plain from North Carolina to Texas. Found in slow, vegetated streams and river backwaters of the Southeast. Often found alongside Redbreast Sunfish, Spotted Sunfish, and Flier in Gulf coastal plain rivers.

68°F–82°F. A warm-water coastal plain sunfish found in slow streams, swamps, and vegetated backwaters. Tolerates the warm, tannic conditions of southeastern coastal plain streams.

Best Lures: Tiny jigs and micro soft plastics near vegetation. Small inline spinners work. Best Baits: Small crickets are the top bait. Tiny worm pieces work well. Wax worms produce catches. Light tackle with tiny hooks near vegetation in southeastern coastal streams.

Suwannee River FL, Choctawhatchee River FL/AL, Pascagoula River MS, Sabine River TX/LA, Trinity River TX.