Redbreast Sunfish

Body Type & Identification: Olive-green sides with a brilliant red-orange breast — the namesake coloring that makes this one of the most attractive sunfish. Long, narrow black "ear" flap without a colored edge (unlike Longear Sunfish). Common in the clear rivers of the Atlantic slope and Florida.

Preferred Water Temperature: 65°F–78°F. A stream and river sunfish adapted to flowing, sandy-bottomed coastal plain rivers. Spawn in spring and summer in shallow nests over sandy or gravel bottom near structure.

Habitat: Streams and rivers of the Atlantic coastal plain from New Brunswick south to Florida. Particularly abundant in the sandy-bottomed rivers of Florida — the Suwannee, Santa Fe, and other blackwater and clearwater rivers. Found in slower pools and eddies of coastal rivers. Common in river-connected lakes in Florida.

Best Lures: Small poppers on fly tackle produce great sport. Small inline spinners work well. Tiny jigs near bottom produce catches. Micro soft plastics are effective.

Best Baits: Live crickets are the top bait. Small nightcrawler pieces work very well. Small live shrimp are excellent in tidal rivers. Live crayfish produce larger specimens. Light spinning or fly tackle near structure in clear Florida rivers and streams.

Top 5 Destinations: Suwannee River FL, Santa Fe River FL, Altamaha River GA, Savannah River GA/SC, St. Johns River FL.

Olive-green sides with a brilliant red-orange breast — the namesake coloring that makes this one of the most attractive sunfish. Long, narrow black "ear" flap without a colored edge (unlike Longear Sunfish). Common in the clear rivers of the Atlantic slope and Florida.

Streams and rivers of the Atlantic coastal plain from New Brunswick south to Florida. Particularly abundant in the sandy-bottomed rivers of Florida — the Suwannee, Santa Fe, and other blackwater and clearwater rivers. Found in slower pools and eddies of coastal rivers. Common in river-connected lakes in Florida.

65°F–78°F. A stream and river sunfish adapted to flowing, sandy-bottomed coastal plain rivers. Spawn in spring and summer in shallow nests over sandy or gravel bottom near structure.

Best Lures: Small poppers on fly tackle produce great sport. Small inline spinners work well. Tiny jigs near bottom produce catches. Micro soft plastics are effective. Best Baits: Live crickets are the top bait. Small nightcrawler pieces work very well. Small live shrimp are excellent in tidal rivers. Live crayfish produce larger specimens. Light spinning or fly tackle near structure in clear Florida rivers and streams.

Suwannee River FL, Santa Fe River FL, Altamaha River GA, Savannah River GA/SC, St. Johns River FL.