Flier Species Breakdown
Scientific Name: Centrarchus macropterus
Also Known As: round sunfish and millpond flier
Flier are a freshwater fish in the sunfish family. They are omnivores that eat insects, snails, worms, leaches, crustaceans, mollusks, small fish and phytoplankton.
How to Identify a Flier
The flier is a small, silver-green to brown sunfish with a cream-yellow belly. They have several rows of brown dots on their scales and a vertical, dark line that extends through its eye. They have a circular body and wing-like fins which gives its name “flier”.
Flier Size
Flier can grow up to 8 inches long and weigh up to 1 lb 5 oz. They average 5 inches long and weigh 3 ounces. A trophy size flier is 7 inches long and larger.
Flier Size Chart – Length to Weight Conversion
| Length | 0 | 1/8″ | 1/4″ | 3/8″ | 1/2″ | 5/8″ | 3/4″ | 7/8″ |
| 3″ | 1.26 oz | 1.29 oz | 1.35 oz | 1.39 oz | 1.43 oz | 1.54 oz | 1.54 oz | 1.60 oz |
| 4″ | 1.68 oz | 1.75 oz | 1.83 oz | 1.90 oz | 1.99 oz | 2.06 oz | 2.20 oz | 2.31 oz |
| 5″ | 2.41 oz | 2.52 oz | 2.64 oz | 2.81 oz | 2.95 oz | 3.09 oz | 3.24 oz | 3.40 oz |
| 6″ | 3.56 oz | 3.79 oz | 3.97 oz | 4.16 oz | 4.35 oz | 4.57 oz | 4.78 oz | 5.09 oz |
| 7″ | 5.32 oz | 5.57 oz | 5.83 oz | 6.11 oz | 6.46 oz | 6.75 oz | 7.05 oz | 7.35 oz |
| 8″ | 7.70 oz | 8.02 oz | 8.48 oz | 8.83 oz | 9.22 oz | 9.61 oz | 9.99 oz | 10.42 oz |
View World & State Flier Records
Where Flier Are Found
Flier fish are native to southern parts of the US and are found primarily in Florida, Alabama, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Flier inhabit swamps, oxbow lakes, overflow pools, slow-moving creeks, ponds, canals, and backwaters. They like clear, acidic waters with temperatures of 75° – 85° F.
Flier prefer heavily vegetated water and are typically found under floating vegetation. They can also be near cypress trees and stumps near brush piles.
Lifespan of a Flier
The lifespan of a flier fish is typically 5 years in the wild and 8 years in captivity. They take about 1 year to reach maturity.
You can tell the general age of a flier by referring to the table below.
Flier Age Chart
| Age | Length |
| 1 Year Old | 3 – 4 inches |
| 2 Years Old | 4 – 5 inches |
| 3 Years Old | 5 – 5.5 inches |
| 4 Years Old | 5.5 – 6 inches |
| 5 Years Old | 6 – 6.5 inches |
| 6 Years Old | 6.5 – 7 inches |
| 7 Years Old | 7 – 7.5 inches |
| 8 Years Old | 8 inches |
Fishing For Flier
Are Flier hard to catch?
Flier are one of the easiest fish to catch. They can be found in shallow water near the bank and docks which makes them very easy to target. All you need to do is drop a small hook with bait on it in front of them.
What size hook do you use for flier?
The #6 size Gamakatsu Octopus is the best hook for catching flier.
What type of bait do you use for flier?
Fliers can be caught on dry flies, tiny poppers, worms, insect larvae, minnows and even canned corn. If you are looking for something to keep in your tackle box then Berkley PowerBait is a great option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are flier good eating?
Flier taste great but they don’t have a lot of meat per fish. Many choose not to eat them due to the amount of effort required to fillet them without the reward for a lot of meat. If you are willing to put the effort in they make great fish for a fish fry.
Is corn good for Flier?
Corn is one of the best baits to use when fishing for flier. A corn kernel is the perfect size for their mouth and they absolutely love it. A can of corn is cheap and will last you an entire day of fishing.
Do flier bite humans?
Flier are not dangerous to humans. Their mouths are too small to bite humans and they are not poisonous or venomous.
Are flier a carp?
Flier are not carp. Flier are members of the Centrarchidae family, while carp are members of the Cyprinidae family.
Are flier a crappie?
Bluegill are not a crappie, although they are a part of the same Centrarchidae family. Flier are in the Lepomis genus, while carp are members of the Pomoxis genus.
Are flier related to bass?
Flier are not related to bass, although they are a part of the same Centrarchidae family. Flier are in the Lepomis genus , while bass are members of the Micropterus genus.
What fish will eat a flier?
Large fish such as bass, muskie and walleye, in addition to turtles, snakes and wading birds.