Redbreast Sunfish Species Breakdown
Scientific Name: Lepomis auritus
Also Known As: river bream, redbellies, redbreasted bream, robin, sun perch, yellowbelly sunfish, and eastern blue devil
Redbreast sunfish are a freshwater fish in the sunfish family. They are omnivores that eat insects, crayfish, mollusks, insect larvae, snails, clams, shrimp, mayflies, and small fish.
How to Identify a Redbreast Sunfish
The redbreast sunfish is a small sunfish with a large mouth, a blue-green body and a bright orange-yellow belly. They have blue streaks on their cheek, back and upper side. Most commonly distinguished by a long, black ear flap.
Redbreast Sunfish Size
Redbreast sunfish can grow up to 10 inches long and weigh up to 1 lb 12 oz. They average 4 – 6 inches long and weigh less than a pound.
A trophy size redbreast is 8 inches long and larger.
Redbreast Sunfish Size Chart – Length to Weight Conversion
| Length | 0 | 1/8″ | 1/4″ | 3/8″ | 1/2″ | 5/8″ | 3/4″ | 7/8″ |
| 3″ | .26 oz | .29 oz | .35 oz | .39 oz | .43 oz | .54 oz | .54 oz | .60 oz |
| 4″ | .68 oz | .75 oz | .83 oz | .90 oz | .99 oz | 1.06 oz | 1.20 oz | 1.31 oz |
| 5″ | 1.41 oz | 1.52 oz | 1.64 oz | 1.81 oz | 1.95 oz | 2.09 oz | 2.24 oz | 2.40 oz |
| 6″ | 2.56 oz | 2.79 oz | 2.97 oz | 3.16 oz | 3.35 oz | 3.57 oz | 3.78 oz | 4.09 oz |
| 7″ | 4.32 oz | 4.57 oz | 4.83 oz | 5.11 oz | 5.46 oz | 5.75 oz | 6.05 oz | 6.35 oz |
| 8″ | 6.70 oz | 7.02 oz | 7.48 oz | 7.83 oz | 8.22 oz | 8.61 oz | 8.99 oz | 9.42 oz |
| 9″ | 9.98 oz | 10.41 oz | 10.86 oz | 11.32 oz | 11.82 oz | 12.31 oz | 12.98 oz | 13.51 oz |
| 10″ | 14.07 oz | 14.48 oz | 14.89 oz | 15.43 oz | 15.94 oz | 1 lb 1 oz | 1 lb 1.6 oz | 1 lb 2.3 oz |
View World & State Redbreast Sunfish Records
Where Redbreast Sunfish Are Found
Redbreast sunfish are native to Canada and the United States. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas all have official records for redbreast sunfish.
Redbreast sunfish inhabit rivers, lakes, rocky pools, backwaters of streams, and upstream reaches of reservoirs. They can be found in areas with woody debris, stumps, undercut banks, and rocky points.
These fish prefer rocky, vegetated pools with sandy bottoms and avoid standstill waters.
Lifespan of a Redbreast Sunfish
The lifespan of a redbreast sunfish is typically 5 – 6 years in the wild and 8 years in captivity. They take about 2 years to reach maturity.
You can tell the general age of a flier by referring to the table below.
Redbreast Sunfish Age Chart
| Age | Length |
| 1 Year Old | 4 – 5 inches |
| 2 Years Old | 5 – 6 inches |
| 3 Years Old | 6 – 7 inches |
| 4 Years Old | 7 – 8 inches |
| 5 Years Old | 8 – 8.5 inches |
| 6 Years Old | 8.5 – 9 inches |
| 7 Years Old | 9 – 9.5 inches |
| 8 Years Old | 10 inches |
Fishing For Redbreast Sunfish
Are Redbreast Sunfish hard to catch?
Redbreast sunfish 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 redbreast sunfish?
The #6 size Gamakatsu Octopus is the best hook for catching redbreast sunfish.
What type of bait do you use for redbreast sunfish?
They can be caught with live bait such as crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, mealworms, and even canned corn.
They will also go for artificial flies, small spinners, and small jigs.
If you are looking for something to keep in your tackle box then Berkley PowerBait is a great option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are redbreast sunfish good eating?
Redbreast sunfish 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 Redbreast Sunfish?
Corn is one of the best baits to use when fishing for redbreast sunfish. 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 redbreast sunfish bite humans?
Redbreast sunfish are not dangerous to humans. Their mouths are too small to bite humans and they are not poisonous or venomous.
Are redbreast sunfish a carp?
Redbreast sunfish are not carp. Redbreast sunfish are members of the Centrarchidae family, while carp are members of the Cyprinidae family.
Are redbreast sunfish a crappie?
Bluegill are not a crappie, although they are a part of the same Centrarchidae family. Redbreast sunfish are in the Lepomis genus, while carp are members of the Pomoxis genus.
Are redbreast sunfish related to bass?
Redbreast sunfish are not related to bass, although they are a part of the same Centrarchidae family. Redbreast sunfish are in the Lepomis genus , while bass are members of the Micropterus genus.
What fish will eat a redbreast sunfish?
Bass, muskie, walleye, and other predator fish all eat redbreast sunfish as part of their normal diet.