 REDBREAST SUNFISH
Scientific Name: Lepomis auritus
Other
Common Names: robin, redbelly, yellowbelly sunfish, bream
Identification
One
of the brightest-colored sunfish, the redbreast has green-to
yellow-brown sides with reddish spots and a reddish-orange
belly. It has bluish streaks on its cheeks and around the eyes.
The most distinguishing characteristic of this species is a long,
narrow
(no wider than the eye) extension of the gill cover. These flaps
may exceed a length of 1 inch and are entirely black.
Habitats and
Habits
Redbreast sunfish
inhabit freshwaters of eastern North America from southern Canada
to Florida. Redbreast sunfish
are found throughout North Carolina, except for cold mountain waters. Their diet is probably the most varied of all the sunfishes. They
eat bottom-dwelling insect larvae, snails, clams, shrimp, crayfish
and small fish.
Fishing Techniques
Redbreast
sunfish frequently concentrate around boulders, logs, aquatic
vegetation or tree roots. They take any type
of small natural bait, spinners, spoons, plugs, artificial flies
and popping bugs. Use a lightweight line (under 4 lbs.), a thin,
small bobber and small hooks. Unlike other sunfish, redbreast can
be caught at night, using a wide variety of lures and baits.
Good Places to
Fish
Redbreast sunfish
are found in most of North Carolina’s
major river systems with sparse populations found in the Chowan
and Pasquotank rivers. As you move west across the
state, populations increase until you get to the Little Tennessee,
Savannah and Hiwassee rivers where the populations drop off once
again. There is excellent fishing for redbreast throughout the center
of the state — just find a stream with some good cover and
running water and you should locate some redbreast. The Tar River
from Granville County through Edgecombe County is an excellent place
to start.
NCARP Minimum
Requirements: 1
pound or 11 inches
State
Record:
1 lb., 12 oz., from Big Swamp in Bladen County, May 29, 1983
World
Record: 1 lb., 12 oz., from Suwannee River in Fla., May 29,
1984*
* Anglers
provide information on their potential world-record catches directly
to the International
Game Fish Association, which maintains the world records
for sport fishing.
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