Redear Sunfish in Alabama
Where to catch redear sunfish in Alabama, and what to keep.
- 50 a daycreel
- 4 lbs., 4 oz.record
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redear sunfish and the ADCNR rules
Look up "Bream" in the freshwater limits to find the rule for redear sunfish. Its terms are 50 a day with the season open all year. All members of the group draw down the same daily number. ADCNR files it as Lepomis microlophus.
In 1962, Jeff Lashley landed the record 4 lbs., 4 oz. at Chattahoochee State Park. Look at Lake Martin, Lake Jordan and Gantt Lake, three of 21 pages that list it.
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| Row as printed | Waters | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bream | Public fresh waters statewide | 50 a day | open all year |
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
Heaviest redear sunfish recorded in Alabama
| List | Weight | Angler | Water | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | 4 lbs., 4 oz. | Jeff Lashley | Chattahoochee State Park | May 5, 1962 |
ADCNR (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division for freshwater; Marine Resources Division State Record Fish Committee for saltwater); freshwater list, saltwater list, read November 1, 2026.
Alabama pages naming redear sunfish
Reservoirs with redear sunfish
- Lake Martin39,180 acres
- Lake Jordan6,800 acres
- Gantt Lake2,700 acres
- Point A Lake600 acres
- Thurlow Lake585 acres
- Chambers County Public Fishing Lake183 acres
- Walker County Public Fishing Lake163 acres
- Lee County Public Fishing Lake130 acres
- DeKalb County Public Fishing Lake120 acres
- Madison County Public Fishing Lake105 acres
- Dallas County Public Fishing Lake100 acres
- Dale County Public Fishing Lake92 acres
- Coffee County Public Fishing Lake80 acres
- Barbour County Public Fishing Lake75 acres
- Lamar County Public Fishing Lake68 acres
- Fayette County Public Fishing Lake60 acres
- Crenshaw County Public Fishing Lake53 acres
- Pike County Public Fishing Lake45 acres
- Clay County Public Fishing Lake39 acres
- Marion County Public Fishing Lake37 acres
- Geneva County Public Fishing Lake33 acres
ADCNR reservoir, river and public fishing lake species lists, the record waters and the MRD inshore species; largest waters first.
Alabama fish close to redear sunfish
- Bluegillfreshwater
- Flierfreshwater
- Green Sunfishfreshwater
- Longear Sunfishfreshwater
- Redbreast Sunfishfreshwater
- Warmouthfreshwater
Pine ridges, bluffs and water near Redear Sunfish, photographed

Photo: formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: Wesley Fryer, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: Jody Claborn, Public domain

Photo: Kev Cook, CC BY 4.0
Chasing redear sunfish in Alabama, questions answered
How many redear sunfish may I keep in Alabama?
ADCNR prints 50 a day; open all year.
How heavy is the Alabama redear sunfish record?
4 lbs., 4 oz. from Chattahoochee State Park in 1962, angler Jeff Lashley.
What Alabama lake or bay is good for redear sunfish?
Try Lake Martin, Lake Jordan and Gantt Lake, out of 21 pages.
Does Alabama have redear sunfish exceptions?
The exceptions leave it alone.
Is redear sunfish open now in Alabama?
The row gives open all year.
Is one license enough for redear sunfish?
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
How do I claim an Alabama redear sunfish record?
Identification by a fisheries biologist, a certified scale, two witnesses and an application inside three months.
Is redear sunfish a game fish in Alabama?
Listed names: Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus).
Head out after redear sunfish in Alabama
Choose one of the waters above to plan the day.