Alabama species

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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Photo of the species, not an Alabama water: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Alabama fish

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.

50 a daydaily creel
4 lbs., 4 oz.state record
21water pages
0water exceptions
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Limits

redear sunfish in the 2026-27 Alabama limits

Row as printedWatersCreel and sizeSeason
BreamPublic fresh waters statewide50 a dayopen 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.

Every Alabama freshwater limit

Records

Heaviest redear sunfish recorded in Alabama

ListWeightAnglerWaterDateNote
freshwater4 lbs., 4 oz.Jeff LashleyChattahoochee State ParkMay 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.

Where to look

Alabama pages naming redear sunfish

Reservoirs with redear sunfish

ADCNR reservoir, river and public fishing lake species lists, the record waters and the MRD inshore species; largest waters first.

Related fish

Alabama fish close to redear sunfish

Photos

Pine ridges, bluffs and water near Redear Sunfish, photographed

Morgan County, Alabama
Morgan County
Photo: formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0
Etowah County, Alabama
Etowah County
Photo: Wesley Fryer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Marshall County, Alabama
Marshall County
Photo: Jody Claborn, Public domain
Madison County, Alabama
Madison County
Photo: Kev Cook, CC BY 4.0
Answers

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.