Redear Sunfish in Colorado
CPW limits, records and water for redear sunfish.
- 20 a daylimit
- 1 lb 7 ozrecord
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Redear sunfish in Colorado, the essentials
Colorado Parks and Wildlife groups redear sunfish as panfish, covered by 1 chart row on the 2026 limits chart. For waters statewide the brochure prints daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate.
The weight record stands at 1 lb 7 oz, from Stalker Lake in 2022. 2 lakes and streams on this site list it. Look for it in 1 special-regulation entries, the largest share in Larimer County.
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| Chart row | Zone | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill, Hybrid Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish | Statewide | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026; the chart applies on every water not listed in the special regulations.
Colorado record weights and lengths for redear sunfish
By weight
| Entry | Weight | Length | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redear Sunfish | 1 lb 7 oz | 12.75 in | Parker Erker | Stalker Lake | Yuma | 2022 |
Length records since 2020
| Entry | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redear Sunfish | water not printed |
A new length record must beat the current one, or 12 inches where no record exists (the Master Angler qualifying length).
CPW Fishing Awards and Records and the 2026 brochure pages 6 and 7, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Special regulations that name redear sunfish
| Water and section | County | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Berthoud Reservoir | Larimer | Bag, possession limit for crappie and redear sunfish is 10 fish in aggregate, min. of 10 inches long. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to water immediately. |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
Other 2026 rules covering redear sunfish
- b. Crustaceans: The following crustaceans may be possessed east of the Continental Divide: virile crayfish, waternymph crayfish, calico crayfish, ringed crayfish and Southern Plains crayfish. The following crustaceans may be possessed on either side of the Continental Divide: freshwater shrimp …p. 8
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife),, retrieved October 25, 2026.
From the plains to the peaks: water for redear sunfish
Reservoirs with redear sunfish
- Dillon Reservoir3,345 acres
- Stalker Lake19 acres
CPW Boatable Waters and Quality Waters species fields and state record waters; largest waters first.
Fish CPW groups with redear sunfish
- White Crappiepanfish
- Black Crappiepanfish
- Bluegillpanfish
- Hybrid Bluegillpanfish
- Green Sunfishpanfish
- Pumpkinseed Sunfishpanfish
- Yellow Perchpanfish
Colorado shorelines within a drive of Redear Sunfish
Photo: The original uploader was Nationalparks at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
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Colorado rules and records for Redear sunfish, answered
Which chart row covers redear sunfish?
Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate (statewide); special regulations can change it on listed waters.
Which redear sunfish holds the Colorado weight record?
1 lb 7 oz from Stalker Lake, by Parker Erker in 2022.
Which Colorado waters hold redear sunfish?
2 water pages here list it, starting with Dillon Reservoir and Stalker Lake.
Do local rules apply to redear sunfish?
Yes; 1 entries name it, for example Berthoud Reservoir in Larimer County.
How is redear sunfish classed in Colorado?
Panfish on the CPW species list; the chart zones that apply are statewide.
During which months can Coloradans fish for redear sunfish?
Colorado waters are open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation closes them; 1 special-regulation entries mention it.
What does a license to chase redear sunfish cost?
Everyone 16 and older needs a CPW fishing license: $44.87 a year for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents, or $18.07 for a resident one-day license.
What length qualifies a redear sunfish for a record?
Photograph it on a measuring device with a witness and release it; it must beat the current record, or 12 inches where none exists.
Line up a redear sunfish trip
Any listed water has access and limits on its page.