Bluegill in Florida
Limits, records, best waters and stocking for bluegill.
- 2.95 lbrecord
- 90lakes
Photo: Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain
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Bluegill in Florida waters
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is managed by FWC as a freshwater species. FWC’s Big Catch program recognizes bluegill from 10 inches or 1 lb. The Florida record bluegill weighed 2.95 pounds (Crystal Lake, 1989).
FWC lists bluegill in 90 lakes with fishing pages on this site. FWC hatcheries stocked 1,193,439 bluegill in the fiscal years on file.
bluegill biology
Where to find bluegill
“Bluegill are common throughout Florida but are best known in lakes and ponds.”
Life cycle of bluegill
“Bluegill eat mostly insects and their larvae.”
“Bluegill spawn throughout summer, congregating in large "beds".”
“Anglers may find 30-40 shallow nests scooped out in sandy areas.”
Seasons for bluegill
“Bluegill spawn throughout summer, congregating in large "beds".”
“Anglers may find 30-40 shallow nests scooped out in sandy areas.”
Quoted from the FWC species profile.
Florida bluegill limits
| Where | Bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | 50 a day | none | Open year round |
50 panfish including bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), flier, longear sunfish, mud sunfish, shadow bass, spotted sunfish (stumpknocker), warmouth and redbreast sunfish, individually or in total.
FWC freshwater regulations, checked October 2026. All Florida limits.
Florida record bluegill
| Category | Weight (lb) | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | 2.95 | Crystal Lake | 1989 |
FWC freshwater state records and Catch a Florida Memory saltwater records. Angler names left out.
Florida lakes for bluegill
- Rodman ReservoirMarion County, 9,500 acres
- Lake TohopekaligaOsceola County, 18,810 acres
- Lake IstokpogaHighlands County, 27,692 acres
- Fellsmere ReservoirBrevard County, 10,000 acres
- Lake OkeechobeePalm Beach County
- Orange LakeAlachua County, 12,700 acres
- Lake RousseauCitrus County
- Kenansville LakeBrevard County, 2,500 acres
- Lake WeohyakapkaPolk County, 7,528 acres
- Lake GeorgeVolusia County, 46,000 acres
- Lake PanasoffkeeSumter County, 4,460 acres
- Farm 13/Stick MarshBrevard County, 6,500 acres
- Alligator LakeColumbia County, 800 acres
- Lake WeirMarion County, 5,685 acres
- Lake TalquinGadsden County, 8,800 acres
- Lake JacksonLeon County, 4,000 acres
- Tenoroc Fish Management AreaPolk County, 242 acres
- Lochloosa LakeAlachua County, 5,700 acres
- Lake GarciaIndian River County, 3,149 acres
- Lake Santa FeAlachua County, 5,850 acres
- Crescent LakePutnam County, 15,960 acres
- Saddle Creek Park LakesPolk County, 740 acres
- Lake MonroeVolusia County, 9,406 acres
- Lake TraffordCollier County, 1,500 acres
- Lake TarponPinellas County, 2,500 acres
- Lake Seminole37,500 acres
- Newnans LakeAlachua County, 5,800 acres
- Blue Cypress LakeIndian River County, 5,500 acres
- Edward Medard ReservoirHillsborough County, 770 acres
- Deer Point LakeBay County, 5,000 acres
- Karick LakeOkaloosa County, 58 acres
- Lake VictorHolmes County, 130 acres
- Ocheesee PondJackson County, 2,225 acres
- Lake ManateeManatee County, 1,400 acres
- Bear LakeSanta Rosa County, 107 acres
- Suwannee LakeSuwannee County, 63 acres
- Hurricane LakeOkaloosa County, 318 acres
- Lake StoneEscambia County, 130 acres
- Lake KissimmeeOsceola County, 34,948 acres
- Tsala Apopka Chain of LakesCitrus County, 19,111 acres
FWC top spots for bluegill
- Orange Lake2026 Bream list: Bass size and numbers, bream numbers
- Hanna Park Ponds2026 Bream list: Catfish numbers, sunshine bass numbers, bream numbers
- Lake Panasoffkee2026 Bream list:
- Lake Talquin2026 Bream list:
- Edward Medard Reservoir2026 Bream list:
- Lake Istokpoga2026 Bream list: Bass size and numbers, crappie size and numbers, bream size and numbers
- Lake Tarpon2026 Bream list: Bass size and numbers, bream size and numbers
- Tenoroc Fish Management Area2026 Bream list: Bass size and numbers, bream size and numbers, special opportunity for Sunshine Bass, special opportunity for catfish, catfish numbers
- Lake Thonotosassa2026 Bream list:
- Lake Hartridge2026 Bream list: Bass size and numbers, crappie size and numbers, bream size and numbers
Lakes where the FWC site page names bluegill.
Where FWC stocks bluegill
| Water | County | Fish | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moon Lake | Pasco | 101,088 | 2021-22, 2022-23 |
| Lake Butler | Union | 65,000 | 2023-24 |
| Deer Point Lake | Bay | 61,200 | 2022-23, 2023-24 |
| Lake Victor | Holmes | 60,939 | 2022-23, 2023-24 |
| Hurricane Lake | Okaloosa | 54,040 | 2021-22 |
| Webb Lake | Charlotte | 50,000 | 2023-24 |
| Hardee Lakes FMA-Lake Hardee | Hardee | 42,000 | 2023-24 |
| Lucas Lake | Washington | 41,829 | 2023-24 |
| Lake DeFuniak | Walton | 40,875 | 2021-22, 2023-24 |
| Juniper Lake | Walton | 40,000 | 2021-22, 2023-24 |
| Hardee Lakes FMA-Deer Lake | Hardee | 38,500 | 2023-24 |
| Yellow River | Okaloosa | 34,830 | 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 |
| Hardee Lakes FMA-Lake Firefly | Hardee | 34,000 | 2023-24 |
| Suwannee Lake | Suwannee | 34,000 | 2022-23 |
| Bear Lake | Santa Rosa | 33,860 | 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 |
FWC Completed Stockings reports, fiscal years 2021-22 to 2023-24.
Other Florida freshwater fish
Quick answers on bluegill
Is there a size limit on bluegill in Florida?
50 a day (Statewide), size: none.
What is the biggest bluegill caught in Florida?
2.95 pounds, caught in 1989.
Where do I catch bluegill in Florida?
FWC lists bluegill at 90 lakes, such as Rodman Reservoir, Lake Tohopekaliga and Lake Istokpoga.
Does FWC stock bluegill?
Hatcheries released 1,193,439 in the years listed.
What qualifies a bluegill as a Big Catch?
10 inches or 1 lb.
What species name do bluegill go by?
Lepomis macrochirus.
Which license do I need for bluegill?
You need the Florida freshwater license at 16 and older.
When is bluegill season closed?
No closed season is listed for bluegill.
Where does this bluegill information come from?
The FWC profile, rule pages and record lists.