Redear Sunfish in Louisiana
redear sunfish under the 2026 LDWF pamphlet.
- no daily caplimit
- 2.87 lbrecord
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redear sunfish by Louisiana numbers
The 2026 LDWF pamphlet files redear sunfish under the freshwater row “Sunfish (bream)”. On paper that comes to no daily limit, with open year-round as the season.
LOWA credits Jerry Smelly with the rod and reel record, 2.87 lb out of Caney Lake in 1998. Check Toledo Bend Reservoir, Caddo Lake and Lake Bistineau first; 32 pages carry it. Exceptions apply on 1 water, for example Bussey Brake.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunfish (bream) | All state waters EXCEPT Bussey Brake | No daily limit | Open year-round |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 20 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
Special Louisiana waters for redear sunfish
| Water | Where | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Bussey Brake | Whole water | 50 daily, in the aggregate |
Rules as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), pages 18 to 21 (pamphlet PDF); second read on the LDWF freshwater page October 28, 2026.
LOWA record redear sunfish
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | Rod & Reel | 2.87 lb | Jerry Smelly | Caney Lake | August 1998 |
| private pond | Rod & Reel | 2.31 lb | Lee J. Trahan | not printed | March 1995 |
| freshwater | Fly Fishing | 1.00 lb | John Pitre | Kincaid Lake | June 2022 |
Runners-up behind the top redear sunfish
- 2.55 lb, Terry HallCaney Lake, March 2003
- 2.53 lb, Joe SwannerCaney Lake, May 1999
- 2.25 lb, Lois Jean RollinsSpring Bayou, May 2002
- 2.21 lb, Louis R. ByrdCaney Lake, April 1997
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA), LOWA "Louisiana State Fish Records Official Copy", records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026 (PDF created 2026-09-25); read October 28, 2026.
Where redear sunfish turn up in Louisiana
Impoundments listing redear sunfish
- Toledo Bend Reservoir181,600 acres
- Caddo Lake26,800 acres
- Lake Bistineau17,200 acres
- Fausse Point, Dauterive and Catahoula Complex17,000 acres
- Lake Salvador15,000 acres
- Black Lake and Clear Lake13,800 acres
- Lake Des Allemands12,000 acres
- Saline Lake8,400 acres
- Lake Cataouatche8,000 acres
- Bonnet Carre Spillway7,623 acres
- Cocodrie Lake6,000 acres
- Caney Creek Reservoir5,000 acres
- Old River at Raccourci4,900 acres
- Vernon Lake4,200 acres
- Spring Bayou2,718 acres
- Grand Bayou Reservoir2,500 acres
- Wallace Lake (De Soto Parish)2,300 acres
- Lake Boeuf2,000 acres
- Kepler Creek Lake1,925 acres
- Kincaid Lake1,915 acres
- Bundick Lake1,750 acres
- Chicot Lake1,642 acres
- Cane River Lake1,350 acres
- Lake Martin800 acres
Rivers worth a run for redear sunfish
- Tchefuncte RiverSt. Tammany Parish
- Cane BayouSt. Tammany Parish
- Lacombe BayouSt. Tammany Parish
- Tangipahoa RiverTangipahoa Parish
LDWF popular-species text on management-plan lakes, LOWA record waters, LDWF stocking releases and Get Out & Fish! sites; biggest waters first.
Lakes and bayous close to Redear Sunfish, pictured
Photo: Jared, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chrismiceli, Public domain
Finding redear sunfish in Louisiana, answered
What is the Louisiana daily limit for redear sunfish?
The 2026 row reads No daily limit; season open year-round.
Is there a LOWA record for redear sunfish?
The rod and reel record is 2.87 lb from Caney Lake in 1998, caught by Jerry Smelly.
Which Louisiana water pages mention redear sunfish?
32 pages, beginning with Toledo Bend Reservoir, Caddo Lake and Lake Bistineau.
Where has LDWF released redear sunfish?
The stocking tables carry no row for it.
Do some Louisiana lakes carry their own redear sunfish numbers?
LDWF lists 1 water, including Bussey Brake.
When may I keep redear sunfish in Louisiana?
LDWF gives Open year-round.
Which Louisiana license covers redear sunfish?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
How is a redear sunfish record certified in Louisiana?
LOWA certifies records after an LDWF biologist examines the fish.
Plan a trip for redear sunfish
Open a water above for its launches and rules.