Green sunfish in Wisconsin
Wisconsin rules and waters for green sunfish.
- 25 in total; no minilimit
- 1 lb. 9 oz.record
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Wisconsin green sunfish basics
Wisconsin files Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) with the Sunfishes (Centrarchidae), and the regulations treat it as game fish. Where the guide lists general inland waters, the keeper rule is 25 in total; no minimum length and the season is Open all year.
In 1967, Wind Lake gave up the hook and line record, 1 lb. 9 oz.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| General inland waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 15 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| St. Louis and St. Croix river upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 15 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Tributaries to Lake Michigan | 25 in total but only 5 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | Open all year, except yellow perch is closed May 1, 2026 – June 15, 2026 |
| Major Green Bay tributaries | 25 in total but only 15 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | Open all year, except yellow perch which is open May 20, 2026 – March 15, 2027 |
| All other tributaries to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | 25 in total but only 15 may be yellow perch; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027, except yellow perch which is open May 20, 2026 – March 15, 2027 |
| Lake Michigan and Green Bay | 25 in total; includes yellow perch limit; no minimum length | Open all year for bluegill, sunfish and crappie |
| Lake Superior | 25; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Winnebago System waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
The biggest Wisconsin green sunfish on file
| Category | Weight or length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 1 lb. 9 oz. | Wind Lake | Racine | 1967 |
| live release | 9.75 in | Lake Mendota | Dane | 2020 |
| alternate method | 0 lbs. 5 oz. | Lake Wazee | Jackson | 2018 |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out.
Lakes and rivers with green sunfish
Lake pages listing green sunfish
- Lake Mendota9,781 acres
- Wind Lake, Racine County919 acres
WDNR Find a Lake fish lists and fisheries designation layers; largest waters first.
Family members of green sunfish
- Largemouth bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Smallmouth bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Rock bassSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- BluegillSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- PumpkinseedSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- WarmouthSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Orangespotted sunfishSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- Black crappieSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
- White crappieSunfishes (Centrarchidae)
Shoreline scenes a drive from Green sunfish
Photo: Scott Catron, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: BobbbyLight, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wisconsin green sunfish: common questions
Can Wisconsin anglers keep green sunfish?
25 in total; no minimum length on general inland waters; season Open all year. Other waters have their own rows.
What is the Wisconsin record green sunfish?
1 lb. 9 oz. from Wind Lake in 1967 (hook and line).
Where are green sunfish found in Wisconsin?
2 waters here, starting with Lake Mendota and Wind Lake, Racine County.
How many green sunfish did the WDNR stock?
None recorded from 2023 to 2025.
Is green sunfish a game fish in Wisconsin?
Lepomis cyanellus, Sunfishes (Centrarchidae); game fish.
Does Wisconsin close the green sunfish season?
Open all year on general inland waters.
Is a trout stamp required for green sunfish?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
Do Wisconsin guides fish for green sunfish?
The guides page lists operators by water instead.
Go after green sunfish this season
The lake pages above carry abundance, landings and limits.