UTERRedear sunfish fishing in Alabama freshwater
In Alabama freshwater, redear sunfish peak March–June and are around year-round, spawning in April–May, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Big cranks and swimbaits on the offshore ledges when the current runs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Redear sunfish in Alabama freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchPeak
- AprilSpawning
- MaySpawning
- JunePeakTVA ledge fishing. Big cranks and swimbaits on the offshore ledges when the current runs.
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish redear sunfish near Lake Guntersville, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake
TVA reservoirs on the Tennessee River in the north, the Coosa chain's spotted-bass lakes, Eufaula on the Georgia line, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta's bayous where fresh water meets the Gulf.
What to use for redear sunfish
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Grass shrimpTwo or three on a #6 hook under a small cork — the bream, crappie, sheepshead and mangrove snapper bait nobody sells.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 50–90°F water, best at 68–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch redear sunfish in Alabama freshwater?
Peak season is March–June, with fish spawning in April–May (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Redear sunfish are here year-round.
Where do redear sunfish hold in Alabama freshwater?
Look on lake, pond / pit, reservoir — around Lake Guntersville, Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake, Lake Eufaula, Weiss Lake, Lewis Smith Lake.
What is the best bait for redear sunfish in Alabama freshwater?
Live bait: nightcrawlers, grass shrimp. Nightcrawlers: Whole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for redear sunfish in Alabama freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and change — read the current rule at https://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing-creel-and-size-limits before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.outdooralabama.com/license-information.
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All about redear sunfish · Alabama fresh water, the whole year