UTERRedear sunfish fishing in California freshwater
In California freshwater, redear sunfish peak April–July and are around year-round, spawning in May–June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Big redear in the Delta, Lower Otay and Lake Perris.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Redear sunfish in California freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilPeak
- MaySpawningBig redear in the Delta, Lower Otay and Lake Perris.
- JuneSpawning
- JulyPeak
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish redear sunfish near Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville
The Delta's tule-lined sloughs, Clear Lake's trophy bass, the foothill spotted-bass reservoirs, the Sacramento's salmon and striper runs, the Sierra's trout streams and high lakes, and the southern reservoirs' Florida-strain giants.
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 California freshwater?
Peak season is April–July, with fish spawning in May–June (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Redear sunfish are here year-round. May: Big redear in the Delta, Lower Otay and Lake Perris.
Where do redear sunfish hold in California freshwater?
Look on lake, pond / pit, reservoir — around Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville, Bullards Bar, Lake Shasta, Eastern Sierra.
What is the best bait for redear sunfish in California 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 California freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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All about redear sunfish · California fresh water, the whole year