UTERRedear sunfish fishing in Arizona freshwater
In Arizona 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. April: Lower Colorado River redear — Parker Strip's world-class shellcrackers.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Redear sunfish in Arizona freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchPeak
- AprilSpawningLower Colorado River redear — Parker Strip's world-class shellcrackers.
- MaySpawning
- JunePeak
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish redear sunfish near Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt Lake, Lake Havasu
Desert reservoirs on the Salt, the Verde and the Colorado, the Colorado River itself, the trout tailwater at Lees Ferry, and the cold White Mountain and Mogollon Rim lakes.
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 Arizona 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. April: Lower Colorado River redear — Parker Strip's world-class shellcrackers.
Where do redear sunfish hold in Arizona freshwater?
Look on lake, pond / pit, reservoir — around Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt Lake, Lake Havasu, Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Lees Ferry.
What is the best bait for redear sunfish in Arizona 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 Arizona freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and change — read the current rule at https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/.
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All about redear sunfish · Arizona fresh water, the whole year