Sunfish Fishing in North Carolina for Bluegills, Flier Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch and Other NC Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout North Carolina and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In North Carolina

It might be next to impossible to find fishing water in North Carolina without one or more species of panfish. And, they tend to grow a bit bigger in this part of the country. All major lakes including Apalachia Lake, B Everett Jordan Lake, Badin Lake, Belews Lake, Blewett Falls Lake, Chatuge Lake, Falls Lake, Fontana Lake, High Rock Lake, Hiwassee Lake, Hyco Reservoir, Kerr Lake, Kings Mountain Reservoir, Lake Gaston, Lake Glenville, Lake Hickory, Lake James, Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Norman, Lake Rhodhiss, Lake Tillery, Lake Waccamaw, Lake Wylie, Mayo Reservoir, Mountain Island Lake, Phelps Lake, Roanoke Rapids Lake, Santeetlah Lake, Shearon Harris Reservoir and W Kerr Scott Reservoir have healthy schools of panfish. You'll also find panfish in most ponds, rivers and small lakes as well.

North Carolina state record flier sunfish was taken from a private pond the state record green sunfish came from a farm pond, the Trent River served up the state record pumpkinseed sunfish, Big Swamp was home to the state record redbreast sunfish, the state record redear sunfish came from Lookout Shoals Lake. the state record white perch came from Falls of the Neuse Reservoir, the state record yellow perch came out of Indiantown Creek and it is unknown where the state record bluegill was caught.

Panfish are prolific spawners and repopulate the waters as fast as they are harvested. A common problem with panfish fishing is that the waters are under-fished causing panfish to overpopulate. As a result they tend to stay small in size due to lack of food source.

The list of panfish is comprised of many fishes each called by a variety of names. The bluegill tops the list and is the most common.

Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus

Check for North Carolina bluegill fishing articles in the articles section.

Crappie are also considered panfish. For details on crappie visit our crappie fishing section.

Flier Sunfish
Centrarchus macropterus
World Record: 1.25 lbs

Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
World Record: 2.1 lbs.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus
World Record: 1.4 lbs

Redbreast Sunfish
Lepomis auritus
World Record: 1.7 lbs.
The males are quite colorful with red, orange or yellow breasts with dark green upper bodies. Females are colored the same but in drab shades of the same colors. They prefers water temperatures ranging from 76 to 84 degrees. Redear sunfish are also commonly called longear bream, redbreasted bream and yellowbreast bream. Worms, larve, crickets, insects, cut bait and prepared bait all work well on small hooks and light line.

Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
World Record: 5.4 lbs.

Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus
World Record: 2.4 lbs

White Bass
Morone chrysops
World Record: 6.8 lbs.

White Perch
Morone americana
USA Record: 4.6 lbs
The white perch is named for its color which ig generally white or silver with shades of adaptive color from its environment to help it hide from predators. They are a good tasting fish and are even fished commercially. They are quite prolific and can be considered a nuisance in some waters. They prefer water temperatures from 62 to 70 degrees. Also known as perch, silver perch, perch and grey perch. White perch make a great fish fry with nice filets coming from ones approaching a pound. Use light tackle to fish for white perch. For bait, use worms, minnows, jigs, spoons and small lures imitating baitfish.

Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
USA Record: 3.75 lbs

For general information on local fishing visit the North Carolina Fishing home page.

NC Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill & Other Panfish in North Carolina.

4 lbs - 12 oz

4 lbs - 5 oz

60 - 85 Degrees

Prefers slightly stained to murky water with little or no current. Survives in most warm bodies of water.