Get to know redear sunfish: identifying features, habitat, food, and life cycle.
Identification & habitat
- Scientific name: Lepomis microlophus.
- ID: Red or orange mark on the black ear flap.
- Shape: Deep body, small mouth, golden-olive sides.
- Pattern: May show dark vertical bars.
- Regional size: Often 8–10½ inches; larger fish occur.
- Habitat: Warm, clear, vegetated water with little current.
- Crushing tool: Broad throat teeth break shells.
- Nickname: Shellcracker comes from that diet.
Food & behavior
- Activity: Mainly daylight.
- Menu: Specializes in snails and other mollusks.
Spawning, growth & lifespan
- Nest colonies: Neighboring nest rims can almost touch.
- Spawning: Missouri May–June, sometimes again in August.
- Longevity: Can reach six years in the agency account.
Angling & the bigger picture
- Ecology: Eating snails can interrupt some aquatic parasite life cycles.
- Fishing: Worms and grubs are useful natural baits.
Sources & further reading
Research checked October 18, 2026. Common sizes and ages are examples rather than hard limits. Missouri spawning dates are regional unless another location is named. Consult the current local fishing rules for the water you plan to fish.