pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus · Centrarchidae · predator
A North American sunfish introduced to Brazil, where it is exotic and considered a potential pest. It eats small fish and fish eggs, and is not a welcome catch.
Also called: peixe-sol-abóbora, perca-sol, pumpkinseed
- maximum
- 40 cm
- record/max.
- 0.6 kg
- depth
- 0–41 m
the right time
to be on the water
Choose the place and the species. The index, from 0 to 100, combines weather, sun, moon and tide with each fish's habits. Up to 28 days, with each day's confidence.
Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…
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hour by hour
slide your finger or mouse over the chart to see each hoursee hour-by-hour table
why this index at —?
choose the day
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
the fishing month at a glance
what's the best window for the crew?
Choose how many fishing days. We compare each stretch by its average index, discount days with a warning or closed season, and show the 3 best.
trend for the coming weeks
Line: the middle value of 31 simulations of the American GEFS model. Band: where 8 out of 10 fall. Narrow, firm trend; wide, high uncertainty.
everything about the pumpkinseed
who is the pumpkinseed
The pumpkinseed is a fish of the family Centrarchidae, with a short, deep body. Reaches 40 centimeters and up to 630 grams, and can live up to 12 years. It is native to North America and has been introduced to several countries, including Brazil, where it is an exotic species. Several countries report negative ecological impacts after its introduction. It lives in lakes and ponds with vegetation and in backwaters of small streams and rivers, from 0 to 41 meters deep, and avoids strong current. It eats small fish, other vertebrates and fish eggs. In fishing, it is considered an unwanted catch.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the pumpkinseed; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The male guards the eggs for about 7 days and the young for up to 11 days after hatching.
identification
A short, deep body, compressed from side to side, like the other sunfishes (Centrarchidae). Reaches 40 centimeters. Adults rarely form schools and stay in pairs or in groups of three or four, while juveniles form much larger schools. It lives in vegetated lakes and in backwaters of streams, where it was introduced.
where found
Native to North America and introduced to several countries, including Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Guatemala and Venezuela. In Brazil there are records in Minas Gerais (headwaters of the Doce River) and in the Federal District.
Habitat: Lakes and ponds with vegetation and backwaters of small streams and rivers, from 0 to 41 meters deep, also in estuaries.
introduced in
rules for the pumpkinseed
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
The spines of the dorsal and anal fins can prick: hold it firmly by the body, with a wet hand. Because it is exotic in Brazil, do not transport it or release it into other waters.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01148, b = 3.11; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Lepomis gibbosus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Lepomis gibbosusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
similar species
where each number comes from
The weather comes from three independent global models, cross-checked hour by hour: when they agree, confidence goes up; when they diverge, the band between them shows on the chart. Beyond 16 days, we use the GEFS ensemble of 31 simulations: if 20 of the 31 predict rain, the chance of rain is 65%. Sun and moon are calculated astronomically, with no uncertainty.
The index adds up, weighted for each species: time of day (species curve anchored to real sunrise and sunset), moon (transits, rise and set, phase), pressure (3 h trend and 24 h swing), water temperature (in rivers, estimated from air temperature; at sea, estimated by an ocean model), wind, rain, clouds, tide and the month in the species' cycle.
sources for this lookup
how accurate the forecast is
Accuracy measured in the reference project (4 regions, 93 days, forecast vs. observed): maximum temperature is off by 0.6 °C on average the next day and 1.7 °C at 7 days; rain of 5 mm or more is detected 76% of the time the next day and 57% at 7 days. Detection isn't everything: the false alarm rate isn't published here yet, and 93 days in 4 regions is still a small sample. We now also measure every day, at the app's destinations: