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Illustration of Green sunfish
fishing forecast

green sunfish

Lepomis cyanellus · full profile

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the species

everything about the green sunfish

how to recognize it

A short, deep body, compressed from side to side, typical of sunfishes, with greenish tones that give the species its name in other languages. It belongs to the same family as the black bass in the catalog (Centrarchidae), but it is much smaller, up to 31 centimeters. It lives in backwaters, lakes and vegetated ponds, where it was also introduced.

Also called: peixe-sol-verde, pez sol, green sunfish

don't confuse with:

We don't have tips on season, bait or technique for this species yet.

Where to look: Pools and backwaters of slow streams, lakes and ponds, almost always near vegetation.

Native to North America, including northern Mexico. In Brazil it is exotic: its introduction dates from the 1930s, with no clear indication of where.

introduced in

Paraná

rules for the green sunfish

Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.

We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.

Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

estimated weight

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how we calculate

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01479, 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%.

more about the green sunfish

The green sunfish is a fish of the family Centrarchidae, with a short, deep body. Reaches 31 centimeters and up to 960 grams, and can live up to 9 years. It is native to North America, from the Great Lakes and the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, and to northern Mexico. In Brazil it is an exotic species, introduced from the United States between 1930 and 1939. Adults live in pools and backwaters of slow streams, in lakes and ponds, almost always near vegetation. Juveniles eat immature insects and microcrustaceans. It builds a nest to spawn and has commercial and aquaculture use.

Family: Centrarchidae · predator

fun facts

  • It builds a nest to spawn and can live up to 9 years.

similar species

sources and references (3)

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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Lepomis cyanellus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Lepomis cyanellusNames by country and language.
  3. 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.