Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Also called panfish, sunfish, pan fish, Bluegill x Green Sunfish
A popular panfish species native to North America, known for its distinctive blue coloration on the gill covers and cheeks. Bluegill are aggressive feeders and excellent for beginner anglers.
Bluegill at a glance
- Scientific name
- Lepomis macrochirus
- Typical size
- 6-10 inches, 0.5-1.5 lbs
- IGFA world record
- 4 lbs 12 oz
- State record
- 2 lbs 15 oz
- Water
- Freshwater
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Common
Habitat
Bluegill inhabit lakes, ponds, slow-moving rivers, and streams with vegetation and structure. They prefer shallow areas near cover like fallen trees, docks, and weed beds. Anglers commonly target them with small baits like worms, crickets, and small jigs near structure.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a bluegill through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksWhat to throw for bluegill
The lure classes that produce for bluegill, drawn from the same species map Cobia reasons about. Each one opens a full page on what it is, when it works and how to fish it.
Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the water in front of you today. That part is the app.
Bluegill questions people ask
Bluegill is Lepomis macrochirus. Anglers also call it panfish, sunfish, pan fish, Bluegill x Green Sunfish.
A typical bluegill runs 6-10 inches, 0.5-1.5 lbs. The IGFA all tackle world record stands at 4 lbs 12 oz. Cobia records the length and weight of every bluegill you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Bluegill inhabit lakes, ponds, slow-moving rivers, and streams with vegetation and structure. They prefer shallow areas near cover like fallen trees, docks, and weed beds. Anglers commonly target them with small baits like worms, crickets, and small jigs near structure. It is a fresh water species, filed under freshwater in the Fishdex.
The IGFA all tackle world record bluegill weighed 4 lbs 12 oz. The standing state record on file is 2 lbs 15 oz.
Jigheads, grubs and curl-tails, inline spinners and topwater poppers all produce. Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the season, the water temperature and the tide on the day, which is the part Cobia works out against the lures you already own.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.