Science Name: | Centrarchus macropterus |
Other Names: | round sunfish and millpond flier |
Ideal Temp: | 72 to 85 |
World Record: | 1 lb 4 ounces, CA. |
Environment: | rivers |
Techniques: | light tackle, fly fishing |
Subspecies - There are no recognized subspecies. Has been known to hybridize with other sunfish.
Habitat - They inhabit dark, acidic waters of coastal swamps, creeks, ponds, and canals. They prefer heavily vegetated water and are often found under mats of floating vegetation. Fliers can tolerate waters too acidic for other sunfish. They prefer water temperatures from 75 to 85 degrees.
Spawning Habits - Spawning begins in March when water temperatures reach 62 to 68 degrees. The male prepares a nest and the female lays from 5,000 to 50,000 eggs. Nesting may be solitary or in small colonies. Males continuously guard the eggs and recently hatched young.
Feeding Habits - Fliers are carnivorous in their feeding habits. They prefer insects, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, leeches, and small fish are supplemented with small quantities of phytoplankton.
Age and Growth - Fliers live as long as eight years but grow very slowly. They may attain a maximum length of about 10 inches and a weight of one pound, however most are much smaller. There is no apparent difference in size or rate of growth between males and females.
Sporting Qualities - Although fliers fight well for their size, they are often too small to generate much interest among anglers. Fliers can be caught on dry flies, tiny poppers, worms, insect larvae and small minnows. Good fishing locations are around cypress trees and stumps, near brush piles, and at the mouths of small creeks and canals.
Eating Qualities - The flesh is sweet and excellent to eat. The same methods of cooking other sunfish apply for fliers.