Florida has 7,710 named lakes and ponds, and 12,000 miles of rivers, all brimming with bream.  Bream is a local term throughout the southeast that includes a variety of deep-bodied panfish in the sunfish family.  Popular favorites include bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish (stumpknockers) and warmouth.

Almost any water body in the Sunshine State, regardless of size or locale, contains bluegills and, probably to a lesser extent, redear sunfish.

Steve Crawford, a veteran biologist with Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,  anticipates a great year in 2004 following the high water most of Florida experienced in 2003. Good populations of quality sunfish have been observed in many locales during 2003  In south Florida, shellcrackers will possibly spawn in mid-March.  In central Florida, they will likely first go onto the beds during the full moon in mid-April, and will begin to concentrate in the panhandle of Florida in late April to mid-May.   He anticipates bluegills will begin rendezvousing in late April and May for their shoreline spawning sessions.

According to Crawford, shellcrackers bed well into August, while bluegills periodically spawn throughout the summer months and, sometimes, even as late as November in south Florida. "Water depths for bedding bream may range anywhere from 3 to 10 feet. "However," he continued, "bluegills seem to opt for slightly more shallow depths, and it's not unusual to see shellcrackers and bluegills intermingle, using the same beds at the same time."

Bluegills are easily the most popular bream in Florida due to their availability, although shellcrackers appeal to many anglers since they are often larger than bluegill. Found in lakes, streams, rivers, ponds and canals, bluegills are caught on a wide variety of live offerings with earthworms, crickets and grass shrimp being the more prevailing. Anglers, who use spinning gear, won't go wrong when tossing or trolling small spinnerbaits. Flyrod buffs particularly enjoy this little scrapper because of its eagerness to clobber both popping bugs and sinker flies. (See fishing tips for more details)

Ounce-for-ounce, the prolific bluegill is a strong battler when not over-tackled. Those caught will range from just a couple of ounces to an average of 6 to 8 ounces. Heavier fish in the 8- to 12-ounce range frequently occur during bedding activities where an occasional one pounder is not uncommon. Florida's record bluegill scaled 2.95 pounds while the world record for this specie was an impressive Alabama-caught 4 pound, 12 ouncer. To qualify for a "Big Catch" angler recognition certificate you need to land a bluegill that is at least 11 inches long or 1.25 pounds.

A shellcracker is the Sunshine State's largest "bream" and is easily identified by the red spot at the end of its gill flap. The average size for shellcrackers is about 10 to 12 ounces, but one pounders are frequently caught on beds. Florida's record is 4.86 pounds, while the world record for this specie is a whopping 5 pounds, 3 ounces. The "Big Catch" angler recognition program recognizes catches of redear (shellcrackers) that exceed 2.25 pounds or 12 inches. Favored live baits on a "shellfish" menu include snails, mussels, earthworms, crickets and grass shrimp. Redear are seldom caught on artificial lures, but flyrodders can occasionally connect with this hard fighter casting popping bugs with a small sinking fly tied to an 18-inch trailer. Shellcrackers usually hang around areas with soft bottoms, but may also be targeted near grass patches, pads, reeds, snags and stickups.

Do not overlook Florida’s many rivers. These gems are teaming with redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish (stumpknockers) and warmouth. Although none of these fish grow to the proportions of their cousins, they are worthy fighters for their size. Spotted sunfish and warmouth will typically be found near woody structure, while redbreast sunfish favor vegetation, such as lily pads or eel grass. Earthworms are the best live bait for this trio, but small spinners and popping bugs work well.

Enough already? Want specifics?

Okay. Here are opinions from Commission fisheries biologists based throughout Florida on which spots they think should be included on our Top 12 Panfish locales (in no particular order) for the year 2004:
 

ST. JOHNS RIVER (Jay Holder, 386/985-7880). One of the world's few rivers flowing from south to north.  Try fishing the stretch between Highway 50 and Lake Monroe, especially for bluegill. In this area, look for sandbars and try around grass points. Also, try the area from Sanford to Astor. Fish the edges, near drop-offs and around lily pads or brush. Also, don’t overlook spotted sunfish, or stumpknockers, along the brushy banks.

LAKE KISSIMMEE (Marty Mann, 407-846-5300). This 35,000-acre gem in central Florida boasts the best bluegill and shellcracker populations just about anywhere following a drawdown a few years ago. The 24 miles of improved shoreline, plus its enhanced open areas, gives boaters and waders a super shot at spectacular catches. Also, try around each of the islands and in open areas off of the boat trails.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE (Dan McCall, 863-462-5190). We are again expecting a good year for sunfish on the “Big O”.  Hopefully, water levels will be down by April. Try the Rim canal for bluegill and Indian Prairie, Fisheating Bay, West Wall, Bay Bottom and Pelican Bay for bluegill and shellcrackers.  There are a lot of good areas, so look for 2-5 feet of water and firm sand bottom.  The best bait for both is grass shrimp, while worms will also entice redear and crickets will catch bluegill.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE (Sam McKinney, 352-732-1225). This lake is back on the list this year after a better than expected fishing season in 2003. Now in the process of undergoing one of the nation's most expansive lake renovation projects, shallow Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County has long been famous for its shellcracker and bluegill production. Shellcrackers are particularly cooperative during spring full-moon periods at Shell Point, Grassy Point and Tracy's Point. Also, try the shell beds at the mouth of the Outlet River and in the middle of the lake out from the Outlet. If water levels remain good, get up in Little Jones Creek for some outstanding warmouth action.

LAKE TALQUIN (Rich Cailteux, 850-627-9674). Anglers in the Tallahassee area are advised to break out their flyrods, cane poles or light spinning tackle this spring, because shellcrackers should be bedding by early May and bluegills should be soon behind. What's more, both species should continue biting well throughout the summer months. Cailteux recommends working the upper end of the reservoir and in the back of various creeks in depths ranging from 3 to 7 feet.

TENOROC (Danon Moxley, 863-499-2421). This nearly 7,300-acre fish management area located on the outskirts of Lakeland has 13 lakes (with more on the immediate horizon) ranging in size from 7 to 227 acres. Harvest statistics for bluegill and shellcracker show a consistently higher catch ratio here than in any other Florida water body. Call the office at Tenoroc to find the lake that currently offers the best opportunity and to make reservations, because lakes are only open to the public four days a week.

LAKE HARRIS (John Benton, 352-742-6438). If you live in or happen to be visiting the Leesburg area and have a hankering to tussle with some heavier than usual bluegills and shellcrackers, both Big and Little Lake Harris will be to your liking. Some of the better locales include the grassy areas at the far end of Little Lake Harris in 4 to 6 feet of water, plus the lily pads and spatterdock tracts near the 9th St. Canal out from Leesburg. Bluegills also will be found in shallow waters tight to sawgrass shorelines.

LAKE MARIAN (Marty Mann, 407-846-5300). Although this 5,740-acre "sleeper" lake in Osceola County doesn't receive much notoriety, it's still one of the best panfishing localities. In past years, shellcrackers have been known to bed later than usual, while bluegills can be gang busters one day and just so-so the next. An angler's best bet might be to tackle Marian during the month's full and new moon periods.

LAKE ISTOKPOGA (Beacham Furse, 863-462-5190). Located a few miles southeast of Sebring, this large, relatively shallow lake gets tons of "ink" for its outstanding bass fishing. However, panfish anglers can concentrate their efforts from April through June around the inshore and offshore cattail and bulrush areas. In other months, likely spots for bluegill and shellcrackers include Big Island, Grassy Island, Bumble Bee Island, around various sandy bars and along the edges of eelgrass.

LAKE JESUP (Jay Holder, 386-985-7880). Near Sanford, Lake Jesup is
widely recognized as a top bluegill and shellcracker hotspot, especially from April through July. Spring samples in 2002 revealed that Lake Jesup has some of the biggest, heaviest sunfish of almost any lake in Florida. Concentrate in sandy areas in or near cattails during low-water periods. When levels are high, both species may be found in and around all types of aquatic vegetation. Try grass points along the south shore, the near-shore pilings of the expressway bridge and around Bird Island for bluegill. Shellcrackers can be located in the open water at the entrance of the lake just south of the Hwy. 46 bridge, near Bird Island and off the north shore wherever hard, sand bottom can be found.
 

CHOCTAWATCHEE RIVER (Fred Cross, 850-819-3456). For river and stream lovers in Florida's Panhandle, this river is ideal, particularly for shellcracker aficionados. Shellcrackers usually bed in quieter waters during April and remain active through the early-fall months. If tooling around in smaller creeks off the main channel and sloughs during the late spring and summer months, be sure to check out redbreast bream, stumpknockers and warmouth perch.

SUWANNEE RIVER (Jerry Krummrich, 386-758-0525). Although bluegill and shellcrackers can be readily caught in the Suwannee, this river is second to none for spotted sunfish (stumpknockers) and redbreast sunfish. These scrappy fish are good in the middle river and excellent in the lower portion. Try near tree banks on deep shores, the mouths of creeks and along water lilies. Use crickets, mealworms, beetle spins or flyfishing tackle, such as popping bugs.