Freshwater Fish of Connecticut
Pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
🏆 Connecticut State Record
Harvest1 lb 3 ozRobyn Rogers · 1973 · Lake Marie, Windham
Catch & Release10"Joey Takeman · 2014 · Lake McDonough, BarkhamstedEllie Fiorentino · 2012 · Lake McDonough, Barkhamsted
All Connecticut state records →
Also called: Sunny, Pond Perch, Sunfish
Identification
Round, colorful body with an orange-red spot on the gill cover and wavy blue streaks on the head.
Habitat
Shallow, weedy shallows of ponds and lakes.
Behavior
Territorial and aggressive, especially during the spring spawn.
How to Catch
Wax worms, worm pieces, and small spinners near shoreline cover.
Notes
Easy and plentiful; great for beginners.
Where to find Pumpkinseed in CT
- Alexander Lake Killingly
- Amos Lake Preston
- Anderson Pond North Stonington
- Angus Park Pond Glastonbury
- Ashland Park Pond Jewett City
- Ashland Pond Griswold
- Aspinook Pond Canterbury
- Avery Pond Preston
- Babcock Pond Colchester
- Backwater Pond Thompson
- Baldwins Pond Meriden
- Ball Pond New Fairfield
- Bantam Lake Morris / Litchfield
- Barber Pond Bloomfield
- Batterson Park Pond Farmington
- Baummer Pond Naugatuck
- Beach Pond Voluntown
- Beachdale Pond Voluntown
- Beachland Pond West Hartford
- Beaver Brook Pond Windham
- Beaver Park Lagoon New Haven
- Beseck Lake Middlefield
- Besse Park Pond Torrington
- Bicentenial Pond Mansfield