The larger mouth size of warmouths allows the fish to consume a wider variety of food items than other sunfish species. The warmouth grows better and is more productive in coastal plain waters than in piedmont waters.
Range: Statewide in all flowing and impounded habitats
Commonly Mistaken Species: Some species of fish that are commonly mistaken for this species:
Green sunfish Juvenile bluegill
Habitat & Range
The warmouth prefers slow moving streams, swamps, Carolina bays, ponds and reservoirs, especially areas with submerged cover—riprap or vegetation.
Life History
Spawning: - Warmouth begin spawning in late spring through the summer months when water temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Male warmouth build multiple nests sometimes in groups with other warmouths on top of gravel or sandy bottoms.
- Females then lay their eggs in multiple nests, depositing as few as 2,000 eggs to as many as 20,000 eggs.
- The eggs are guarded until hatching and after for a short period.
Diet: - Aquatic insects, mussels, crayfish and fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size
5-8 inches 2 pounds
Lifespan
: Approximately 8 years
State Record
: 2 pounds 2.5 ounces (1973)
