Red breast, what is considered big?

[Smoltz]

A river I fish locally in the summer months I can catch some big( to me)red breasts what is considered big when it come to redbreast? Do they run a little larger compared to say bluegills?

[Jim Gronaw]

At least in the Mason Dixon area streams and lakes, most red breast seldom exceed 7 inches, although I have caught them as large as 9.5 inches locally...but a very rare fish.

I think there are larger average sized RB's in southeastern streams and creeks. I've taken several 10-inch class red breasts from Richmond Mill Lake, NC, and one that remains my personal best at 11.25 inches. They all seemed to prefer the cooler incoming waters of Gum Swamp Creek where water temperatures could be as much as 10 degrees higher than the main lake. Beautiful fish during the spawn. Many southern anglers call them 'Robins'.

Below is the 11.25 incher that I think took a tiny topwater plug...

[Slip Sinker]

extraordinary fish Jim!

[Jason Preslar]

Check out my Redbreast Lovers group if you haven't already. We'd be glad to have you join. I love the redbreast. I usually encounter them in moving water or close to it.....however, the largest one I've caught to date came from pond.

[Jason Preslar]

This is the one from the pond.

[John Sheehan]

The biggest and most aggressive I've caught was in a lake ,(the fish pictured here ) .At least one  small stream I know of has loads of them from 4" to 6.5 " or so . The prettiest I've caught were the turquoise colored light breasted Shenandoah river fish . Sure would like to find them the size of Jim Gronaws !

Here are a bunch of RBS pics from members here at BBG: http://bigbluegill.com/photo/photo/search?q=Red+Breasted+Sunfish+  Don't forget to tag your fish pic so they end up in this collection for all to see.

[Jason Preslar]

I get nothing from that link. Only takes me to an advertisement. Maybe it's because I'm on a mobile device.

[John Sheehan]

Must be Jason .The link works fine for me.

[Jim Gronaw]

THAT is a GIANT!

[Jim Gronaw]

I meant that this fish above is a giant!

[Smoltz]

Your right, most times the ones I get here are in the river in slack water area/eddies or major current breaks.
Nice thing is. No one here seems to target them or keep them. ESP those wading the river. The thing I like is they are very agressive and there mouths are larger and they are beautiful fish. The panfish that God created the day he was feeling artistic.
Thanks guys and nice pictures.

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

I apologize for recycling this picture , I know I have put it on here before , but I like this one and for scale the porcupine quill is 8 1/4 inches long , tell me how long you think this fish is .   LOFR

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

 For comparison , same quill , same day, different fish,sorry about recycling photos, this one was not a Redbreast.   LOFR