A thick, aggressive sunfish with a big mouth. They eat lures that look too large, and they live in the ugliest urban corners.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Almost every warm pond and lake edge in the county, including water too small to hold a bass tournament.
Same 25-fish combined bag. They hit small crankbaits and spinners meant for bass. Echo Park, Balboa, and neighborhood lakes are full of them.
Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) are thicker-bodied sunfish with a larger mouth than bluegill, blue-green streaks on the face, and yellow or white edges on the fins.
Green sunfish are common in LA's small urban lakes and ponds, including park lakes, often near rocks and weeds.
Open all year.
OEHHA groups sunfish together. Check the lake-specific advisory; many LA lakes list sunfish at 5 to 7 servings a week, while OEHHA's statewide lake advisory is 1 serving a week for women 18–49 and children and 2 for others.
Green sunfish count in the 25 sunfish and crappie combined bag, with no size limit in LA County.
Green sunfish tolerate warm, muddy and low-oxygen water better than most sunfish, which is why they turn up in small, shallow urban ponds where other fish struggle. They are aggressive for their size, often hit lures meant for bass, and tend to stay close to rocks, pipes and other hard cover. They readily hybridize with bluegill, so in-between fish are common.
A light spinning rod with 4–6 lb line, a small float, a split shot and a size 8 or 10 hook baited with a piece of worm is all it takes. Set the float so the bait hangs a foot or two below the surface near cover. When the float dips, a gentle lift is enough to hook the fish. A pair of forceps makes unhooking quick for catch-and-release.
Green sunfish are small, but they are edible and many anglers keep a few for a fish fry. They count in the 25-fish combined sunfish and crappie bag. Check whether the lake you are fishing has its own OEHHA advisory; the sunfish advice ranges widely between LA lakes.
§5.82 combined bag — bluegill, redear, green sunfish, and crappie together.
T14 CCR §5.82 sunfish and crappie →
Independent-site disclaimer: this summary is for orientation only and can change in-season. Confirm with CDFW before you keep a fish. Fish in LA is not affiliated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
They count in the 25 sunfish and crappie combined bag.
Small urban park lakes and ponds.
Green sunfish have a larger mouth, thicker body and blue-green face streaks.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.
