Guide To Popular Panfish Fishing Options In Maine
All about fishing for sunfish in ME lakes and ponds.

Throughout the state of Maine you can find waters with populations of sunfish, including bluegill, white perch and yellow perch. Because panfish are a primary food source for many predator fish, you can find them in most waters where you find the predator species.
Panfish & Perch Lakes
Major lakes are always a good place to look for panfish. In Maine, try Androscoggin Lake, Baskahegan Lake, Big Lake, China Lake, Chesuncook Lake, Cobbosseecontee Lake, Damariscotta Lake, Eagle Lake, East Grand Lake, Flagstaff Lake, Gardner Lake, Graham Lake, Grand Lake Matagamon, Great Pond, Lobster Lake, Long Lake, Mattawamkeag Lake, Meddybemps Lake, Messalonskee Lake, Millinocket Lake, Moosehead Lake, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Munsungan Lake, Pemadumcook Lakes, Portage Lake, Pushaw Lake, Rangeley Lake, Richardson Lakes, Sebasticook Lake, Sebago Lake, Sebec Lake, Square Lake, St Froid Lake, Thompson Lake, Webb Lake and West Grand Lake.
Top Producing Panfish Lures & Bait
Check out the top producing lures and bait for bluegill, redear sunfish, rock bass and warmouth, as well as other smaller sunfish. Click here for the best lures for white bass, yellow bass, white perch and yellow perch.
In-state panfish, sunfish and perch
Bluegill
World record: 4 lbs 12 oz
State Record: 0.51 lbs
White perch
World record: 4.6 lbs
State Record: 3.48 lbs
Yellow perch
World record: 4 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 2.12 lbs
Click the images and links above for species details.
Maine State Record Sunfish
The state record bluegill was caught from Knight Pond.
The state record white perch (location undisclosed).
The state record yellow perch (location undisclosed).

The term "panfish" comprises many species, each called by a variety of names. The bluegill tops the list and is the most common.
One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Maine, and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, insects, crustaceans and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves, for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.
Bluegill Fishing Basics Video
The core principles shown in this video will work for most sunfish, perch and other panfish.
Panfish are prolific spawners and repopulate the waters as fast as they are harvested. A common problem with panfish fishing is that the waters are under-fished causing panfish to overpopulate. As a result they tend to stay small in size due to lack of food source.
Sunfish information in other states.
Learn the lifecycle of a panfish
There is a host of panfish anglers can pursue. Visit the panfish fishing page for details on many of these sunfish you might encounter in Maine fishing waters.
MAINE

