Species

Pumpkinseed

A colourful little North American sunfish with a black, orange-rimmed ear flap that is established in Europe and considered invasive.

Lepomis gibbosus

Photo: Holger Krisp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: Late spring to early summer at 13 to 17 °C water temperature (English Wikipedia); the male guards nest and young (general guide, varies by region)
German Red List: not assessed
Typical method: Float fishing
Top bait: Redworm

Plan a day fishing for Pumpkinseed

How to recognise it

Stocky, deep, laterally compressed body
Colourful red, orange-red, blue and green speckles, belly and throat bright orange
Black gill-cover flap (ear) with a crescent-shaped orange edge

Easily confused with: Other sunfish species look similar and hybridise easily with it (Wikipedia); the orange edge on the black ear flap is typical. Its deep, disc-shaped body sets it apart from European perch and ruffe.

How to catch it

Methods: Float fishing, Pole fishing close to the bank, Lure fishing with very small lures

Baits: Redworm, Maggot, Small spinner, Small soft plastic

Summer on warm days in shallow, weedy margins; according to Wikipedia it feeds most actively in the afternoon.

Habitat and food

Originally North America; established in large parts of Europe except the north, in Germany mainly in the southwest and near urban areas. Prefers still and slow-flowing, clear waters with dense vegetation (Wikipedia).

Insects and their larvae, snails, crustaceans, leeches and small fish, plus a little plant matter (Wikipedia).

Size and age

In the wild 15 to almost 30 cm, lifespan in nature about six to eight years (Wikipedia). FishBase: max. 40 cm, heaviest published weight 630 g, maximum age 12 years.

Protection and rules

Conservation status: German Red List (freshwater fish 2023): not assessed, non-native species. On the EU list of invasive alien species of Union concern since 2019; trade, including for aquariums, has been banned in the EU since then (Wikipedia, Red List). IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2012). Depending on the federal state, it may be forbidden to release caught pumpkinseeds: check the rules of your state. Never move live fish to other waters.

Pumpkinseed: closed season and minimum size by German state

Berlinno minimum size, no closed season

From the official state fisheries regulations, retrieved 2026-10-11. All rules by state

Check the rules

Closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each German state and can be stricter for single waters. All rules by state, with the legal source

In the kitchen

Tasty but small (Wikipedia), so only worthwhile as a pan fish in larger numbers.

Sources (6)

Last checked 2026-10-13. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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