DNR - Panfish & Other Species

There are a variety of panfish and other species to fish for in Michigan. Click on the images to go to more information about each particular type of fish. See below for regulations and season dates.

Common Carp and Suckers

Catfish (Channel & Flathead)
and Bullheads (Black, Brown & Yellow)

Crappie (Black & White)

Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed,
Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, Green Sunfish)

White Bass

Illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri ©
Did you know sucker fishing in Michigan can be contagious?
Do you like to catch redear sunfish? There aren't too many places in Michigan where you'll find them

General Hook and Line Regulations and Season Dates

Open All Year

Species	Minimum Size	Possession Limit	Possession Season
Flathead Catfish	15″	5	Open All Year
Channel Catfish	12″	10
Sunfishes (Note 5)	No size limit	25 in any combination of the listed species	Open All Year
White Bass	No size limit	25 on Gr. Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Marys R., St. Clair R., and Detroit R. 10 on inland waters	Open All Year
All others (Note 6)	No size limit	No possession limit	Open All Year

Note 5 – Sunfishes:

Includes: black and white crappies, bluegill, green and hybrid sunfish, longear, pumpkinseed, redear, rock bass, and warmouth.

Note 6 – Other Species:

Those species not listed above or on the other pages of this website and not considered trout or salmon or threatened and endangered species which are protected from harvest.