FishLimit

OH · Bluegill and sunfish

Ohio bluegill and sunfish limits

Ohio sets no statewide daily limit and no size limit for bluegill or any other sunfish; they are not on the statewide limits table, and Lake Erie follows the statewide rules. Only five public areas cap sunfish: 10 a day at Killdeer Plains, Oxbow and St. Joseph River wildlife areas, and 20 a day at Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area and Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area.

Verified 2026-10-31

Updated

Limits at a glance

Regulation period: March 1, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027.

Statewide public waters, including Lake Erie

Daily limit
No daily limit (sunfish are not listed on the statewide table)

DatesOpen all year

Size ruleNo minimum length

Killdeer Plains, Oxbow and St. Joseph River wildlife areas

Daily limit
10 per day (all sunfish species)

DatesYear-round (as printed)

Size ruleNo minimum length

Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area; Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area

Daily limit
20 per day, all sunfish species singly or in combination

DatesYear-round (as printed)

Size ruleNo minimum length

Pymatuning Lake (Ohio–Pennsylvania)

Daily limit
No daily limit (falls under "all other fish")

DatesYear-round (as printed)

Size ruleNo minimum lengthFrom shore on the Pennsylvania side you need a Pennsylvania license.

Watch for

  • The site-specific limits cover every sunfish species together, so bluegill, redear (shellcracker), pumpkinseed and green sunfish all count toward the same 10 or 20.
  • Crappie are not sunfish in Ohio's tables; they have their own limits, including 10 a day at the same three wildlife areas that cap sunfish at 10.
  • On the Ohio River, check the Ohio River unit rules on pages 8–9 of the booklet before you fish; those tables list no sunfish limit.
  • These figures come from the 2026-27 booklet, which runs to Feb. 28, 2027. We will re-check them when the 2027-28 booklet is out.

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Ohio · Bluegill and sunfish

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Quick answers

What is the daily limit for bluegill and sunfish in Ohio?

Statewide public waters, including Lake Erie: No daily limit (sunfish are not listed on the statewide table). Size rule: No minimum length. Other waters and date windows have different rules; see the table. Verify with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

Which regulations do these Ohio figures come from?

March 1, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027, as published by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Last verified 2026-10-31.