Find Your Next Spot
Ocean sunfish
Mola mola
Identification
A broad family of deep-bodied, flattened panfish (bluegill, redear, green sunfish, and others) sharing a small mouth and vivid coloration.
Where It's Found
Warm ponds, lakes, and slow rivers virtually everywhere in the continental U.S., usually holding near cover in shallow water.
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Fishing Notes
The most accessible fish family for new anglers — worms or crickets under a small bobber near docks and weed edges rarely fail.
Scientific Classification▾
Family
Molidae
Genus
Mola
Order
Tetraodontiformes
Class
Actinopterygii
Phylum
Chordata
Kingdom
Animalia
Ready to go fishing?
Find a boat ramp near you and check state fishing regulations before you head out.
Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.