Do you guys down south think you will get a spawn? I doubt if we do here, but maybe you guys think differently? Thoughts?

I saw beds last weekend at the pond I fished, but for all I know they're left over from last year.

I know there is a full moon coming in early March. It will depend on water temperature. Right now the river lakes here are all in the fifties. Once the water bodies get around 68 degrees the spawn will be on. For what I know Sunfish will spawn three times a year. Of course water conditions will play a major role. I feel the first spawn here will be some time in Mid March to early April.

Odds are the first TX spawn will be the April full moon. April is normally the time for the first spawn for most of TX; the Panhandle may be 2 weeks to a month later. With the recent cold blasts that have hit, I don't think the water will warm and the patterns will develop fast enough for there to be much of or any spawn in March except for the most Southern and remote sunfish waters. Maybe around Brownsville... maybe.

Will they only spawn on a full moon?

Sometimes they will spawn not on full moon phases. I have both heard and read that full moon phases are only one part of a spawn factor. Other factors are water temperature,weather conditions,type of water body,water conditions,and food source. Water Temperature,food source,and water condition are the top factors in spawning conditions. Just my two cents.

I would bet the dfw area sunfish don't kick in well until April

I would agree to that! I also think mid March to early April for the sunnies here in the San Antonio area.

I have to disagree with a small part. Sunfish are not normally concerned with forage when they have their minds on spawning. Quite the opposite actually. They are focusing on what will make this spawn successful. Part of that is staying away from predators like bass, catfish, bowfins, cranes, egrets, raccoons, etc.. Now most wildlife has a strong connection to the moon phases, especially when it comes to procreation. I also think that they use the brightness of the full moon to see predators coming, sometimes there might be something that the big bulls can do. They definitely keep other, smaller sunfish (that can and will eat the fry) out of the colonies. In my experience, the full moon is preferable when most other conditions allow. The next best bet is the new moon. In my experience, the full moon is when they really want to have that first spawn and new moon secondary. After the first spawn their spawning cycles are a little bit more loosely based. The biggest factors that can call off a spawn in my experience are severe cold fronts in early Spring and floods anytime. Just my

Just a side note: The females will definitely put the feed bag on 1-2 days after they drop the eggs, but the males will be building beds, recruiting females, guarding eggs and guarding fry. Males and females can feed up heavily for up to a month before the spawn, but the males might go for up to a week with out really gorging again.

Good point "Jagg"! I was discussing the full moon phases with Mike and it is true that a lot of pan fish mainly Crappie seem to set their spawn dates on the full moon cycle. It will only stand to reason that the Sunfish would do the same for the most part. Point well made.

With all of these cold fronts, got a feeling we will not see the first sunfish spawn until mid to late March.

It won't happen up here in lubbock for sure though! It's snowing here today after it snowed all weekend and melted off yesterday...

I'm getting cabin fever!

When is the full Moon in April?

You guys in the Panhandle have been getting hammered all winter long!

April 4th. You can get a moon phase app which is what I have.