Thread: bream/bluegill spawn

From the FWC for Florida Bluegills:

Spawning Habits - Bluegills are well known for "bedding" in large groups, with their circular beds touching one another. Bedding occurs in water two to six feet deep over sand, shell or gravel, and often among plant roots when the bottom is soft. Spawning occurs from April through October with the peak in May and June, when water temperature rises to about 78-80 degrees. A female may lay 2,000 to 63,000 eggs, which hatch 30 to 35 hours after fertilization.

From the FWC for Florida Specks:

Spawning Habits - Spawning occurs from February to April when water temperatures reach 62 to 65 degrees. They nest in colonies. Circular nest are fanned by males over gravel or soft-muddy bottoms and frequently around submerged vegetation in waters from three to eight feet deep. After spawning, males guard the eggs and fry. Females may produce between 11,000 and 188,000 eggs.

I imagine that times will vary according to national regions or from state to state. I have seen Bluegill spawning as early as March depending on the weather and water temperature warming up. Other species of bream like Shellcracker (Redear) or Redbreast may start the spawn in March or May (earlier or later).