[5] However, the species's numbers have diminished significantly in the state of Illinois which lies at the northernmost point of the fish's historic range.

Once, the redspotted sunfish was found in bodies of water throughout the state but the species's range, as of 2004, had diminished to just a few counties in the central and southern portions of Illinois.

[4] The redspotted sunfish has narrow bands of white or cream color at the tips of its dorsal, anal and caudal fins.

[5] The redspotted sunfish is salt tolerant and can be found in the lower reaches of estuaries, such as bayous, along the Gulf Coast west of Florida.

[11] A more direct danger could be invasive species that force Lepomis miniatus out of its preferred habitat, increasing the risk of predation.

[10] The breeding time of the redspotted sunfish varies across the range of the species but usually occurs in late spring or early summer.

Reduction in the redspotted sunfish's native distribution area is probably the result of drainage of swamps and bottomland lakes and the general deterioration of the water quality.

[13] Fortunately a number of organizations have been working to help the species recover, and thanks to their efforts, the redspotted sunfish's conservation status in Illinois returned to "threatened" in 2020.