What is this?

[Alex from GA]

Went to the local river this afternoon and the water temperature in the canals was 5* colder than the main river.  Caught a few bass and a bream I don't know what kind it is.  Had a couple of larger bass get off and caught a 6 lb mudfish.  Saw 1/2 dozen gators and lots of different birds and think I glimpsed a turkey sneaking away.

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

I'm a sunfish expert, Alex. What you caught is called a beauty.

[TnRiver46]

Nice fishes, kind of looks like a regular bluegill but FLA seems to have lots of hybrid , maybe @N Florida Mike can help 

[Blue Raider Bob]

Looks like a male BG in his courting livery.

[Alex from GA]

In talking to a knowledgeable friend he said it looks like a male Coppernose Bluegill.

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

In talking to a knowledgeable friend he said it looks like a male Coppernose Bluegill.

Nice! I’ve never seen one of those in person but I’ve heard of them, I think Mike has them in his home pond 

[N Florida Mike]

 Probably a copperhead ( nose). Bluegill.

They will have multi colored gill plates, but especially copper color.

This one I don’t see much color , but some are duller than others.

[casts_by_fly]

And now we know how black and blue can be a match the hatch color.

 

Nice chunker!