What is this fish?

Comment

Comment by Ron Allen on March 22, 2011 at 6:41pm

Some sections are brackish...but so are all of the other nearby rivers and streams...where the Bluegill are plain ol coppernose.

The Lowlands of the area are home to several unique color variants on land as well.

The Apalachicola kingsnake for one...the blue stripe ribbon snake for another and the gulf hammock ratsnake. The answer though elusive probably is hidden somewhere in the regions geology. Something at some point in history isolated these animals from the rest of the nearby populations. Lower vertebrates will show greater genetic drift in a shorter time hence the fish and reptiles showing genetic variation.

Comment by Jeff Soto on March 22, 2011 at 5:41pm

Found another couple of photos of these Bluegill with the color varient.  I wonder what it is that makes these Bluegill get this color?  I have heard that there are ones that are all pearl/silver with no other color too.  Are these rivers close to the ocean?  Maybe brackish?

Comment by Ron Allen on March 22, 2011 at 6:15am

Only found in those 2 rivers so yes rare, but locally common.  If you fish there you will catch them.

:)

 

Comment by Jeff Soto on March 22, 2011 at 6:08am

Wow!  That is so cool!  There really is a Bluegill with that coloration!  Are they rare to catch?

Hey Thanks Ron!

Comment by Ron Allen on March 22, 2011 at 6:03am

Not a redbreast at all...that is the Hand Painted Bream. Actually a Bluegill color variant from the   ▼ Apalachicola and Chipola Rivers. Here in Florida.

They are on my to do list. :)

 

Comment by Steve Crowder on March 20, 2011 at 1:36pm

??? Don't know Jeff, but we all need to go looking and fishing for it!!!

Comment by 10.5" RES Sharon on March 20, 2011 at 9:16am

well, it was an impressive Redbreast.

Comment by Jeff Soto on March 20, 2011 at 12:32am

Sorry... I typed Redbreast twice.  I'm tired because it's 12:30 AM (Pacific time).