I was pretty sure at first that this was a small Peacock but then I started doubting myself. There's a nice spot on the tail which you can't really see. I grew up catching bluegill, bream and the occasional LMB in the Black Water River in VA. This Florida fishing is tripping me up.

 

 

No Peacock. I believe that is a Mayan Ciclid. This will help ya out. http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/freshwater-fish/

as stated above, peas are part of the cichlid family 

cichlid for sure. great snook bait.

Yep, too dark and not enough green for a peacock. If you have Facebook, check out this guy, he's in Miami and specializes in catching them: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanAnglerMiami?ref=stream

A Mayan for sure.  Eye tail spots are not uncommon in the fish world, redfish fave then too.

That's wild looking.

A Mayan for sure.  Eye tail spots are not uncommon in the fish world, redfish fave then too.

 

it's an interesting adaptation meant to confuse a predator and have him strike at the tail, making it sometimes easier for the fish to get away and live to see another day :-)

also, some fish will have stripes running along the body and the eye too, to conceal it's location, aka location of the weak spot.

I was pretty sure at first that this was a small Peacock but then I started doubting myself. There's a nice spot on the tail which you can't really see. I grew up catching bluegill, bream and the occasional LMB in the Black Water River in VA. This Florida fishing is tripping me up.

If it makes you feel any better I made the same mistake. I was very happy until reality set in. Lol cool little fighters though.

Very common mistake.  One of my new neighbors caught one and was excited, I saw the pic, I just hated to rain on his parade.  Those mayans are a lot fun to catch on ul with a crappie jig or inline spinner, but not on the same level as a peacock.