I've been told this is a tilapia, a speck, a blue tilapia, and even a carp. I'm sure one of you guys know what it is... LOL. I'd appreciate any help! 

 

I've been bass fishing for around 4 years now, but it's always been the same manmade ponds so I pretty much only know a few species. First time I have seen anything like this.

 

It appears they just stocked this lake recently, as there are a ton of new baitfish swimming about that I have never seen in here before. Different species that is... There are some that look like bream, but are white with vertical black stripes. Are those small tilapia?

 

I don't know but it looks like it would be fun on an ultralight.

I don't know but it looks like it would be fun on an ultralight.

 

Heck, this thing was fun on a Medium Casting rod... Caught it on a chug bug. Thumped it and ran. Would've taken line had it been my spinning reel. 

 

Which is why I'd like to find out what it was. Spotted several more that day.  Lol.

Looks like a blue tilapia to me. They stocked them in one of the private lakes I get to fish once in a while. They're very skittish and selective about what they eat but they fight very well if you get one to bite. I imagine they'll have a lot more success surviving in Florida than they do in Kansas. 

It looks like a sunfish so I bet it fought really hard if any thing like a bluegill. That thing is huge. Are you able to keep them?

Check this out

http://m.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/fish/freshwater/nonnatives/blue-tilapia/

Thanks for the help guys! I had assumed it was a blue tilapia, but it does look very similar to other sunfish. This guy seemed like he was about three pounds; it was thick.

 

pbizzle, that was the first link I found also. Found a few things interesting:

 

"In central Florida, anglers can assume every tilapia they observe in fresh water is a blue, and any tilapia over 3 pounds is also likely a blue tilapia."

 

and to answer your question:

 

"no bag or size limits."

 

definitely like this note: (appears I got lucky)

 

"They are rarely caught on artificial lures."

 

Once again, thanks guys! Might try and fish for them sometime this summer. 

Never had it fresh but I love the Gorton's frozen breaded tilapia fillets.  See if you can catch a few and fry em' up!

Cool looking fish, I had no idea that's what a tilapia looked like. Does look like it'd be a lot of fun to catch!

That is 1 of my local species. I only fish lures and catch them on inline spinners ( size 1 and 2 mostly) curly tail grubs and small minnow lures. Blues are good eating and strong fighters. they get to around 6/7 pounds and a 4 pounder is a good fish. Nice catch on a topwater.

they are everywhere here(puerto rico). Ive caught a lot of em. a couple family members and me once caught two buckets of em. they love my new scatter raps!! Ive caught most on raps and spinnerbaits. I had one hit my spinner in 6 inches of water while fishing from shore. scared the heck out of me and made me think it was actually a big bass. Its actually a disapointment when I catch one as they usually hit my lures when Im desperate for a bass bite. 

Never had it fresh but I love the Gorton's frozen breaded tilapia fillets.  See if you can catch a few and fry em' up!

Think, if they're that good frozen they have to be that much fresh.

Thanks for the help guys! I had assumed it was a blue tilapia, but it does look very similar to other sunfish. This guy seemed like he was about three pounds; it was thick.

 

pbizzle, that was the first link I found also. Found a few things interesting:

 

"In central Florida, anglers can assume every tilapia they observe in fresh water is a blue, and any tilapia over 3 pounds is also likely a blue tilapia."

 

and to answer your question:

 

"no bag or size limits."

 

definitely like this note: (appears I got lucky)

 

"They are rarely caught on artificial lures."

 

Once again, thanks guys! Might try and fish for them sometime this summer. 

I bet you could tear them up on inline spinners. I'd use some 6 pound fluoro. I'm just guessing that they're skiddish.

Thag would be a talipa sir. Some of the lakes I fish are loaded with them and time to time I'll snag one on a trap. Most of the time I hook them on the side or the back and it feels like I'm reeling in a boot. They do eat up good if you can catch them.

yeap tilapia...here everyone nets them cause and not hard to find big ones all the time but ive never had them hit a lure

No doubt about it, blue tilapia of African origin.  They can go upwards of 8#, biggest I've caught is about 3#, they like spinners and crappie jigs.  The smaller ones with the bars are spotted tilapia, I've had them peck at plastic worm but never caught one.

They'll take a black 1 1/2" curl tail grub off the bottom.

Hate to bring an old thread back, but have you caught any more?