Ok so this happened a long time ago in summer last year. I was fishing in the Indian River and pulled up what looked like a little black crappie. I have never caught a crappie so I can't clarify that it actually was a crappie but it looked like one with similar fins, coloring, and body shape. It was about 4-5 inches long. I don't have a picture of it so I can't show you but it looked exactly like a crappie! I caught it on frozen shrimp. So I was wondering is there anything else it could have been and how has it survived there? I have read they can tolerate salt but seriously?!? Someone must've released some in there...

Black sea bass.

Black drum.

Croaker?

Trippletail.

Look those up see if it was one of them.

What's IRL?  Crappie certainly can take brackish water.  I think they move farther up tidal waters to spawn, however.

What's IRL?  Crappie certainly can take brackish water.  I think they move farther up tidal waters to spawn, however.

It's the Indian River Lagoon. A river system here in Florida.

Black sea bass.

Black drum.

Croaker?

Trippletail.

Look those up see if it was one of them.

I think it was a tripletail...

Did it look like this?

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/155754-identify-this-fish-i-have-no-idea-what-it-is/page-1

Did it look like this?

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/155754-identify-this-fish-i-have-no-idea-what-it-is/page-1

Almost exactly like that but smaller.