Unusual happening!

[big g]

Several days ago an unusual peacock happening Happened!  I have caught many peas over the last twenty years but nothing like yesterday.  I went out for an afternoon of bank fishing in weston and went to a lightly fished north/south canal with a weir across the middle.  These canals are deep except for the weir which has about a foot of water on top and thick pads.  I threw a stick bait and set the hook on a nice 3.5 peacock. 
When I got her in, the pea was almost completely black, except for deep red under the jaw and a spot on the tail.  I have seen peas of different brightness but never black.  Darker then any largemouth I have ever caught.  Instead of black bars of a normal pea the deep black was all over the body.  The body shape and mouth were all a normal peacock.  The only difference was color.  Wish I could show a pic but the phone was on the charger and left at home.   Has anyone else ever caught a black peacock?

[LgMouthGambler]

There are actually 2 types of peacock bass in S FL. We have the butterfly and the speckled. And even within the 2 the red e could be some interesting mixes with other Cichlids if they spawn.

Sent from my SM-A205U using Tapatalk

[big g]

There are actually 2 types of peacock bass in S FL. We have the butterfly and the speckled. And even within the 2 the red e could be some interesting mixes with other Cichlids if they spawn.

Sent from my SM-A205U using Tapatalk

Yes I have caught both types but this is like the usual black bands on the butterfly type took over the entire body and nothing but black left, and red under the chin!  Strange looking.

[LgMouthGambler]

Yes I have caught both types but this is like the usual black bands on the butterfly type took over the entire body and nothing but black left, and red under the chin!  Strange looking.

Who knows what fish spawned together possibly to form that. Ya know?

Sent from my SM-A205U using Tapatalk

[Capt. BassinLou]

I have caught dark Pea's but never a black pea. Too bad there wasn't a photo. That would have been cool to see. The good news George is you know where it lives.

[Capt. BassinLou]

I highly doubt it was a cross breed of another cichlid. I believe it was just a pea with a much darker coloration than normal.

[big g]

I highly doubt it was a cross breed of another cichlid. I believe it was just a pea with a much darker coloration than normal.

Might just be a mutation in color.  If it breeds with a normal pea we may see more in the surrounding area in the future.

[coldfront]

Might just be a mutation in color.  If it breeds with a normal pea we may see more in the surrounding area in the future.

the biologists talk about 'melanistic' phases in just about every species out there.

would have been cool to have a pic!