Blue TilapiaorMayan Cichlid
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Blue Tilapia
Deep-bodied, blue-gray with a rounded tail and a pinkish-red tail edge on breeding fish; freshwater and brackish lakes.
Mayan Cichlid
Olive with 5–7 dark vertical bars and a bright black-ringed spot at the tail base; red edges to the fins; South Florida canals and marshes.
Mayan cichlid, next to blue tilapia: barred with a tail spot.
Side by side
| Blue Tilapia | Mayan Cichlid | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Oreochromis aureus | Mayaheros urophthalmus |
| Also called | Tilapia | Atomic sunfish |
| Waters | Inshore | Inshore |
| Heaviest state record | — | — |
| On the table | Good — mild; commonly speared and cast-netted. | Good — mild white fillets. |
| Rules of its own in | 2 states | 2 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
Where either fish has a rule, the two are regulated the same. The name still goes in the log and on the tally.
| State | Blue Tilapia: size · bag · season | Mayan Cichlid: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limitNonnative — no bag limit listedYear-roundCheckFWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations) · likely · checked | No size limitNonnative — no bag limit listedYear-roundCheckFWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations) · likely · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limitNonnative — no bag limit listedYear-roundCheckFWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations) · likely · checked | No size limitNonnative — no bag limit listedYear-roundCheckFWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations) · likely · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, blue tilapia or mayan cichlid, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell blue tilapia from mayan cichlid?
Blue Tilapia: Deep-bodied, blue-gray with a rounded tail and a pinkish-red tail edge on breeding fish; freshwater and brackish lakes. Mayan Cichlid: Olive with 5–7 dark vertical bars and a bright black-ringed spot at the tail base; red edges to the fins; South Florida canals and marshes. Mayan cichlid, next to blue tilapia: barred with a tail spot.
Which is better to eat, blue tilapia or mayan cichlid?
Blue Tilapia: Good — mild; commonly speared and cast-netted. Mayan Cichlid: Good — mild white fillets.
Do blue tilapia and mayan cichlid have the same limits?
Yes, in every state that regulates either one. The table on this page lists each rule with its source and check date.