Mayan Cichlid
Mayaheros urophthalmus
Also called Atomic sunfish.
How to tell it
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.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called mayan cichlid, and what gives it away.
- Butterfly peacock bass: Golden with three bars. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | Nonnative — no bag limit listed | Year-roundFWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations) · likely · checked | Check |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | Nonnative — no bag limit listed | Year-roundFWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations) · likely · checked | Check |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
On the table
Good — mild white fillets.
In the app
Point the camera at a mayan cichlid and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about mayan cichlid
How do you tell mayan cichlid from butterfly peacock bass?
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. Butterfly peacock bass: golden with three bars.