Keep in mind also that in mystery fish, such as this, that the eartab trumps the vague coloration issues. Kind of like thinking that you may have just caught a sauger, but the fish has a big white spot on the base of it's tail, making it a walleye--or at the very least a saugeye.
...and two other things while I'm at it. Fish are a lot easier to ID in person than they are in a photo. Also you've seen so many humans that you may look, and in an instant say "male", even if he's got long hair, earrings and a kilt.
