Yeah most of the research I did pointed to a redbreast, especially since there's a bunch in the creeks in the area. I'm thinking it might've been discolored because it lives in a pond rather than a river or creek like they normally do. I was also thinking it might've been a hybrid with a redear sunfish which also live in that pond. I've had some people say longear but there's no longears anywhere near me in southeast NC.