Peacock bass is a highly sought-after fish to catch in South Florida, and for a good reason. These fish are one of my favorite kinds of fish to catch and my favorite type of bass. They are beautiful, they fight hard, and they are easy to target. In this post, I will share my secrets on how to catch peacock bass in Florida!
What are Peacock Bass, And Why Are They In Florida?
Peacock Bass is one of my favorite fish to target. The opportunity to catch these fish is enough to convince me to book a fishing trip to South Florida. The butterfly peacock bass, scientifically known as Cichla Ocellaris, is a species of freshwater fish native to South America, particularly in the Amazon River Basin and its tributaries. It is also commonly referred to as the butterfly peacock cichlid, butterfly peacock bass, or just peacock bass.
Key Characteristics of the butterfly peacock bass:
- Appearance: Butterfly peacock bass are known for their vibrant and colorful appearance. They have a distinctive pattern of black bars along their body, which often resembles the eyespots (ocelli) seen on the tail of a peacock, hence the name “peacock bass.” The coloration of their body can vary, ranging from shades of green, blue, and gold.
- Size: Butterfly peacock bass are large fish, typically growing between 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters) in length, although some individuals can reach sizes exceeding 30 inches (76 centimeters).
- Habitat: These fish inhabit freshwater environments, particularly rivers, lakes, and flooded forests, in warm, tropical climates. They are native to South America, where they are found in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
- Behavior: Butterfly peacock bass are predatory fish known for their aggressive feeding behavior. They are carnivorous and primarily feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic organisms. They are also known for their powerful strikes and fighting ability, making them popular game fish among anglers.
- Introduction: They are not native to Florida but were introduced to the region in the 1980s to control the population of invasive species such as Tilapia and to provide recreational fishing opportunities. Butterfly peacock bass has been introduced to various regions outside of their native range, including South Florida, Hawaii, and the United States Territories, as well as several different countries, for sport fishing purposes. South Florida is the only place in the continental United States where you can catch these fish. Anglers prize them for their challenging nature and are often sought after for their size and fighting ability.
Overall, the butterfly peacock bass is a beautiful fish with a reputation for being a formidable predator in its native habitats and introduced waters. Its popularity among anglers and aquarists alike has made it a well-known and sought-after species in the world of freshwater fishing and aquarium keeping.
Where In Florida Can You Fish For Peacock Bass:
Peacock bass primarily inhabit the freshwater canals, lakes, ponds, and rivers of South Florida. Peacocks were introduced by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission to combat the invasive fish species introduced to South Florida. Many people were releasing invasive fish species such as Mayans and Midas Cichlids, Oscars, and various species of Tilapia.
They are particularly abundant in urban canal systems around Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County. These canals provide a suitable habitat for the Florida peacock bass, with warm water temperatures, abundant prey species, and ample structure for shelter and spawning. In other words, if you are still getting familiar with South Florida, it extends from West Palm Beach down to Homestead. Some peacock bass, along with other exotic species, are also found on the west coast of Florida in Naples.
Best Time To Catch Peacock Bass:
The Best Time to catch these fish and other exotic species is in the summer. The summer months are peak season. The water temperature is extremely high, and these exotic fish thrive there. In the early spring, these fish begin to pair up and spawn.
In the warmer months, they are ferocious, eating almost any bait you give them. The winter months can be challenging; these fish will die when South Florida freezes, which is not very often, but it does happen. Therefore, it is essential to target these fish during the warmer months. If you find yourself fishing in the colder months, you will find these fish in shallow water, trying to get sun. Another prime location to look is adjacent to concrete culverts, where the sun will warm up the concrete.
You will have the best luck if you fish during the hottest part of the day; during this time, these fish will be the most active and willing to eat. In the early morning and later parts of the day, these fish will be less active due to cooler temperatures.
What Bodies Of Water To Look For To Catch Peacock Bass:
Some of the best fishing spots to catch butterfly peacock bass are in neighborhood ponds and canals. I’ve had great success with both types of water. There is a ton of water in South Florida, and just like any other fishing, you must cover water to find the best spots to catch them. What is great about South Florida is that many of these canals and ponds have clear water, so if you have polarized glasses, you can see these fish in the water, which is awesome.
Often, these fish will be in groups of 2-3, and sometimes, I have seen small schools of 10-15 in a smaller space. The best way to cover water and check out different bodies of water is by bicycle or electric bike.
Where In The Water Can You Find Peacock Bass:
When I get to the canal, here is what I look for: These fish are structure-oriented fish, like snapper and grouper in the saltwater. They like to hold tight to structure. Some structure examples are drop-offs( limestone ledges), rocky areas, bridge pilings, drains, and docks; I have even seen fish in shopping carts. If you see something that looks like a structure, there is a good chance there will be peacocks and other exotic species.
Bridges:
One of the best places to find peacock bass is bridges. Once I get to a suitable canal, I look to see if there is a bridge crossing. A bridge has many things that attract these fish. There is structure, and often, smaller bait fish hold tight to this for protection as well. The shade allows these fish to ambush prey. There is also the possibility that people drop food near the bridge as well.
Docks And Drains:
If there aren’t any bridges, often docks have shade and hold fish. Drains are a great place to look for fish; during rains, they wash bait fish out, and these peacocks sit and wait.
Banks:
Many banks have rocks such as limestone, and these fish are on the edge of the drop-off, usually suspended up in the water column. When looking in these canals, anything in the water can hold fish. I have seen peacocks sitting underneath duck decoys placed in the water.
The best place to look is the structure. I have caught my biggest fish holding tight to concrete. But you must be careful when fishing close to the structure because cichlids will often steal your bait or hit your lure before you can get it to the peacock.
The negative to these fish being structure-oriented is that these fish will wrap your line up and try to break you off in the structure. They are super hard-fighting fish and will do that.
Tackle Set Up:
The proper tackle setup for Peacock Bass fishing is straightforward; using the right gear can optimize your chances of catching these hard-fighting peacock bass.
Rods:
I like medium-light rods such as a Toadfish and Starrod, which are the two that I use all the time. These rods are perfect for fighting these fish. These rods are perfect for fighting these fish.
Reels And Line:
I use a 2500 Stradic spooled up from there with a 15lb Diamond Braid. I use a 12-15lb Seaworx Fluorocarbon leader, then a 1/0-2/0 hook when fishing with live bait. If you are unsure about what Fluorocarbon to use, make sure you check out my Fluorocarbon Fishing Line vs. Monofilament Fishing Line post for more information.
I have often noticed the fish getting spooky or less willing to eat. When that happens, I put on a longer leader. Sometimes, it drops to 10lb Fluorocarbon and a 1/0, which usually does the job. I like running lighter leaders than most. I feel as if I get more fish to bite, and when I get them off the structure, I can loosen my drag and let the fish fight.
However, catching these big fish on light tackle is a ton of fun, so using lighter tackle is fine; understand that many of these bigger fish will try to wrap you around structure, so it is essential to have an abrasion-resistant line.
Fly Fishing For Peacock Bass:
If I were to recommend a fly rod for peacock bass fishing, I would pick a 7/8 weight fly rod with a 10-lb tippet. You could also use a 5/6 weight fly rod. These fish are super aggressive, and I like to throw a baitfish pattern fly. A shiner is one of the best baits for peacock bass fishing, so the best presentation would be a Clouser minnow or any minnow pattern.
Use bright colors such as chartreuse and white; when these fish are fired up in the middle of summer, anything that is flashy and is moving fast, these fish will crush it. Once you figure out a pattern, you can throw topwater flies to grab these fish’s attention. A slower-moving bait and a slow presentation work well when the water is cold. It is essential when doing this to add a weed guard so your fly does not get hung up.
Live Baits:
Live shiners are the best bait for fishing for peacock bass. They cannot resist them. You can purchase live bait at various bait shops around South Florida. Live shiners can be kept alive with a bubbler and a little bucket. This is great because you can easily move around with your live bait.
If you can find some small fish, such as bluegill, Mayan cichlid, or Tilapia, those are other fantastic baits that are weightless and presented to a peacock bass. This is the best technique for catching peacock bass, in my opinion. Most of the time, peacock bass fishing is sight fishing for these fish. Once the bait is out of sight, I set the hook, and the fight is on.
When looking for these smaller baitfish, it can be tricky to catch them sometimes. These cichlids and bluegills last longer in the live well than the shiners you buy at the local bait and tackle store. You can catch these in a small cast net or with bread and a small hook.
Artificial Lures:
Another great bait for peacock bass fishing is artificial lures. I have caught them on small minnow-like crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, bucktail jigs, soft plastics, topwater plugs, and small soft plastic swimbaits.
For my colors, I like to use either white or a tilapia or bluegill color to represent the peacock’s forage. In the summer months, the fish are in full feeding mode. When bed fishing, smaller bucktail jigs are one of the best ways to entice a bite. Usually, within the first or second cast, you can tell if the fish will eat.
Erratic movements and fast baits can often cause these fish to attack baits. The best artificial bait I have found when searching for them is a hard jerk bait. It has erratic action with a pause, allowing peacocks to catch up and strike the bait. These fish hit hard, and the ability to have multiple treble hooks will help increase your hookup ratio.
Other By Catch When Peacock Bass Fishing:
Along with Peacock Bass, many other species can be caught while fishing in South Florida. South Florida’s freshwater ecosystems are home to a diverse range of exotic and non-native species, many of which have been introduced intentionally or accidentally.
African Cichlids:
Some exotic species caught in South Florida’s freshwater bodies include African cichlids, such as the Nile tilapia, Mozambique tilapia, and various Mbuna species, which have been introduced to South Florida’s lakes and canals. They were once pets to local people who got too big for their fish tanks and were let go of the canal systems. They were let go and spread like wildfire.
Mayan Cichlid:
Next is the Mayan Cichlid. Native to Central America, the Mayan cichlid has established populations in South Florida’s freshwater lakes and canals. They are known for their vibrant colors and aggressive behavior. These fish are fun to catch, but can be annoying when targeting peacocks.
Oscar:
The Oscar is known for its aggressive behavior. Native to South America, Oscars have been introduced to South Florida’s freshwater lakes and canals. They are popular aquarium fish known for their distinctive appearance and large size.
Tilapia:
If you are going to fish in South Florida, you will come up on Tilapia. Several species of Tilapia, including the blue Tilapia, Mozambique tilapia, and Nile tilapia, have been introduced to South Florida’s freshwater systems. They are a popular target for any seasoned angler and are known for their rapid growth rates. If you can find small ones, they make excellent live bait for Peacock Bass.
Bullseye Snakehead:
These are just a few species, but the Bullseye Snakehead is one of the other most popular fish to run into. Native to Southeast Asia, snakeheads have been found in South Florida’s freshwater bodies. Topwater baits are the best way I have found to catch them. I find using hollow body frogs to be the best. They are large predatory fish known for their aggressive behavior and powerful jaws. Bullseye is another delicious fish with a lot of meat on its body. Sometimes, they are very hard to clean. Therefore, it’s important to have a sharp knife. My favorite knife for filleting is the 8-inch Dexter knife.
One thing to note about these invasive fish is that they taste more delicious than our native fish. Oscars and other cichlids are super easy to catch. Any crappie jig will work great, along with a simple worm and split-shot rig. Catching these fish is great for kids and anyone who is just getting into fishing.
These cichlids are just about as aggressive, if not more so, than the peacock bass. They will eat anything, and they fight super hard. These fish are beautiful, with vibrant colors. They have very white meat and are great to eat. When fishing to eat these fish, ensure the canal is clean of trash and dead iguanas.. Ultimately, any body of water in South Florida should have fish in them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. Florida allows a bag limit of 2 fish, but only 1 can be over 17 inches long.
The average size for peacock bass is 1-3 pounds. The Florida record is 9.11 lbs
Fishing for Peacock Bass is probably one of my favorite fish to catch. These fish fight super hard and are unlike any freshwater fish in the United States. Fishing in South Florida is a great experience and adventure beyond just fishing, and I believe every angler should do it at least once. It has changed the way I fish. I have fished for Largemouth Bass before, but once I caught my first Peacock, my mind was made up, and it is the best fighting freshwater fish in Florida. I challenge you to go out and find some Peacock Bass and tag me in a post! @tylersfishingadventures.
