Spring time Peacock action in full swing!

[Capt. BassinLou]

As we say goodbye to winter, our Spring Peacock bite is ramping up. Water temps are on the rise, and Peacocks are beginning to spawn. Over the next coming months, chances of hooking up with big Peacocks are very high.

Pea's are on the move and and can be found in really shallow water. Looking for the right structure will be key in finding these bigger fish. Look for rocky banks that receive some to a lot of sun exposure.  Do not dismiss areas that have light to moderate vegetation on top. If the bottom consists of rock, big peas will use the overhead vegetation for cover.

A host of baits and lures can be thrown this time of year, with great success. Here are just some examples of lures one should consider: flukes, small swimbaits, walking baits, prop baits, jerk baits, poppers, etc.
Some of the lures mentioned will work really well in the earlier part of the day, while others will excel during the hottest part of the day.

As far as gear is concerned, medium rods in both the spinning and or bait casting variety will serve you just fine. I personally use 15-20lb braid as my main line, in a addition to a 12-15lb mono leader. Make sure your drag is set accordingly. Peacock do not know the word, quit. So play them wisely. 

Enjoy the next few months. Tight lines!

Thank you for reading.

[Donald Garner]

Lou, tks for the posting and best wishes and tight lines for ya on the upcoming season.

That's a beautiful fish you're holding there 

[hondo2doc]

Capt. Lou, thanks so much for the report and great peacock in that picture.

I haven't fished the grades in many year but use to around this time of year the large mouth bite really began to turn on as well with the dropping water levels. Forcing the fish to move into the main canals thus be more attack lures. 

I assume this is also true of the Peacocks? Even though we got a good bit of rain today (in broward) we are still in our "dry season" I think until the end of may.

I remember a ways back say 25 to 30 years ago come the end of May the water level got so low that fish attacked anything that plopped in the water. I remember several times the fish actually leaping out of the water before the lure had landed to get it. It was crazy.  But that didn't last long cause the rainy season would start.

Does the water levels effect the Peacocks like it does the large mouth?

Sent from my SM-T500 using Tapatalk

[Capt. BassinLou]

Capt. Lou, thanks so much for the report and great peacock in that picture.

I haven't fished the grades in many year but use to around this time of year the large mouth bite really began to turn on as well with the dropping water levels. Forcing the fish to move into the main canals thus be more attack lures. 

I assume this is also true of the Peacocks? Even though we got a good bit of rain today (in broward) we are still in our "dry season" I think until the end of may.

I remember a ways back say 25 to 30 years ago come the end of May the water level got so low that fish attacked anything that plopped in the water. I remember several times the fish actually leaping out of the water before the lure had landed to get it. It was crazy.  But that didn't last long cause the rainy season would start.

Does the water levels effect the Peacocks like it does the large mouth?

Sent from my SM-T500 using Tapatalk

During the late 90's and early 2000's this time of year kicked off the "crazy fishing" season in the Everglades! Drought conditions dropped water levels so low, that only smaller tin boats could access the canals. Even through the summer months the fishing was really good. Unless there was hurricane or something, the water levels would fluctuate a bit but not as bad as today's levels unfortunately. The summer of 98' I would be catching 5lb-7lb largemouth bass regularly. The Peacocks began to show up a few years later until the winter 2009-2010 when we had major peacock die off.

To answer your question specifically in regards to peacocks and rising water levels. I believe Pea's are effected like bass, but not as bad. Systems that have limited, to no, marsh access will have better numbers of both Largemouth and Peacock bass.  But the same systems that have the marsh access can be a hot spot for peas when there is current moving in and out of them.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Here's a nice one from Big G. 

[big g]

Here's a nice one from Big G. 

Caught on a Zoom W/R Super Fluke worked fast..

[Capt. BassinLou]

Here's a nice one from Big G. 

Caught on a Zoom W/R Super Fluke worked fast..

Very cool! Thanks for sharing George.