April 2015 Florida Bragging Rights BS thread

[bassindude]

I wasnt sure Lou.  I know they both have the long dorsal fin.  I was thinking the Talipia were bluish in color.  Thanks for the correction.

Jim

[bassindude]

Im gonna name him Sammich.   

Jim

[Capt. BassinLou]

I wasnt sure Lou.  I know they both have the long dorsal fin.  I was thinking the Talipia were bluish in color.  Thanks for the correction.

Jim

The stripes and pinkish color is there tell. Enjoy your sammich.. lol

[Deadeye]

Nice job Jim! Some good eating right there.

Also very good job on the garage Mrs West! Impressive!

[SFL BassHunter]

So mayans are good to eat? Do they taste similar to any other fish? Also how are they caught?

[bassindude]

Caught that one on a cricket fishing for Bream.  In the same general location.

Jim

[Swede]

How far north are they found? I'm thinking cold water not to their liking?

[SFL BassHunter]

Caught that one on a cricket fishing for Bream.  In the same general location.

Jim

Thats cool. I'd like to catch me some bream too. Find out what it tastes like lol.

[Capt. BassinLou]

How far north are they found? I'm thinking cold water not to their liking?

Catching that Mayan Cichlid in the central part of state is rare. I know that MC's have called South FL their home for a couple of decades now. But Central FL has left me scratching my head. They are sensitive to cold water like peacock bass are. The only thing I can think of, is that they are learning to adapt and may be expanding to the North a bit. The one that Bassindude caught was a nice size so its been around for a little while. They are scrappy fighters and make for some fun fishing.

[Capt. BassinLou]

So mayans are good to eat? Do they taste similar to any other fish? Also how are they caught?

I have always heard MC's taste very good. There meat from what I hear are salmon colored. But I am sure Bassindude will confirm that for us.

As far as how to catch them, they are pretty easy to catch. The lure that I tear them up with if i were to be exclusively fishing for them would be a F7 Rapala. Gold or Silver black will do the trick. A spinning outfit will be recommended for this. They hit hard and never quit. They have the same fighting spirit as peacock bass. Cast parallel to the bank. Since they breed often, you will see them literally right up on the bank in the canals. They protect their nests very aggressively and their fry even more.

[SFL BassHunter]

Good info thanks.

[bassindude]

You are right about the fight Lou.  I thought it was a bass.  The meat is the color of catfish meat.  A slight yellowish tint, where as the Bream are a few shades whiter.  I may have to try actually fishing for them.  That one was in a small cut between the canal and open water, and right on the bank. 

Jim

[Capt. BassinLou]

You are right about the fight Lou.  I thought it was a bass.  The meat is the color of catfish meat.  A slight yellowish tint, where as the Bream are a few shades whiter.  I may have to try actually fishing for them.  That one was in a small cut between the canal and open water, and right on the bank. 

Jim

I stand corrected on the flesh color, and where you caught the MC  sounds about right. If your going to go after them specifically, focus on along the bank. As close as you can get it. If you can find rocky sediment along the bank you will more likely find them as well. My limited experience with Central Fl lakes is that they are sandy along the bank. If you do have a population of MC's there will be more close by. The warmer the water and hotter the day the better. Good luck. They are fun to catch.

[SFL BassHunter]

What is everyone's thoughts on real looking swimbaits?
How would they do in clear water?

[Capt. BassinLou]

I think they will do fine. The key would be if you have the patience to throw it. Big swimbaits will catch really big bass but its a waiting game. You will have to chuck and wind a lot. But the reward will be really big fish.

[Pferox]

I had one that looked like a bluegill, and only knew about one or two clear lakes around so I didn't throw it much.

When I did, man did I catch the catfish.   

I would think it would work great in clear water.

[SFL BassHunter]

I think they will do fine. The key would be if you have the patience to throw it. Big swimbaits will catch really big bass but its a waiting game. You will have to chuck and wind a lot. But the reward will be really big fish.

The reason I ask is because I have used 5 inch mullet Strom swimbaits in saltwater, and have caught snook on them. Figured same concept would apply to bass fishing.

I imagine the smaller the swimbait the better the catch ratio, as it would increase the window of fish you would attract. Was thinking about trying em over at the Tropical since the water is really clear, just can't do it on the rock ledge side. Don't want them getting hung up.

Obviously mullet wouldn't be the best color so I would have to try something else. The website I buy my cheap cranks from sells some nice looking hard plastic swimbaits I would love to try too but I don't care for the treble hooks on the bottom. Wish they had the hook on the top for less snags.

[Capt. BassinLou]

The reason I ask is because I have used 5 inch mullet Strom swimbaits in saltwater, and have caught snook on them. Figured same concept would apply to bass fishing.

I imagine the smaller the swimbait the better the catch ratio, as it would increase the window of fish you would attract. Was thinking about trying em over at the Tropical since the water is really clear, just can't do it on the rock ledge side. Don't want them getting hung up.

Obviously mullet wouldn't be the best color so I would have to try something else. The website I buy my cheap cranks from sells some nice looking hard plastic swimbaits I would love to try too but I don't care for the treble hooks on the bottom. Wish they had the hook on the top for less snags.

I don't throw big swim baits, the biggest thing I throw are big ez's. I did't know how $$ swimbaits could get. They can reach upwards of hundred's of dollars. Yikes!! They do come in different hook configurations. Baby bass, bream,or gold shiner colors I feel will do better in our waters. If you decide to start throwing them Rick, just know that the quantity of bite will die down but your quality will improve. Good luck.

[SFL BassHunter]

I don't throw big swim baits, the biggest thing I throw are big ez's. I did't know how $$ swimbaits could get. They can reach upwards of hundred's of dollars. Yikes!! They do come in different hook configurations. Baby bass, bream,or gold shiner colors I feel will do better in our waters. If you decide to start throwing them Rick, just know that the quantity of bite will die down but your quality will improve. Good luck.

Thanks Lou. I think I will give them a shot. If I do buy a couple from wlure I'll have to wait about 20 days to get them anyways. But at 7 bucks a pop, compared to 20+ dollars the 20 days is worth it lol.

They look ridiculously real too.

[Pferox]

Ya know I have seen some small bass try to suck down some huge baits.

I am bad about trying to match the size of the bait to what is out there.  Before the bait fish spawn, predators seem to be looking for larger size bait, after the bait spawn they seem to be more comfortable with smaller baits, in general.

[SFL BassHunter]

Yeah I have had small bass hit long jerk baits or cranks. Not sure what they were thinking when they tried to swallow a 5 inch jerk that is clearly 3 inches smaller than them lol.

[West6550]

Fred it was a square bill swimbait. This actually:

Rick this is what I caught the decent fish on. It's a decent size bait Storm baits.

[Pferox]

Every time I see that picture, West, I want to get my fillet knife and clean it for dinner. 

[Pz3]

Suddenly I realized. Im fishing against my girlfriend, my own gear, in my own spots.

Son of a. Lol.

[Deadeye]

Hey Rick,

I got a friend that swears by the Storm Swimbaits that look like both Bluegill and Crappie. He says that they work really good until the Bluegill bite the tail off then they are junk and throw them away.

I sold them at the Sporting Goods Dept and always asked folks to come back and give me a report on them but no one ever did.

These do not look like the one West Posted but have a Single hook pointed up I think? Can't remember for sure about the single hook or the direction but they did not have a bill for sure.

They come in Mutli Packs and in different sizes.

I've never used them myself.


I have used the smaller ones, also made by Storm that have the hook already in them. There is a clear/greenish/blue one that looks like it should be good if you have shad available, but haven't tried that one. The ones I tried were the white ones and I did no good with them but haven't used them a lot. There also is a Blue one.

I had a guy on the water tell me once that he uses them and has luck with both the Blue and the Clear/Green/Blue ones.

They come in single packs and different sizes too.


To me they cost to much when I can buy several Swimbaits and my own hooks for less. If you try them let us know how they work for you.