Ft. Lauderdale Canals

[WIBasser]

New Member here.  Looks like a fun place to learn a few new things about largies, smallies, and something new for my son and I, chasing peacock bass!  We have a trip planned to FTL in mid March.  We will be on a small canal about a mile from the ocean, and I see there are numerous other canals and small lakes where we can bank fish.

Looking for info on basics just to hook some peacock bass?  Med spinning rod and reel sufficient?  10 lb Fireline with steel or flouro leader?  Poundage?  Assume topwaters, slash baits, etc. will be the best producers?  Anything else I'm missing or should know?  Looking forward to the trip, neither one of us have fished for or caught one before.

[Capt. BassinLou]

New Member here.  Looks like a fun place to learn a few new things about largies, smallies, and something new for my son and I, chasing peacock bass!  We have a trip planned to FTL in mid March.  We will be on a small canal about a mile from the ocean, and I see there are numerous other canals and small lakes where we can bank fish.

Looking for info on basics just to hook some peacock bass?  Med spinning rod and reel sufficient?  10 lb Fireline with steel or flouro leader?  Poundage?  Assume topwaters, slash baits, etc. will be the best producers?  Anything else I'm missing or should know?  Looking forward to the trip, neither one of us have fished for or caught one before.

First off, welcome to Ultimate Bass!! 

To answer some of your questions, a medium spinning rod will be more than enough. As far as line, you can fish various types of lines for peacocks. Steel leaders are not necessary. Pea's do not have teeth. Their mouths are similar to large mouth bass.

Going back to the fishing lines, straight braid or mono will work. I like using 15-20lb braid, or 12-15lb mono. Me personally I throw 20lb braid with a 12-15lb copoly or mono leader depending on what I'm throwing.

Which leads me to lures: Pea's like fast moving baits. Jerkbaits, prop baits, traps, etc will all work. Many use live bait, and that's fine too.

I posted several peacock bass videos on this forum, or if not you can go to my profile and click on my YouTube link in my signature. Best of luck on your trip. Let us know if you need any more help on this subject. 

[Capt. BassinLou]

This video might help. I tore them up with jerkbaits on this outing. Enjoy!!

[WIBasser]

This is great info, thanks much!  I'll check out some of your videos as well.  I went back and looked in the archives as well, seems to be quite a bit of info from you in there as well that I will check out, especially when it comes to baits to throw.  Appreciate it.

[Capt. BassinLou]

This is great info, thanks much!  I'll check out some of your videos as well.  I went back and looked in the archives as well, seems to be quite a bit of info from you in there as well that I will check out, especially when it comes to baits to throw.  Appreciate it.

You're welcome. Thank you for watching. Good luck!!

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[big g]

The further East you go in the Fort Lauderdale canal system you may also be able to catch land locked Tarpon, and Snook especially around the flood gates and culverts, when  water is flowing.  Surprises do happen in these canals.