Peacock Bass

[BASSINNMS]

Okay.  I saw the pictures under the catch of the day of the peacock bass caught in Florida.  I had no clue we even had these in the United States.  I live in Mississippi and am pretty certain that there are none in Mississippi, but Florida isn't that far away.  Where are here could someone go to catch some of these things?  Are they harder to catch or what?  Do you need a guide most of the time to really find them?  Any info would help.  I would love to take a fishing trip to anywhere i could catch these dudes.   

[RatherBFishing]

I'm pretty sure that only Florida has them as far as the US goes.  I used to live in Venezuela, where they are very common in rivers and lakes.  They really aren't a "bass" but a close relative.  They are primarily found in Brazil and Venezuela, but have made it to Florida (probably by human transfer into the rivers).  They are pretty aggressive, and they fight pretty hard.  Lots of air time when they are hooked. 

The ones in South America are pretty large, or at least CAN BE pretty large.  There are about a thousand fishing lodges down there where you can fish and catch tons of fish (most catch and release), but it is getting expensive.  I used nothing but topwater when I fished them, with the occassional yozuri crystal minnow shallow runner.  Try a google search for "peacock bass" and "amazon" and you'll get some great pictures of big big big fish.  Hope you get to fish for them.  You would really enjoy it.  Good luck.

[Huggy]

I received reports a couple of years ago, they stocked the peacock in the canals around Miami. Last year a report they were doing quite well. I wouldn't mind making a trip there myself some day.

[Tull]

I don't think they can survive much further north than Boca Raton. I have my forth trip down there planned for May 07  Obviously live bait is probably the easiest way to get them but fast moving jerkbaits or crankbaits (like x-rap,husky jerk,rat'l trap, spinnerbaits) can be very productive.

I'm yet to get a real hawg but maybe this year!

here's some pics
http://ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php/topic,25157.0.html

[eyefish2good]

The stocking program started in Miami and the fish have been moving north ever since.
Most of my fish come on tiny torpedos and husky jerks. Davie has a really good amount of them and it's easy to have 20+ fish days tossing shiners or trolling Rapala's.
I think this year I'm gonna rig up a couple of canoes for chasing them down. If your ever down my way look me up. If I'm in town then we are fishing!!!!

[gotfishyfingers]

Hey guys  I'm new to this site and live in broward county. I found this on another site. "In Florida, Peacock Bass were introduced into the lakes and canals of Miami-Dade County in 1984 after ten years of study by the Game and Fish Commission. Over twenty thousand Butterfly Peacock Bass were released to help control the growing population of exotic fishes, particularly the Spotted Tilapia and Oscar. The Florida Peacock Bass wasted little time fulfilling its anticipated roles. Almost immediately the population of Spotted Tilapia started to drop. Because of their sensitivity to cold, the only place on the United States mainland Peacocks have been successfully stocked has been in South Florida. Peacock Bass cannot in fact, survive any further north than Broward County or they experience a natural die off.  Any further north than that despite efforts by well meaning fisherman transporting them to other locations simply has not worked. Though called bass to raise its game fish status, Peacocks are actually in the cichlid family and is a very close relative to the Oscar, a popular aquarium fish. They grow at a very fast rate, reaching a pound or more in size their first year, so you can imagine how much they have to eat to fuel that growth! Therefore Peacock Bass are ready and willing to viciously attack just about any type lure or bait, especially if retrieved in a lively manner. They just love to attack and destroy streamers and poppers for you fly fishermen and many of the conventional bass lures for you die hard bass  fishermen. It is not uncommon to catch thirty fish or more per day. Once hooked the Peacock Bass puts on a spectacular show that is second to none." Peacocks have found a way to migrate north to palm beach waters but definetly not as plentifull as dade and broward. If you do decide to fish for them down here I would advise you to use live bait, especially chiclids or baby brim, tilipia, that you can catch in the canals around here.

[Swede]

Limit: 2 Butterfly peacock bass, only one of which may be 17 inches or longer in total length.

Florida Record: 9.08 pounds

[super ron]

They also have them in Hawaii.  When I was stationed in Hawaii, I fished lake Wilson (I think that was the name of the lake) and 2=5 lbers would tear up a white road runner.

Ron

[Dug]

Yup Lake wilson, or the Wahiawa resevoir.  Same place.

Dug