Peacock Bass introduced to Florida waters

[Chato]

I just watched a show where they were fishin for peacock bass in florida. Anyone ever try that fishery? It would be a lot cheaper than a ticket to Brazil.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Haven't tried it yet, but I have heard the peacocks don't grow as large in Florida..At least not yet..

mac

[RougeBass]

I have been there a few times in the last few years. The locals there say the Peacocks are all hybrids, that have been dumded out of aquiriums. The ones I have caught were not the size nor the color of the ones I have seen from Brazil.

[Blue_R70]

They were stocked years ago by Florida F&W to supposedly control the tilapia population. The peacocks are of the butterfly variety, which only average 2-4 pounds...

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Now that makes sense..I always wondered why they didn't get as large as the ones in South America..

mac

[Chato]

They were stocked years ago by Florida F&W to supposedly control the tilapia population. The peacocks are of the butterfly variety, which only average 2-4 pounds...

Exactly what they were sayin. Butterfly variety? There's different kinds? The Florida State record was just under 10 lbs. The also said that they couldnt survive in water temp below 65. So thats why they can only survive in the Miami climate. If they tried to move to other rivers they'd just die. Pretty smart way to control the talapia population

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I have another way to control the talapia..They are outstanding eating fish..And almost as much or maybe even more fun to catch than bluegill..

mac

[Paul W]

They have been here in South Florida for quite some time now. Most of them are small, but they are very abundant. A big one is about 4+lbs, with the average being around 2lbs. Me and a friend did a guided trip for them last February during a cold snap (worst possible time to fish for them). We caught about 25 but had to use live shiners and slowwwly drift them along the bottom. If you want to get them on lures consistently, try April to October....especially mid summer (when the heat is miserable). They are located from about Palm Beach southward, with probably the biggest population in lakes and canals in Miami thru Kendall and Hialeah.

Paul W

[David McKenzie]

Like you I saw some footage and wanted to see what it was about. I fished with Paul W and it had to be one of the coldest days in Miami last year. Seriously, it was cold by there standards!! Its worth the trip if you find your self in the area but I don't know that I would make a special trip to south florida as a subsitute for South America. It isn't on the same level. There is really good inshore saltwater that you would be missing!!

Don't get me wrong, I had fun and will do it again when I go back. It is a neat and very unique fishery, full of life in the heart of the city. The canals are full of different chiclids beside the Peacock also.

The Miami canals are man made and dug into an ancient coral reef and fairly deep with the average being 10-15ft with some water suprisingly deeper. I was told by our guide that the underground springs and or aquafer in the canals help maintain a consistant warm water temp that the peacocks can tolerate and thrive. Some of the waters out side the canal system that hold peacocks have big die offs every couple of years when a S. Fla cold snap comes through. Maybe that explains why they aren't just west in the glades or a few miles north & south with any regularity.

I could be totally wrong, this is just what I was told.

[Blue_R70]

Exactly what they were sayin. Butterfly variety? There's different kinds? The Florida State record was just under 10 lbs. The also said that they couldnt survive in water temp below 65. So thats why they can only survive in the Miami climate. If they tried to move to other rivers they'd just die. Pretty smart way to control the talapia population

Yea, like our use of the term "black bass," peacock bass is an umbrella term that covers quite a few varieties. The guides we fished with in Amazonas referred to the various peacocks that we caught as: "paca," "boboleta," "azul" and some other names I don't recall. Some common names for the peackock varieties in English are: speckled, barred, royal and butterfly.

[eddybilt]

FYI.... If you are in Hawaii on Oahu check out lake Wilson they have Peacock Bass Not real big ones though.