Peacock bass is tropical freshwater fish that is native to South America. In the United States, peacock bass can be found in Florida and Hawaii. Peacock bass is known for its aggressive behavior and fighting spirit, making it popular among fishermen to target. In addition, they can grow up to three feet in length and weigh up to twenty pounds. So if you’re asking yourself where can you catch peacock bass in the U.S. your only bet is to head to Florida or Hawaii, and With a bit of patience and skill, you can land yourself a truly impressive fish.
What is Peacock Bass?
The Peacock Bass (Cichla temensis) is a cichlid fish native to the Orinoco, Amazon, and Essequibo basins of South America. They are tropical freshwater fish that can grow to a length of over three feet (one meter) and weigh up to 20 pounds.
They are bright-colored with green, blue, gold, and black patterns. The fins are often edged in red or orange. The tail is deeply forked, and the body is deep and compressed.
The Peacock Bass is a popular game fish and is considered to be one of the best fighting freshwater fish. They are known for their explosive strikes and powerful runs.
What part of Florida can you find Peacock bass?
From Miami to southern Palm Beach, the southern part of Florida will have peacock bass in most of the waterways.
These fish were first introduced into canals around Miami in 1984 and have since been introduced into many lakes throughout the most southern Florida counties. Today anglers can catch both largemouth and peacocks form the same waters in southern Florida.
Why does peacock bass take so well to south Florida waters?
The peacock bass is a tropical fish that originally hails from the Amazon Basin in South America. It’s well-suited to hot, murky waters and can withstand temperatures up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
What size does peacock bass get?
While most peacock bass in Florida waters is between one and three pounds, some have been reported to be up to 8 pounds or more in the Miami and Broward county area.
Peacock bass is attracted to moving water and will often hang around drop-offs, submerged logs, and other structures in lakes and canals in south Florida.
They also love to hang around culverts and other concrete structures that are so popular with south Florida waterways.
Book a guide for beginners
If you’re new to fishing for peacock bass or fishing in general, it’s always a good idea to book a guide.
Many guides in south Florida specialize in peacock bass and can take you to the best spots for catching these fish.
They will put you on the fish, but they’ll also teach you how to fish for them effectively.
What kind of tackle do you need to catch peacock bass?
Because peacock bass is such aggressive predators, you’ll want to use tackle that can handle their hard strikes and powerful runs. I
n general, medium to heavy action spinning or baitcasting rods paired with reel spools filled with 10 – 15 pound test braided line is a good option.
When it comes to lures, anything that swims and resembles a baitfish will work. Popular choices include spinnerbaits, topwater lures, and crankbaits.
We want to hear your thoughts.
Have you caught peacock bass in South Florida? What tactics and lures did you find work the best? Let us know.
