Peacocks in Paradise
The pristine flats of Miami’s Biscayne Bay have long been a prime destination for anglers seeking bonefish, permit, and tarpon, but the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale areas are also fast becoming known as meccas for peacock bass. While peacock bass are found only in fresh water, a more important consideration for anglers traveling to southeast Florida is that peacock bass can be targeted from land, do-it-yourself style, while a boat and a guide with local knowledge is needed to pursue most of the area’s saltwater species.
In 1984 Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) stocked several southeast Florida canals with peacock bass, and freshwater fishing in Florida has not been the same since. Ferocious fighters with the tenacity of brown trout and the aerobic ability of tarpon, peacock bass have revitalized freshwater fishing in southeast Florida.
Florida’s peacock-bass boom was born in the late 1970s when the FWC began to study ways to control the spread of a few of the 86 nonnative fish species released in Florida over the past 100 years by storms washing away fish-farm breeding ponds and former aquarium owners who no longer wanted to care for their pets and released them in nearby canals. Many of these nonnative species were undesirable because of their negative impact on the state’s largemouth bass and bluegill populations. Two species—the oscar and spotted tilapia—were particularly offensive to FWC biologists because oscars reproduce like rabbits and were the leading predators of juvenile bass and bluegill.
FWC biologist Paul Shafland, director of the state’s Nonnative Fish Research Laboratory and the chief proponent of releasing peacock bass into Florida’s canals, says, “while the peacock is native to tropical South America, a carefully planned introduction of butterfly peacock bass (Cichla ocellaris) and speckled peacock bass (Cichla temensis) in southeast Florida accomplished the goals of the FWC in helping to control the oscars, talapia, and a few other exotics.” Shafland says, “Peacock bass were especially compatible with south Florida’s ecosystem because they were an aggressive predator of the oscar and spotted tilapia, did not compete with any native fish, and from an angler’s standpoint are a tasty, hard fighting fish.”
Peacock bass cannot survive in water cooler than 60 degrees (F.), thus the south Florida counties of Broward and Dade, from Pompano Beach to south Miami where canal temperatures seldom fall lower than 70 degrees, were chosen as prime peacock habitat. These two counties have 330 miles of man-made canals teeming with nonnative species in need of control. Over the past 20 years, Florida anglers have learned that Shafland’s research and foresight were right on target.
In addition to peacock bass, there is a myriad of other species available in these canals, including snook, tarpon, largemouth bass, bluegill (and several panfish derivatives), and large grass carp. Mosquitoes and deer flies can be a problem in southeast Florida, especially in the canals in southern Dade County (south Miami), so you should plan accordingly for them.
Anglers should be careful when fishing any freshwater location in southeast Florida. An abundance of dangerous wildlife live in or around salt water. These critters range from rattlesnakes and water moccasins to alligators and large iguanas. You might also see harmless basilisk lizards that have earned the nickname “Jesus Christ lizards” because they walk on water.
Equipment
Rods. The Florida peacock fishery does not require the special equipment that you might need for bonefish, redfish, or tarpon. Rods in the 5- to 7-weight range are ideal.
Reels. Unlike bonefish or tuna, peacock bass do not make long screaming runs. They are territorial, and once hooked will stay in the area where they were hooked. Thus reels with strong drags are not necessary for peacock bass.
Lines. Florida peacocks are seldom found in deep water, nor are they particularly attracted to top-water disturbances. An intermediate or floating line with a 10- to 15-foot clear intermediate tip (2 to 3 ips) is the best line choice. Slightly faster sinking tips, full intermediates, or sinking lines in the 3 to 5 ips range can also be used.
Backing and leaders. Since peacocks do not make long runs, 100 feet of backing is sufficient. Nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders can vary from 7 to 9 feet with a minimum 10-pound tippet. I use either 15- or 20-pound tippet as peacocks are strong fighters with semi-abrasive mouths.
All Day Advantage
Peacock and largemouth bass co-exist in southeast Florida, and you never know which species you are going to catch. A general rule of thumb is that largemouths hit best at dawn and dusk while peacocks bite better two hours after sunrise until two hours before sunset.
Wherever you go in south Florida be mindful that car break-ins are so common that some guides leave their windows open and their cars unlocked to prevent damage.
Most of Florida’s largemouth-bass fishing takes place from boats because most of Florida’s lakes are shallow and difficult to walk up to. The opposite is true of peacock bass. One of the great advantages of fishing for peacock bass in Florida is that you can reach 90 percent of the water on foot and the rest in a canoe or kayak.
Water temperature is one key to locating peacock bass in the winter. They seek out areas in canals and lakes where warm water from underground pipes flows into the canals and lakes. Although not as spooky as trout or bonefish, peacock bass become wary if they see you.
Most of the canals and lakes in southeast Florida are clear, and you can sight-fish most of the time while walking along a canal or lake berm. Like many other fish, peacocks cruise and hang around drop-offs and structure, so when you are looking for them, be stealthy near these areas.
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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