I had a good day yesterday catching peacock bass out of Miami lakes and canals. These fish are very territorial and a fun fish to catch. I started with a white Controlled Descent Paddle Shad and they were just bumping it and pushing it away. With the slow descent I was able to stay in there personal space longer than with most lures and really aggravated them. Once I switched to red, and pink it was on!

I have some good video of them the bumping the baits. It gives a good perspective as too what fish do that we typically can't see.

I'll post that when I return home.

Almost as fun as being in Brazil... I got to go in 1996

I went a few years and caught a boat load but had also hooked a couple if tarpon, of course the tarpon won. We also chase a school of snook those guys stayed just out of casting range and out smarted us the whole time.

Fished the Miami Lakes and canals of south florida for many years. Good memories. Sounds like you have them figured out. Short casts past sighted peacocks and ripped right up to or just past them will get them pizzed off. If there wasn't too much vegetation next to shore I liked to use Rapala X Raps. Didn't even need to really cast, just pitch it out a few feet past the sighted fish and figure eight it until you made them mad enough to strike. The faster the better. The two three prongs on the bait come in handy with those fish.

Beautiful fish! Great fighters also. Thanks for sharing.

Nice fish.

We used to catch them on the damn on Ray Roberts when they first opened the lake

When I lived in Miami, I would catch live Oscars.. They can't pass those up... it is awesome fishing with live bait..

Very nice!. Def on my bucket list to catch soon.

I was in Brazil last week.. Went on a trip with Ron Speed Adventures.. It was awesome.. I realize it wasn't Florida.. But if you want to catch some giant Peacocks then you need to put it on your bucket list..
You cannot believe what a top water bite is like.. Holy [censored].. This one went 20.23..

Used to keep some of these as pets in my 500 gal aquarium. Never caught one though....definitely a bucket list item.

How big do they get in Florida? Also any suggestions on good area to go in Florida?

Go to the 3:40 mark if you want to skip the prelims. Seven pounders are monsters in Florida.

Had no idea those were transplanted to Florida. Wonder how long before someone tries stocking them in Texas?

They dumped Peacock Bass in the Miami canals to control the exotic aquarium fish that were thriving in the canals. The canals are partially submerged and maintain a warm enough temperature even during a freezing cold front. They have put them in other places but they eventually die during a cold winter. Peacock Bass exist in Miami, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Brazilian Rain forest.