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Peacock bass
#13062346
02/14/19 03:07 AM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
I might have to go to Florida in June to visit family for a couple of days. I'm considering making the trip an extra day and driving 2 1/2 hours down to Miami to fish the peacocks there. My last trip, I went to Okeechobee and it was a bust when a cold front blew in and shut them down. Anyone fished the peacocks there? Was it worth it? Any guide recommendations?
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13062578
02/14/19 01:40 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 609
FW_Tom_H
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 609 |
I was there probably 7-8 years ago and took one day to drive around to a few bank fishing spots. I took a 2 piece rod in my golf bag with a reel in my carry on. In hindsight, I probably should have hired a guide. I did catch one peacock about 2.5 pounds that fought like a freight train. It was in Cutler Drain, I believe from Bill Sadowski Park? I've had two kids since then so my memory has been destroyed by the sleep deprivation. Light fluorocarbon is a must and bright moving baits were the ticket. I caught my peacock on a small lucky craft pointer in Nishiki color. I had several other followers but the water was so clear they were super spooky. There are a ton of other crazy exotics swimming around like Midas cichlids and several species of tilapia. I'm glad I did it but would have loved to have caught more than one. Hope this helps and if you go, post up some pics!
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13062619
02/14/19 02:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,792
skeeteroneal
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,792 |
We went with South Florida Bass Charters. Capt Bill is good and knows what he is doing. We used thread fin shad since the trip was primarily for the kids. Im sure he would do artificial if that's what you wanted. He is in Del Ray Beach area. We fished the canals and caught several peacocks, clownknife fish, and largemouth. Biggest peacock was around 4#. My son caught it. Fought really hard. My wife/daughter both caught a clownknife around 7#. Those fish are really cool. Jump like a tarpon and can swim backwards.
David O'Neal Skeeterless for now 1998 Xpress H56 Hobie Outback Jackson Kayak Coosa Elite
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13062710
02/14/19 03:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 71
NTX6807
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 71 |
Probably a stupid question but do they catch them the same way in Florida with those giant top water plugs
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: NTX6807]
#13062721
02/14/19 03:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 609
FW_Tom_H
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 609 |
Probably a stupid question but do they catch them the same way in Florida with those giant top water plugs The speckled peacock bass ( Cichla temensis) is the bigger one that devour big top water plugs in South America. The butterfly peacock ( Cichla ocellaris) was introduced in Florida and they are much smaller.
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13062891
02/14/19 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
From videos I watched last night which went along with my experience from Okeechobee, it seems that guides in Florida want to use live bait for fishing. Okeechobee they liked big shiners and it looked like they were using minnows for the peacocks.
I didnt realize there were different types of peacocks. It looks like a 4-5 pound one is huge in Florida. They did fight hard.
Last edited by Bobby Milam; 02/14/19 06:45 PM.
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13063218
02/14/19 11:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,100
b00stin4
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,100 |
I did I few yrs ago I spent two days driving around Miami fishing canals you could get to on foot with nothing to show for it Found a guide Rodger ??? I'll have to look up his info Spent a half day with him in a boat and killed it.. probably caught 20+ fish most of which is behind peoples houses where you cant get to on foot best was about 6lbs but a lot of 4 and 5s I would absolutely do it again
Dynosaur Performance Legend alpha 211 Turbo Honda 8.51@179
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13063232
02/14/19 11:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,896
cob
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,896 |
We went 4 years ago and fished 2 days with Alan Zaremba. I fished a fly rod and friend fished spinning. We caught 12 -15 each a day. Most around 3 lbs, biggest 5 lbs. I had one around 8 break me off in a shopping cart. Great fun! Went in January.
Last edited by cob; 02/14/19 11:17 PM. Reason: Add date
Some people go to church and think about fishing. Some go fishing and think about God.
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13063405
02/15/19 01:52 AM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 85
RunTX
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 85 |
I was in Miami early part of January; fished with Capt Kirk Osborne for Peacock Bass in the Airport Lakes chain - he guides all over south Florida; https://bassonline.com/tag/capt-kirk-osborne/ . Boated 8 or so in a half-day of fishing...with a cold front hitting the night prior. Did use some top water and they were eat'n 'em up. Unlike the large mouth bass, the Peacock will hit the lure 4 or 5 times if the hook set doesn't go well the first time - - not that I had that issue or anything...I'm just saying this was the case of a friend. LOL. Fun fish to catch and pretty damn cool looking. I plan to hit 'em again and go after some of those large mouth out that way as well.
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13063433
02/15/19 02:07 AM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
Cool. Thx. They are just such pretty fish I want to go catch a few.
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13063877
02/15/19 04:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 285
ETXsabre
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 285 |
I went November of 2018. We fished with Capt. Scott Rose and had a blast! My buddy and I boated 7 or 8 apiece up to 6lbs. I did have another in the 5-6lb range just absolutely manhandle me. We also caught Midas cichlid and even a tiger oscar. Everything fights really hard and it was a fun day. Scott told us about a great seafood place right down the road. Cobia tacos and beer were the perfect finish.
"There never was a horse that couldn't be rode and there never was a cowboy that hadn't been throwed"
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Re: Peacock bass
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#13064010
02/15/19 07:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
I had to look up Midas Cyclids. Sounds like it will be a fun trip from hearing you guy's experiences. Thanks for the info.
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