I fished Boca Raton, Florida last month trying to find some peacock bass. I could not locate any. I'm headed back today and was wondering if anyone is willing to tell me a spot I can go to catch a few? Thank you, Mitch

Mitch, I was in the canals near Boynton Beach (close to Boca) a few weeks ago, caught loads, biggest was 4+ lbs. Can't tell you where we were because I have no idea. Fished artificial for a while and caught a few dinks and some largemouth. Got some minnows after suggestion from my buddy, put them on my spinning rod and lip hook them with a wacky worm hook and cast as close to cover as I could no weight. Let them swim around. Keep line within 1 or 2 cranks of tight. When you see the line jump, wait just a sec or two, feel if there is weight and if there is set on him.

I was kinda of the mindset that "I am an artificial lure guy and live bait is cheating". But did not catch quality fish with artificials. The water was super clear and they see real well and were pretty spooky. They would come up like they were going to smash my bait then turn away. They crushed live bait though. My buddy said sometimes they will be super aggressive and hit loud baits. just not the day I was there.

I used a medium spinning rod with 30 lbs braid and 6 foot 15 lbs fluorocarbon leader. I had a pal who was in the know and helped me out. Look for stuff like you would look for when bass fishing. I could catch smaller ones in shallow water but the bigger ones were all near deeper areas in the channels. right off the grass and mostly under docks. The best bites came when I got the minnow way back under the dock.

Got tired of catching them and moved out to the main channels for knife fish. Just put a pinch weight on and slowly trolled the grass lines of the main channels. They feel like a truck. If you try do a 3 second count when your rod loads then sweep it rather than hard hookset. (If you get one, their gill covers are like a razor blade and they got little teeth that hurt.)

I am no expert but my pal lives there in the winter and spring and fishes for them all the time. All I tell you, he told me.

Hope you can find em. If you do post pics!

Thank you so much, I'm going to give it a shot! I was using artificials my first time, so maybe that's why I couldn't hook up. I did catch bass and snook on them and had some big blowups and misses on frogs. Those clown knifefish are so crazy looking. Wouldn't mind finding one of those on the end my line either. I will definitely post pics of any catches.

Do you know any guides in that area?

Lived out that way for years, still go back twice a year to fish the everglades but will often stop on drive home for peacocks in Broward County. If I only had 30 minutes to fish and wanted to catch a peacock, this is where I'd go. Have NEVER been skunked here for peacocks. Fished it from kayak only once as it is easier just walking the bank and caught peacocks, small tarpon, and snook up to 40 inches.

https://goo.gl/maps/D52Q4Mc4gzVKcVkr9
Map above is general area near Davie... it will be worth the drive

https://goo.gl/maps/HPV4B5gy7S1j7tFs9
Close up... on the far right side of map is SW 154th street... to the left of that street is a black dotted line running parallel (its a guard rail) you'll want to park next to guard rail where it ends/begins (depending on direction you're coming from) as you pull off road. Walk to concrete embankment which connects the smaller canal to larger one. Fish the opening into the big canal. Throw a Rapala X rap with tail feathers parallel to bank... limestone bank that drops to 4 feet quick. Water is usually clear enough to see fish. It you run it into the fish, they will take a swipe. If you don't catch a peacock here... you will have trouble catching one with a guide.

I'm a facebook friend with this guy. Never met him, but have followed him and he is friend of some of my friends. Guides from shore..

https://www.facebook.com/HaiTruongFishing

PS.. if you use him, tell him to start posting in Florida Fishing Forum
https://flafishingforum.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/15/1/bank-fishing

Thank you all for the help, it definitely paid off! I took uber and then walked up the cabal, so I couldn't really fish under the private docks, but the bridges had a few peacocks and bass. Got rained on a little bit, but it all turned out ok.

Every time I've fished Florida for bass (not Peacocks) rain has made it better. Congrats on catching some Peacocks!

That is so cool! Glad you got on some peacock bass and that Mayan cichlid is a beauty!
Thanks for sharing!

That's bloody amazing! One of these days...I'll knock this species off my bucket list.

Awesome post and fish. Good job.

Awesome work on the peas

Nice, got a bonus Mayan Cichlid as well!