Florida Peacock Bass are known for their bright colors, aggressive behavior, and willingness to eat a fly! My first encounter with these fish occurred on a three day flats trip to the Florida Everglades in January of 2022. On the second day of our trip, Ben and I were forced off the flats due to inclement weather so we took to google maps in order to find a place to fool around and target some local Florida species. Luckily we were able to find a spot on the infamous Tamiami trail in the town of homestead.
As we traveled down the highway we slowly turned into a grass lot where we were greeted by a wide stretch of canal. Upon first glance we noticed a fisherman standing on the bank with a bucket of shiners. Both ben and I quickly got out of the car and surveyed the water, as we inspected the canal we noticed two small alligators idling around. Next, we slowly approached the fisherman. To our amazement we watched as his rod doubled over on a nice fish which turned out to be a stud peacock bass! Once we knew that the canal was loaded with peacocks we quickly pieced together the fly rods, threw some tippet on and tossed around some baitfish patterns. As I began false casting, I noticed large splashes on the other side of the bank under overgrown tree limbs. While I attempted to cast as close as I could to the fish, I was unable to draw an eat. Nonetheless, about 30 minutes later I watched a peacock flash on my fly and inhale it. Upon setting the hook, I felt the fish dig for cover. Luckily, I was able to put the heat on it and drag it out of the cover. Next, it went back toward the middle of the canal and made a few hard side to side runs before I was able to swing it into the bank for a picture! While I didn’t get another shot at a peacock bass that day, the memory of the fight was etched into my mind.
Fast forward to March of 2022, my good friend Alex invited me to Fort Lauderdale in order to tangle with some fish. Armed with his local knowledge, we made it our mission to target some peacocks. After a quick mid day flight, Alex picked me up from the airport and we immediately got after it. The awesome thing about Alex’s spot is that it’s located on a small pond full of peacock bass, so I quickly rigged up my 6 weight with 10lb mono and a guitar minnow. Next we hopped into Alex’s canoe and paddled the shoreline of the small deep pond for a few hours before sunset. As we rowed into a shoreline containing a deep drop off, I made a long cast and let the fly sink to the bottom. Then I slowly stripped my fly in with sharp twitches. With 10 feet left in my retrieve I felt a heavy thud, I knew the fly got swallowed. After setting the hook, I watched as the fish jumped and repeatedly swam for cover. Luckily I was able to tame the peacock and get an awesome photo. Once I landed my first fish, I slowly caught a rhythm and landed a few more chunky Peacocks before the sun went down.
On day two we bounced around in sweltering hot 90 degree weather. If you could find a body of water with parking, you’d find peacock bass in the area. To my amazement these canals were all interconnected, each containing it’s own structure such as a shopping cart, overhanging bank, lilli pad’s, or fallen trees. Armed with guitar minnows, I walked the canal edges and stealthily plopped my fly next to each piece of structure. A peacock would then motor up to the fly and slowly inhale it. Fighting fish in these tight quarter’s was a fun yet challenging time. Nevertheless, the rest of the day was spent plucking a bunch more fish from the canal.
On my final day we stayed local and hit the pond behind Alex’s house before I hopped on my return flight. As we ventured around the pond, we focused on a new area with a large underwater pipe. To our amazement, several large fish were stacked up along the bottom directly in front of it. I quickly casted my fly out and let it hit bottom. After a few strips of the Guitar minnow it was game on. It’s safe to say that by the last day, I had gotten my fill of peacock bass!
Gear
- Slow action 6 weight rod
- Lines: Standard intermediate, sink, and float lines will do the trick
- Flies: clousers, game changers, guitar minnows and small shiny patterns