Peacock Bass
name: Peacock Bass
other names: Butterfly or Peacock
The Peacock bass is native of tropical South America is in actual fact a cichlid. Considered by many to be the world's greatest freshwater game fish, this magnificent and largest member of the Cichlidae family has been successfully introduced into Central America , Hawaii , Florida , Puerto Rico and Guam for sport fishing. The current IGFA World Record rod and line capture 27 pounds fish caught in Rio Negro , Brazil. The charm of the Peacock bass was made known to the world through an article in TIME Magazine entitled The New Fishing Frontier. Called the Pavon or Tucunare in their homeland, they gained the common name because of their bass like shape and peacock feather `eyes' on the caudal fin.
Mainly found in Lakes and river systems of tropical areas. They prefer slower moving water with a slight color. These fish also like structures where they can hide in wait for passing pray. Smaller fish can be found in shoals, however as the fish grow into larger specimens they tend to be loaners or in groups of two or three.
The secret to the peacock's adaptability is probably its voracity. It will eat anything in the water that is smaller than itself, and it will often try to eat things that are larger. An example of this law of the jungle when I found a two-pound peacock bass floating belly-up, with a large bait fish stuck in its throat. The bait fish couldn't free itself and the peacock couldn't swallow its prey, and both fish had died in the struggle for survival.
Peacock Bass shoal up at spawning time and can be found and seen in large numbers. As like alot of species, the females tend to be the larger fish often doubling in size than their counter male parts. These fish grow quickly for in the Jungle environment its grow big quick before you are eaten.
When targeting trophy peacock bass in the Amazon regions of Brazil and Venezuela , many veteran peacock bass anglers have switched from using long rods to shorter, stouter versions, predominantly for top water fishing. Stout rods, in the 6'2" to 6'6" size range, coupled with braided lines, allow anglers to use a wrist-snap retrieve to work large plugs across the surface. This is a very efficient method for working large plugs and will allow hours of casting, since you are letting the rod and line pull the plug and not your arms. Consider larger capacity bait cast reels, especially when spooling with heavy diameter braided lines. For trophy-size fish, anglers should strongly consider using one of the new braided lines, one possessing 20 to 25 lb. test diameter with 65-80 lb. break strength. When using braided lines, you will need to back off on the drag, especially with no lure- snagging cover around. Tight drags and strong peacock bass will cause line breakage and knot slippage. Braided lines offer the advantage of very little stretch. The most exciting aspect of peacock bass fishing is their tenancy to inhale large, noisy surface lures, especially those stick-baits which can be walked across the surface; or poppers that emit a sound similar to the one heard when a predator attacks prey on the surface. Subsurface lures are also extremely productive on peacocks, especially when they cannot be enticed on the noisy or subtle surface plugs.
