COMMON NAME: Butterfly
Peacock Bass, Peacock Bass
DESCRIPTION:
The
body shape of floridas peacock bass is similar to that of a largemouth
bass; Their appearance is highly variable, but generally golden with
three black vertical bars that tend to fade and are possibly absent
in older fish; black spot (false eye)with a yellow-gold halo on the
caudal fin.
RANGE:
Introduced
by FWC in large coastal canals of southeast Florida in 1984; low water
temperatures and intolerance of saltwater prevent this species from
becoming abundant outside of coastal Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Native
range lies within the Amazon River basin of South America. Peacock
bass have also been successfully introduced to Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
HABITAT:
Peacock bass
thrive in warm, slow flowing canals, ponds, lakes, deep rock pits,
and lateral canals; frequently found in shady areas around bridges,
culverts, canal intersections, bends, dead ends, and near fallen trees.The
peacock bass spawns and often feeds in shallow water adjacent shorelines
with overhanging vegetation. Peacock bass cannot tolerate water temperatures
below 60F or salinities greater than 18 ppt.
SPAWNING HABITS:
Peacock
bass typically spawn from April through September with a peak in May
and June;(Florida's Peacock bass seem to peak a couple of months earlier)
both adults prepare a flat, hard surface near shore, then lay between
4,000 and 10,000 eggs. Young are guarded by both parents, sometimes
for several months; males commonly develop a ‘nucchal' hump on
foreheads when reproductively active. Florida's Peacock bass are most
aggressive during the spawn and while guarding their young.
FEEDING HABITS:
Peacock
bass feed almost exclusively on fish; tend to use great speed to capture
prey. Peacock bass typically feed during daylight hours. The peacock
bass has helped reduce the number of undesirable exotic fishes, especially
the spotted tilapia.
AGE AND GROWTH:
Peacock
bass grow rapidly to 12-14 inches during the first 16-18 months, after
which they become much heavier with each inch they add in length. A
17-inch fish will weigh approximately three pounds while a 19-inch
fish will weigh up to five pounds. The largest butterfly peacock
bass caught in Florida weighed 12.0 pounds and measured 25.5 inches,
this fish was not submitted for a state record. It is not
known how long they live, but data suggests about six years.
SPORTING QUALITY:
Most
popular sportfish in southeast Florida coastal canals where it generates
millions of hours of fishing pleasure for thousands of anglers .Florida
Peacock bass are available to both boat and bank anglers using the same
basic tackle as largemouth bass anglers; small shiners are the preferred
live bait; rarely take plastic worms like largemouth bass do, but top-water
lures, minnow imitating crank and jerk baits, and marabou jigs are popular
artificial baits; streamers, epoxy minnows and pencil poppers are favorites
of fly fishers; daily bag limit of two fish, only one of which can be
greater than 17 inches. I strongly recommend not killing them.
STATE AND WORLD RECORDS:
The
state record for the Florida Peacock bass is 9.08 pounds, but fish
up to 12 pounds have been caught; current IGFA all-tackle world record is
12.6 pounds (caught in Venezuela); 13 of the 16 current IGFA world
records for the Butterfly Peacock bass have been caught from
Florida waters.
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