Peacock bass facts

What To Know About Peacock Bass

1. Peacock bass are actually members of the cichlid family that are native to the Amazon River Basin of South America.
2. Peacocks are very sensitive to low water temperatures and cannot survive in water temperatures that dip below about 65 degrees. Low water temperatures will cause peacock bass to stop feeding and turn darker in color because of slowed blood flow. This is the perfect species to pursue during South Florida’s hot and humid summer months.
3. These fish prefer to hang out near seawalls, shorelines, and in the weeds along canal edges where they can easily ambush their prey.
4. This species can be targeted with both live bait and artificial lures. If using artificial lures, try a gold Rapala F7 floating minnow or a top water torpedo. If using live bait, peacocks prefer shiners (try a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook depending on size of the bait).
5. Peacock bass are a fairly sturdy fish, so catch and release survival rates are quite high if the fish are handled correctly. They have sandpaper-like mouths similar to that of a largemouth bass, so they can be handled by the lower jaw, using the same thumb-and-finger grip.