11" Oscar Caught On A Frog

[BassinLou]

I just wanted to share, another of our beautiful exotics down here in South Fl. I landed this guy on a frog while fishing in the Everglades today.  This one measured 11" and I had to take this pic, because of its colors. Not only are these fish scrappy fighters, they can have some real pretty red  patterns. Enjoy!! 

 

 

 

[Darren.]

That's pretty awesome, Lou!

[Insanity]

That's a pig!

I think I'd have cooked him. Always thought they looked like big gills and tasty looking too. Lol

An idiot friend of mine released a pacu in a stream here a few years back.

It wouldn't make it threw the winter here. But no telling what you guys are likely to reel in next. The Amazon gone wild. Lol

[EvanT123]

Cool fish

[pbizzle]

It's amazing how bright the red spots are. I would think that it would make camouflaging itself difficult, but judging by it's size I'd say that it's done okay.

[BassinLou]

It's amazing how bright the red spots are. I would think that it would make camouflaging itself difficult, but judging by it's size I'd say that it's done okay.

 

These fish were prolific in the glades right before the big freeze of 2010. Big population of peacock bass were also there. Before the big freeze we had a neighbor that use to love eating oscar, since they are exotics and not protected their are no harvesting limits. We filled the livewell of my boat from top to bottom one summer. The one I pictured is a pretty good size but before 2010 that size was just above average. . 

[John G]

Nice catch! Y'all have a big variety down in South Florida!

[BassinLou]

Nice catch! Y'all have a big variety down in South Florida!

 

We have great variety down here for sure John. Captain Shane has been doing a great job lately, demonstrating the unique fishery we have down here. Hope you get to experience some day. 

[John G]

We have great variety down here for sure John. Captain Shane has been doing a great job lately, demonstrating the unique fishery we have down here. Hope you get to experience some day. 

I'd like to. We don't have any of the exotics in West Central Fl. I am just west of Tampa on the coast, Gulf side.

[BassinLou]

I'd like to. We don't have any of the exotics in West Central Fl. I am just west of Tampa on the coast, Gulf side.

 

The farthest north that exotics tend to be is Palm Beach. Water temps play an important role in their ecosystem. 

[bigbill]

I caught some sort of fish that had a pink color upper and a pearl white lower body. I pulled out two of these back to back the day I caught 19 bass in one spot.(full moon with rain). They had a body like a sunfish/bluegill.

[BassinLou]

Just in case anyone is interested to know, i didn't know where else to post this. I noticed on my last two outings that oscar's are making a come back out in the glades. They are real fun fish especially for kids. 

[tomustang]

Harvesting Oscar to eat? I've always known them for fish tank fish

[BassinLou]

Harvesting Oscar to eat? I've always known them for fish tank fish

 

I have never personally eaten oscar, although people say they are pretty good. Besides that, fish from the glades have very high mercury content, so catch and release is highly recommended. 

[Insanity]

Harvesting Oscar to eat? I've always known them for fish tank fish

They eat them in the country where there from along with anything else that swims. Lol Bet they wish they had our bluegill in there fish tanks. You should see the look on the pet store staff faces when I jokingly ask how long it takes an oscar to grow to eating size. We had a saltwater tank for years. I couldn't believe the fish we where buying often grew to huge sizes and eaten from the ocean. Groupers come to mind.

Yesterday my son ask why I didn't eat shad or skip jack. His reasoning was that I eat sardines and smoked herring from a can. Um. He got me. . But I'm still not eating one. I told him they come pre salted from the ocean water. Lol.