any peacock bass fishermen in here? i need some tips!

[bluetreefingers]

so i just found out how lucky i am to be living in miami, where i have access to a ton of peacocks.

the tragedy is that i dont know how to fish them too well...

what lures (other than shiners) work well with peacocks?

any advice here would be greats.

thanks everyone!

[Gone_Phishin]

Shoot Redlinerobert a pm.  

[Bassn Blvd]

Been tearing them up on Chartreuse and Firetiger cranks.

[Redlinerobert]

I dont know much about the Florida variety, but topwater baits work great, especially zara spooks and rip roller's.  You may also want to check with local tackle shops as I am sure they will have a good idea as to what works.

[Krzkev]

Rattle traps, and X-raps seem to work pretty good.  I havn't found anything like live bait yet....

[Bass Mekanik]

Lures thats produce for me are husky jerks, x-raps, rat-l-traps, rooster tails, and my all time favorite bucktail jigs. Vary retrieve depending on the fishes mood.  Good colors are gold and black, firetiger, and white and chartuese.

[bocabasser]

redline robert is correct as far as a topwater bite is concerned, but that only works on peacocks that are in south america. i have never caught a peacock on a top water bait here in south florida. don't know why, but all of the peacocks i have caught down here ( i have caught 100's of them) came either burning a rat l trap or ticking them off when they are on the bed. the main thing to remember is to burn whatever bait you are using as fast as you can, and make the baits movement erratic. i like to use either a chrome and black trap or a yozuri silver minnow. if you can see them on the bed, that is when they are easiest to catch. just rip anything across their face at a fast clip and they will eat it. the great thing about a peacock bass is even if you hook one and they jump off, you can still catch that same fish when they return to the bed. i don't use expensive baits to catch them because they WILL beat a bait up. have a good pair of pliers with you, because you will have to re-bend your hooks after catching one. hope this helps.

[skillet]

 Have watched TV shows of fishing for peacocks in South America and FLA. Have ALWAYS wanted to visit in FLA where I could give them a try! After reading your post, bocabasser, I have to do it TOMORROW ...

                                   As Ever,

                                    skillet

[RnO]

Went for the first time last weekend with SE_FL_BassAddict on Rattle traps, and X-rap (both silver with blue backs, and one orange Ratl-Trap) and we caught them all by casting past their nests and retrieving over them.

Interestingly when the lures were slow and straight, they showed no interest, but a little faster and erratic and it was on (bocabasser is right on).

[South FLA]

redline robert is correct as far as a topwater bite is concerned, but that only works on peacocks that are in so uth america. i have never caught a peacock on a top water bait here in south florida. don't know why, but all of the peacocks i have caught down here ( i have caught 100's of them) came either burning a rat l trap or ticking them off when they are on the bed. the main thing to remember is to burn whatever bait you are using as fast as you can, and make the baits movement erratic. i like to use either a chrome and black trap or a yozuri silver minnow. if you can see them on the bed, that is when they are easiest to catch. just rip anything across their face at a fast clip and they will eat it. the great thing about a peacock bass is even if you hook one and they jump off, you can still catch that same fish when they return to the bed. i don't use expensive baits to catch them because they WILL beat a bait up. have a good pair of pliers with you, because you will have to re-bend your hooks after catching one. hope this helps.

Unlike bocabasser, I have caught plenty of peacock on topwater, specifically Tiny Torpedo and Smithwick's Devils Horse in South Florida.

The largest peacock I have ever caught, was caught on drum roll please..... a Zoom Fluke bait. I wasn't targeting peacock, but when I finished my cast I reeled my fluke in rapidly and out of no where a fat peacock slammed it. Not sure of the weight, but should go at least 7lbs. Just for reference I wear a size 13 shoe.

When fishing for peacocks you need to be flexible sometimes they won't hit a certain lure, but always work the lure aggressively/erratically they can't stand it. That being said the best luck I've had is with X-raps and rattle traps.

Replace hooks with saltwater hooks or buy saltwater version of lures, that will save you some bending.

[Vitor Isaia]

Try torpedoes (baby torpedo, etc), zaras and poppers... topwater baits. If the fish is attacking deeper, you can try those jigs (yellow)... retrieving fast with little stops...

[KevinH]

My basic rule for peacocks is this:  use the kinds of lures that you would use to catch snook: X-raps, gold spoons, DOA terroreyez, etc.

Kevin.

[Speed Worm]

The answer to your prayers:

Rapala Shallow Shad Rap SSR05 (Perch, Firetiger, Hotsteel)

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_2850____SearchResults

[TruiteBR]

I don't know how the peacocks behave in North America, but I would give a try to x-raps, Zara Spook Jr, Rebel Jumpin' Minnow T-10. Fish them fast. Bone colors are the best. Right before it gets dark is the best time. Try the BONE/CHARTREUSE T-10.