The Peacock Bass Story

[Redlinerobert]

The picture from my avatar is from my last trip down to Brazil.  I took my dad on the greatest fishing adventure we've ever had.  6 1/2 days of fishing on the Rio *****, we caught and released some monsters!  My big fish went 18 lbs, and my dad kicked my butt with a 21 lb fish.  On one of our days we caught 32 fish, with the SMALLEST being 9 lbs and the biggest went 21!  Our best day out we caught 84 fish.  Did I mention that they were all caught on topwater?    Here is the avatar pic and a few more for my new friends to enjoy.  

14 lbs

16 lbs

18 lbs and fought like a freight train!

My dad's 21 lb fish.  he tied for 3rd biggest fish of the week!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Dude, that is friggin awesome...mind if I ask how much that trip set you back?

[BASS fisherman]

Those are some amazing looking fish!  Nice job.  

Thanks for sharing the story too.

[senile1]

That was obviously an awesome trip!  It's always nice when your kids or your parents get the biggest fish.  It makes it that much more fun.  

[Redlinerobert]

Here's some of the ghoulies we caught on the trip:

Piranha:  Watch your fingers!

Freshwater barracuda

Dogfish.  This thing looked like it came straight out of Jurrasic park.

Our guides prepared a shore lunch for us one day.  Peacock bass and piranha are delicous to eat!  Piranha tastes alot like halibut actually.  

[Redlinerobert]

Dude, that is friggin awesome...mind if I ask how much that trip set you back?

We live in California, so with flights, shots, (lots of shots  > ) and everything else I would say I spent $16,000 for me and my dad.  I Also took his best friend who has fished with us since I was a kid.  My total for the trip was about $25,000.  That is for 3 people though.  

By the way, We had SUCH a great time, the first thing I did when we came back was to call the very next day to pre-book for next year.  It was honestly one of the best times I've had in my life.  It made it that more special that I was able to share it with my dad.  

[K_Mac]

Now that is what I call a fishing trip. 8-) A trip like that, esp. with your Pop, is one of those memories you will never forget. I am more than a lttle envious but I get a little vicarious thrill just out the story and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Deuceu72]

Great pics and story! Thanks for sharing!

[.IusePhenixRods.]

Robert, once the boat comes were fishing every other weekend!  

[Catt]

I wanna play   8-)

[K_Mac]

Robert, once the boat comes were fishing every other weekend!

Welcome to the forum. I have a lookout for that boat as well

[BassMaster_1]

well im absolutly jealous of you!  I have see show on tv of guys fishing topwater for peacocks and I was glue to the tv.  I couldn't get over the way those fish hit, like a freaking freight train.   Of my dream trips that ranks right up there with a trip to Alaska for Salmon and Steelhead but 16G thats big time money!   I can only dream of a trip like that, but hey you never know.  What if you cook your own food could they knock off about 8G?!?  Thanks for shareing the story and pics, that had to be an amazing experience!  Going to get a mount of your big one?

[what]

very nice fish i lover it   : i must say im the peacock guy along with three others on the forum in miami, since i do live here i catch them all the time and they do fight like a freight train

[Fishin49er]

Man those are some amazing fish.  That would be a trip of a lifetime. Awesome job.

[J-Salvati]

i love peacocks.....great fighters

[Tom Bass]

Thanks for the pictures and the story Robert. That had to be the trip of a lifetime.  

I'd show my wife but then she would think I'm gettin' ideas and freeze the bank account...I guess it would be nice to send my Grandson to college though....but the thought did enter my mind. I guess I'll stick with LMBs in the local area.

[Cigarlover 1]

Absolutely awesome fish! That's awesome you got to share the experience with your dad. Of course if you're dad can't make the next trip and you need a partner. : ;D

Thanks for sharing.  

[MALTESE FALCON]

ROBERT, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU WERE ABLE TO ENJOY THAT AMAZING TRIP WITH YOUR FATHER. MY DAD HAS BEEN GONE FOR FIFTEEN YEARS NOW AND I STILL MISS OUR FISHING TRIPS TOGETHER.

THANKS FOR SHARING THE PICTURES AND THE STORY.

[Bassassasin12]

reminds me a lot of that show on espn2 called record hunters. They caught all their peacocks on topwaters too and on the rio *****. Were you using the same guide service as them. They also showed an episode were they prepared a shore lunch just like that one?

[Yakfish]

Great fish, what an incredible trip. What did you catch the peacocks and the sharp toothed critters on?

[Valascus]

Boy that must be a whole different type of fishing experience. Fishing for largemouth or smallmouth must pale in comparison to fishing for peacocks and other native fish like the ones in those pics. $25,000...that's massive money for me...and I mean massive. It must have been great to be able to enjoy that much time fishing with close friends and family. Awesome pics and great story.

[Redlinerobert]

Thanks for the compliments guys.  The trip truly was the experience of a lifetime.  I've been extremely blessed in life and business to be able to take trips like this.  I could only dream of such things as a kid growing up.

Most of the fish were caught on wood chopppers modified by our guide.  About 30% were caught on Zara Spooks with the hooks replaced - and then only two of them, not three like they normally come rigged.  

Here's a couple more pics too  

Another 14 lb fish.

16 lb fish caught during a nice down pour.

[0119]

Incredible pics.  I;m jealous but more so because you got to be with your Dad.  My few trips with my Dad were before I was mature enough to appreciate them.  I'd do anything to have him back for a trip or two.

[Pa Angler]

Thank you for sharing your trip. Those are some mean looking fish best keep your fingers away from their mouths.

Chow

[Troutfisher]

Wow, you guys had quite an outing while fishing for those monsters....I'd be afraid to even hook one!  

Anyone for a swim?