'PICTURES FROM EXOTIC PEACOCK BASS MIAMI INVADERS:'

Exotic Peacock Bass Miami Invaders

Miami, FL March 21, 2010

Miami has an incredible diversity of culture and heritage. Today Urban Fishing Show takes you into the heart of Miami City to fish the canals. One mile from Miami International Airport and in the heart of the city we are in search for a species of fish called the Peacock Bass. A native of Brazil this species resembles the culture with vibrant greens and reds shading its body. So what is this exotic fish doing in the waterways of south Florida?

WHERE DID PEACOCK BASS COME FROM?:

In 1984 the Florida Fish and Game Commission was faced with a huge ecological and environmental disaster. As the population of Miami increased exponentially so did the trade of exotic fish. However, as people moved they would often release these exotic fish into the canals and waterways behind their homes. Two such species were spotted tilapia and Oscars. This seemingly innocent act had major repercussions on the local ecosystems as the exotic fish, with no natural predators, quickly established themselves and causes noticeable population declines of other fish species. Faced with this threat the Florida Fish and Game decided to introduce the Peacock Bass into the canals and lake systems as a natural predator to the exotic fish. This was the perfect species as it was well contained by the strict water temperature requirement of over 60 degrees and it created a new fishing source for urban anglers.

IN SEARCH OF TIGHT LINES:

Living in Miami for several months, I often wanted to go fishing for only a couple of hours and started searching for non- ocean trips that could offer tight lines and fast access. This is how I first found out about the Peacock Bass. Incredibly hard fighters on light tackle and with a veracious appetite, these fish quickly won me over as trophy fish. Plus their stunning colors continually captivated me with different color variations of green and red. I am really looking forward to sharing these fish with Nicole and with the Urban Fishing Show audience.

PEACOCK BASS FISHING LOCATION:

Today we are fishing literally one mile from the Miami International Airport. This is urban fishing at its best! From I-95 take FL route 836 west until you exit at NW 57th Ave (N Red Rd.) Within the first block you will pass over a bridge. This is the canal system that connects Blue Lagoon to Lake Mahar and is renown by the experts for the abundance of peacock bass. Due to naturally occurring spring water, the temperature never falls below 66 degrees and is ideal for sustaining large populations of Peacock Bass. This is where we start our adventure today. The hard part about fishing these canals is that private land boarders most sides. Be prepared to run into security guards that regularly patrol the grounds. One of the fun challenges of urban fishing! For public parking there are many options such as the Burger King or other areas around the strip malls. This also provides a quick meal if you are taking kids or easy bathroom breaks for those who would rather not commune with nature quite that much.

TACKLE AND JERK BAITS:

Salt water fishing can seem like a very expensive sport from watching other fishing shows with luxury boats and high end rods, but today Urban Fishing Show is using tackle that costs less than $20 per person including the rods. The best part is this one time investment can be used hundreds of times with minimal maintenance or extra costs from lures. For rods we will be using light weight 6 foot rods with 8 pound test line. This light tackle option will make even the smallest fish seem like monsters, but still offers enough strength in case you hook into a large Snook or juvenile tarpon. For tackle we focused our attention on soft plastic jerk baits that could be fished just under the water surface or deep in the depths of the canals by adding a bullet weight. We also decided on a golden Rapala that swims just under the surface and allows for large areas of water to be fished quickly to locate fish. Both of these lures mimic a distressed fish that is either dying or severely wounded. This triggers the natural strike instincts of predatory fish and especially the Peacock Bass.

FIND STRUCTURE FOR FISH:

When fishing these canals the top suggestion is to find structure. This can mean fishing the many bridges that line the canal or fallen trees. These fish are very aggressive and use this structure to ambush baitfish. Think of ninjas hiding in the bushes.

HIGH DEFINITION FISHING VIDEOS:

Urban Fishing Show is also very proud to say that we have now upgraded to HD video and wireless mics for crystal clear video and sound. Setting up this video equipment on the side of the canal we are ready to get started and hit the water. By the time we get the opening scene filmed we already have had our first encounter with security. These guys are certainly doing their jobs. Even having your own fishing show does not let you get away with fishing on private property. Our next location is a spot right behind a medical center with deep cut banks and two bridges within 50 feet of each other.

IGUANA FEEDING ON EGG:

Getting out of the car we are instantly stunned by a 4 foot long green iguana eating a bird's egg behind a storage shed. Just like the exotic fish, this species was first brought to Miami as pets and as they grew too large for their containers were released into the wild. Iguanas are having a serious impact on the bird populations by eating eggs from once safe nests. Still, Nicole and I are amazed by the orange rings along the tail and dinosaur like features. Trying to get close for video we spook the iguana and it leaps off the edge of the canal and into the water. As it swims away it looks more like a snake than a reptile with its arms folded backward and tail propelling it forwards. Nicole is jumping around with amazement having seen this prehistoric creature just relaxing on the side of the canal.

BRIDGE FISHING:

After we calm down and grab our fishing rods we head down to the first bridge and start casting towards the pilings. Nicole has tied on the golden Rapala and I am using a green ZOOM plastic bass imitation that I am fishing just under the surface. Each pilling offers the hope of a large fish waiting in the shadows to pounce on that perfectly presented lure. The uncertainty of a strike and the idea that the next cast could hook a monster is what makes fishing exciting.

RAPALA:

Ok so there is one more thing that is more exciting than waiting for the fish to hit and that is seeing a fish trailing after your lure or fly just before it strikes. This happened to Nicole several times as she was reeling in her line. As her lure came within eyesight she would see a fish closely following behind trying to decide on if it should attack. All I hear is her voice saying over and over, "he is following it, he is following it!!” To try and draw the fish into striking she makes several more casts but varies her presentation by reeling quickly and then stops suddenly then reels quickly again so that the Rapala floats to the surface and then takes off again. After three attempts the fish strikes at the lure, but misses the hooks. Excited by the fact that her golden Rapala is working so well, she keeps casting towards the pilings.

FISH ON, BUT WHAT KIND OF FISH?:

As I watch Nicole have close encounter after close encounter I decide to add a bullet weight to my line and fish the deep areas of the canal. Just this morning a cold front has come through and dropped the water temperature several degrees. Knowing that these fish like the warmer water and seeing how fish keep following Nicole's bait it is clear that the fish are moving slower than normal. Perhaps a slow moving retrieve of bouncing the lure over the floor bottom may be the best answer. Aiming for the roots of a tree I cast and retrieve several times, with each cast aiming for a different branch. Suddenly, I feel a tap on the end of my line than nothing. Lifting up the end of my rod I feel weight and set the hook. The fish then thrashes its head to free the hook and makes several quick jerks away. Reeling in the line I bring the fish to the surface and am amazed. This is not the peacock bass I had been hoping for, but some unknown species of fish that I had never seen before in any water system.

EXOTIC :

After reeling in the fish fully I was able to see all the different markings of this half pound fish. The body was a light brown similar to a skate with dark small spots covering every inch. The mouth was located at the bottom of the head and had soft rubbery lips. The dorsal fin looked like that from an arctic grayling while the pectoral fins were enlarged much like that of a red robin. The tail was similar to that of a redfish, but without the characteristic black dots. What made this fish even more astounding was that the entire body was rock hard as though it were armor plated like a gar. From fishing around the world this was one of the more interesting fish I have ever seen. Like I said in the past I do not think myself an expert of fishing so hopefully all of you can help identify this fish! Check out our pictures link!

After fishing for a while longer the sky started to darken and ended our quest for the Peacock Bass. While we did not catch any of them this trip we are thrilled to still add another species to our catch list. Now to just find out what species of fish we have caught. This has been a great day and serves as another example of how there is great fishing within an hour and a half of any urban city, but sometimes it can be as close as right off the plane.

Tight lines and screaming reels,

Dave

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