Cichla ocellaris
A blaze-orange Amazon transplant thriving in South Florida's canal maze. Peacocks hit like they hate the lure, fight like fish twice their size, and only eat when the sun is up.
Daylight sight-fishing in urban canals. Walk the banks, spot fish on shade lines and structure, and make them react — peacocks respond to speed and commotion, not finesse.
Guide data is editorial and general — conditions, regulations, and fish behavior vary by water. Photo: Wikipedia — Butterfly peacock bass.
Use these field marks and context clues to separate butterfly peacock bass from similar fish before logging or keeping one.
Match a rig to Butterfly Peacock Bass with the Setup Builder, or browse all setups.
Small skiffs run the bigger canals and lakes (Airport Lakes, Blue Lagoon).
Reach the middle of wide canals and private-bank stretches.
The premier urban shore fishery in America — bike or walk the canal system.
Southeast Florida freshwater canals, lakes, and ponds from roughly Boca Raton south to Homestead, plus Naples-area canals.
Peacocks show three vertical black bars, a tail eye-spot, and orange-gold flanks; no true bass has the ocellus.
Mayans are smaller and rounder with a red-rimmed tail eye-spot and turquoise sheen.
Size limits, bag limits, seasons, and gear rules change every year and differ by state (and often by individual water). Always verify with the official source before keeping fish.
