Peacock Bass were not always present in Florida. They were introduced in the early 1980s as part of a government-sponsored study to observe the relationship between non-native and native species. It was also designed to provide fishermen, anglers, and others with new opportunities to fishing tourism, providing a necessary boon to the state’s economy. Since then, the peacock bass has flourished in the southeastern regions of Florida, including Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Since the peacock bass does not like low-temperature waters, peacock bass fishing is optimal in areas close to the warm southeast, although they are not as numerous because of they still prefer tropical regions to flourish in abundance. While the peacock bass in the Amazon grows up to 25 pounds, the biggest record of peacock bass in Florida is close to 10 pounds. They are usually restricted in deep freshwater canals by lakes in Miami-Dade and Fort Lauderdale, preferring to stick close to grassy and rocky openings at the end of canals, usually by residential and commercial areas. Specific areas for peacock bass fishing include Everglades National Park in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties, as well as the Miami Canal along Alligator Alley, and the C2 and C8 canals along Ft. Pierce. Book your next trip with the HawgHunter to catch these magnificent fish!