Peacock Bass in Central America

The largest of the Cichlid family of fish can be hunted down in central and south America, the mighty Peacock Bass. It is not a member of the actual bass family, and you'll find out just how much they live up to their reputation the first time you get on hooked.

Also a popular fish to keep as a pet (you need a big tank, though), the Peacock Bass is a prized sport fish. The vibrant colors offset a fighting attitude that is second to none in the field of sport fishing. This fish has the aggressiveness of a Muskie, the endurance of a Walleye, and the looks of Rainbow trout...add that all on to the perfect whitefish flavor of the meat, and you may very well have found the perfect sport fish.

They only grow to a couple of feet in length, but have a much more muscular body than the north American bass species, and a huge mouth with nice sharp teeth. Be prepared to lose some of you lures when they crunch down on them, as the cichlids don't suck in food items like a largemouth, but actually bite down on them.

Rapala's, large spoons, and Lazy Ike plugs are probably going to be your best bet for catching these monsters, along with a healthy rod and reel. If you don't use a leader, you're going to regret the loss of your lures, Peacock bass have a reputation for chewing through monofilament like soft cheese.

A trip down to sultry Brazil can only be topped off by a guided visit to a Peacock Bass fishing area, but bring the bug repellent, those mosquito's will make you flinch, right when you get that perfect strike.