Hi everybody

Got a few questions about peacock bass.

They are in my bucket list, of course the biggger the better, but really just want to catch some.

First I’m going to the Keys in June for our birthday’s. So for my birthday present is fishing along Tamiami trail.

Going to stay in Everglades city for a few days on our way home.

First question, where it fish at along the way, on the way there I’ll be dragging a camper. I’ll need ample parking until I get to Everglade city.

Another question is what is a good lure to use for peacock bass? Google AI says bucktail jigs in bright colors but want the input of real anglers.

Thanks

G

If you want to catch Peacocks get you a Rapala X-rap in bone white or orange. Depending on where you fish you will more likley catch baby gar and bass as well. I target bridges or any kind of pocket in the canal(but it won't be much). Whenever I go down there I put in at Holiday park and fish that part of the glades.

Nice catch!! @IYAOYAS

What size X-Rap?

54 minutes ago, GRiver said:

Nice catch!! @IYAOYAS

What size X-Rap?

I used the small one.

Try Faka Union Canal on your way to Everglades City. Some bigguns there, gators too so be careful. Tick'em off with jerk baits in perch colors. X-rap and Zumverno 95 are my favorites.

On 4/13/2026 at 6:12 AM, GRiver said:

Hi everybody

Got a few questions about peacock bass.

They are in my bucket list, of course the biggger the better, but really just want to catch some.

First I’m going to the Keys in June for our birthday’s. So for my birthday present is fishing along Tamiami trail.

Going to stay in Everglades city for a few days on our way home.

First question, where it fish at along the way, on the way there I’ll be dragging a camper. I’ll need ample parking until I get to Everglade city.

Another question is what is a good lure to use for peacock bass? Google AI says bucktail jigs in bright colors but want the input of real anglers.

Thanks

G

I haven't fished it, but I've heard the canal along SW 34th next to the Homestead Speedway is really productive, and there's space to park with a camper, but you might have to ask for permission or even pay a parking fee even though there's no race. Also, when you turn on 41 to head west, just past the Miccosukee, there's a road that cuts across the canal on the right. You can take that road for several miles and it's all bank fishable with ample space to park the camper. Let us know how your trip goes.

I think I’m going to go to Everglades City and set camper up and then go back on 41 to find these places.

So far hard baits( crank and jerk) have been the recommended here on Bass Resource. How about soft plastics? Color and size? I bought some hair jigs, they are cheaply ones off amazon, figured I’d loose them.

@FryDog62 where was the pic taken? It looks like a big body of water.

Isn’t the water off 41 just small little ditch like canals?

use an ultralight rod with 10lb fluoro leader and put a 1/8oz crappie jig on and i promise you will catch them all

Too funny @nico300213 I was just looking my rods and reels today and thinking “I should probably put that in the truck too.” I was eyeing my ultralight….mine won’t be spooled with flouro, never really cared much for it.

13 hours ago, GRiver said:

I think I’m going to go to Everglades City and set camper up and then go back on 41 to find these places.

So far hard baits( crank and jerk) have been the recommended here on Bass Resource. How about soft plastics? Color and size? I bought some hair jigs, they are cheaply ones off amazon, figured I’d loose them.

@FryDog62 where was the pic taken? It looks like a big body of water.

Isn’t the water off 41 just small little ditch like canals?

From where you turn at the Miccosukee Casino, the canal is 50-75+ feet wide until where the L-67 canal comes in. Heading west after that, it's still probably 25-30 feet wide. When you get a quarter mile or so past Tippy's Outpost, it narrows into a ditch, but still fishable in spots. Also, just past Tippy's by a maybe a couple hundred yards is a road that turns onto the L-28 canal. I haven't been on it, so I don't know if it's fishable except for a couple or three spots I've seen on Google Earth. I have heard airboats running on it, though. Speaking of Google Earth, it's a great tool to use for exploring this area.

Almost all the freshwater canals from West Palm south to Homestead have peacock. They love small spinnerbaits, small swim jigs, rapala #9 stickbaits are a favorite. In places with lots of weeds a zoom centipede Texas rigged work good in grasses. Fish fast, they love to chase baits. Hope you do well and send pics. Look for culvert pipes, or small bridges where current is running. They love ambush points.

5 hours ago, geo g said:

love small spinnerbaits, small swim jigs,

Like a Mepps inline spinner, rooster tail kinda bait? ( got a lot of those from my trout days)

I ordered some hair jigs in bright colors, and was also told to fish fast.

Any color suggestions on the soft Plastics?

Thank @geo g

3 hours ago, GRiver said:

Like a Mepps inline spinner, rooster tail kinda bait? ( got a lot of those from my trout days)

I ordered some hair jigs in bright colors, and was also told to fish fast.

Any color suggestions on the soft Plastics?

Thank @geo g

I have caught many on watermelon red centipedes. It’s a small size baits fish fast and jerk hard while cranking. The rapala #9 stickbait in gold or silver is the best if the weeds will allow it. Most of the time upgrade the hooks on it. A 4 or 5 pounder will destroy the stock hooks. Have caught them up to 7.5 pound, that you will never forget. They will destroy your thumb.

If you fish the Tamiani trail you’re also going to catch of other exotics, like Oscars, Myians, and a possible snakehead. From the banks always watch for snakes down there. You are in the heart of the Everglades. I always wear leather boots if not in the boat.

18 hours ago, geo g said:

Almost all the freshwater canals from West Palm south to Homestead have peacock. They love small spinnerbaits, small swim jigs, rapala #9 stickbaits are a favorite. In places with lots of weeds a zoom centipede Texas rigged work good in grasses. Fish fast, they love to chase baits. Hope you do well and send pics. Look for culvert pipes, or small bridges where current is running. They love ambush points.

Have you ever fished the Harold Campbell Public Area/STA 3/4 for peacocks? I've bank fished out there for largemouth, but haven't noticed any peacock. I love going out there during the week and the solitude of it.

I have many times. Have caught some big bass around those flood gates with some current. You got the big lake and the three branches: I have caught two peas, one the west side of the big lake on the flat!.