Fish yes, peacocks yes

[mike o]

Couldn't resist posting this after seeing yakmans post. I 've been down in Florida tearing it up. For the most part not getting up early, not worrying what the tides were doing, just fishing different areas and making a plan when I got there. In one span of 4 days, fished 4 different areas and got 3 slams (trout reds and snook). I have caught snook every day and reds every day but 1 except today because I was in lake ida. Today I did get up very early and headed to the east coast of Florida to fish for peacocks. I even got a dozen shiners to help my quest. I fished hard all morning only getting a couple chunky large mouths. Around lunch time I caught my first ever snake head on a Tony accetta spoon. A while later I hooked a clown knife fish on a rattle trap but it threw the hook before I could net it. At 2:00 I was down to my last 2 shiners and I feared I would not get a peacock. I threw one of the shiners under a dock and soon after had a very small peacock. I released it and threw my last one under the same dock and got another one a little larger. Out of shiners now I threw my Tony some more and got 3 more even bigger. Glad I got to cross off a bucket list fish. I love Tony spoon,s in shallow water and Florida had a lot of shallow water. I have caught 3 new species on Tony's here, baracuda, snake head and peacock. I think I have caught over 30 species on them.0220201429a.jpg0220201355.jpg0220200947_HDR.jpg

[J.A. Veil]

Mike - You are doing very well on your Florida trip. I fished in Islamorada on Wed, in the Everglades back country on Thurs, and will squeeze in a trip in the lower Keys this morning before the front and strong winds arrive. The fish have been biting well for me too. I will post a story with photos after today's trip.

[Mark]

One of these days, I'm going to catch a peacock bass, preferably on the fly. I saw a video of them hitting flyrod poppers in their native Amazon River so I know they'll come up for surface lures and flies. I just have to get to south FL where they've been introduced.

Continued success to each of you, Mike and John, on your FL trip.

[mike o]

Mark I hope you get a peacock on the fly soon. John it looks like you got a bonefish today. That's another one of my bucket list fish

[YakMan1731]

I've never been so happy to have my thread title one-upped haha! Awesome to hear how well you're doing down there...what a joy it must be to have so many species available and to get that excitement on every hookup. Good stuff! A clown knife fish is one of my bucket list fish...those things look incredible! Hopefully you're able to boat one!

[mike o]

Thanks Matt, it's been almost everything I dreamed about. Though the clown knife, sail fish and Tarpon will have to wait till next year. I'm heading home Tomorrow.

[YakMan1731]

We fishermen always a reason to come back for more! Guess you've got an excuse to plan your next trip now haha