I'm looking for someone that knows about fishing in Florida. I'm especially looking for someone that knows about the invasive species like cichlids, peacock bass, oscars and such. I know these aren't salt water fish, but I figured I'd have better luck in this forum than the fresh water forum.

it will be in south FL . lake okeechobee had oscars in it 25 yr. a go . that is all i know about them kind of fish .I am not much help

we caught peacocks in the drainage ditches in Miami this past April, have to see if I still have the guide's number.

stxhunter, if you do I am interested. Thank you.

I think I got you some info last year for a guide, If not let me know and I'll get it to you. Honestly Troy, you wont need a guide to catch fish but you may if you want to access water that you need a boat for. Maybe get one for a day and then do your own thing a few days. I'm going down again in a couple weeks mostly as a family trip but I'll try and get a little fishing in while I'm there. I was surprised how easy the Peacocks were to find. Most of the canals around Miami and Naples have them as well as Oscars, Jaguars, Mians and many others. Oscars became one of my favorites. The canal than runs along the side of Hwy 41 has all of the above as well as bowfin and snake heads and LM bass and blegill. The number of fish down there will blow your mind. Don't over look gar also and some spots were absolutly stacked with them. They will frustrated youas far as hooking and landing but I have some clues to give you onthat also.I will tell you that alot of the people I saw fishing the canals had no idea what they were doing and were fishing out past the fish in a lot of cases. Work the banks and cover. Give me a yell and I'll let you know what worked for us. I fished my flyrod for the most part and my son fished spinning gear.

Look up Justin Nguyen on facebook. He's your guy. castalineflycharters.com

trying to get a hold of my buddy Brian, I think he has it. I lost my contacts a few months back.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/florida-exotic-fish/155733
Good guy, good fisherman we grew up together as dock rats.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/florida-exotic-fish/155733
Good guy, good fisherman we grew up together as dock rats. Hopefully he's still keeping on.

Always wanted to catch peacocks on the fly but never got the opportunity. I'm in Florida, on the Nature Coast, Crystal River area. I have to content myself with reds, trout, snook and schoolie tarpon.

Sorry I couldn't help you out. I wish you luck and hope you have a blast on your trip.

That ain't a bad thing to be stuck with Eagle.. LOL.

Such a hardship.

😜😜

Love Crystal River area. Lotta good, down home folks there, too.

+1. Such a craven hardship to have to deal with wonderful natural species, instead of the illegally sown invasive species.

Far be it for me to opine on your options, yet in your place I would count my blessings.

Moved to south Florida last year. Trying to get it all figured out myself. I think that the peacock bass are around the Miami area and south.

Absolutely.

My post was stated tongue in cheek. Apparently, not everyone perceived it that way.

And I do, I count my blessings every time one of my lines comes tight.

Caught a few peacocks this past weekend on the fly rod. Fun to catch and they fight like smallmouth bass.

I got your humor on that.