Peacock bass are some of the more explosive gamefish in the freshwater world today. The striking behavior of the peacock bass, its acrobatic jumps out of the water, and the vibrant color of its body all make it a prized species for the angler. However, several different species of the genus Cichla are, in reality, the species that is referred to as “peacock bass.” Each of these species has a different personality, a preference for the type of water that they lives in, and each have a different fighting style when they are caught on the line.
Understanding these different species is half the reason that people can turn a good fishing trip into a great fishing trip. The other half is understanding how to select the correct fishing gear prior to setting out on the trip into the jungle. The Amazon basin and its tributaries contain several species of the Cichla genus that feature the name “peacock” in their name.
Some species in the genus Cichla reach massive weights when they are mature. Other species in that same genus reach much smaller weights, despite the fact that the species in that genus is capable of taking the line like freight trains. Species of the genus Cichla prefer different types of water than others in that genus.
A lure that will trigger a strike from one species of the genus Cichla will not necessarily trigger a strike from another species of that same genus. In addition, the rod that is appropriate for a ten-pound fish can easily be a broomstick when battling a twenty-pound species of the genus Cichla. What follows is a list of the different types of species of the genus Cichla that people refer to as “peacock bass.” The types of species are ordered from the most widespread species to the most geographically limited species.
Common Varieties of Peacock Bass Species
1. Butterfly Peacock Bass
Each of these types brings something unique to the fishing experience for those who encounter them. The most common type of “peacock bass” is the butterfly peacock bass, or Cichla ocellaris. The type gets its name from the eye spot located on its tail that looks exactly like the wing of a butterfly.
The body of the butterfly peacock bass has a football-shape body, and its jaw is larger than the body of the fish. The weight of butterfly peacock bass ranges from three to six pounds, but ten-pound specimens of the species are common. The butterfly peacock bass prefer slower waters with a tannic flavor to the water, such as lagoons or oxbows that contain standing vegetation.
When they strike at the bait that is cast into the water, the strike can be violent. The butterfly peacock bass dont take the bait slowly into their mouth. Instead, they tend to take the bait and devour it in a matter of seconds.
For this reason, topwater baits such as walking baits and poppers work well for the butterfly peacock bass. In addition, because the butterfly peacock bass are willing to strike at baits presented during the daylight hours, they are the best species for beginning anglers. However, the mouths of these fish are paper thin.
Therefore, while the fish should be set on the hook in a strong manner when they are struck, the fish should not be horse to the boat; if they are horsed to the boat, their hook will be straightened.
2. Speckled Peacock Bass
The second most common species of the genus Cichla is the speckled peacock bass, or Cichla temensis. The speckled peacock bass is the king of the genus Cichla.
These fish can reach weights of more than 25 pounds when mature. In the rivers of Brazil, individual specimens of the speckled peacock bass can reach 30 pounds. The body of the speckled peacock bass has vertical bars that take the shape of leopard spots as the fish ages.
The coloration of the fish ranges from olive when the water is clear to deep bronze if the water is murky and stained from water vegetation. The speckled peacock bass prefer deeper waters with fast-moving water currents to the butterfly species. For instance, they like rocky points in the river, submerged logs in the channels of the river, or areas where rivers meets lakes.
In order to catch speckled peacock bass, anglers must use stout fishing gear. Such gear would include a baitcasting gear setup with 40 pound fishing line and leaders that are appropriate for the speckled peacock bass’ strong teeth. Typical baits for this species include large jerkbaits, deep diving crankbaits, and rubber swimbaits on stout hooks.
The speckled peacock bass are considered to be more temperamental than other species of the genus Cichla. For example, they may only strike at baits that are presented during specific times of the day, such as after rainstorms when the rivers become murky with rainwater. However, the fight between the angler and the speckled peacock bass is legendary when they are encountered.
3. Royal Peacock Bass
The royal peacock bass, or Cichla intermedia, is a species that exists in the middle of the range of sizes that the genus Cichla covers. The royal peacock bass features bright yellow spots across its body. The body of the royal peacock bass is darker than the spots of yellow, giving the species a regal look.
Most royal peacock bass weighs between 5 and 12 pounds. However, larger specimens exist in the Rio Negro river system. Royal peacock bass prefer water environments that are transitional between lakes and fast currents in the river.
While royal peacock bass are more aggressive than butterfly species, they are not as reckless in how they pursue their prey. Additionally, they are not as picky about where they strike at baits as the speckled peacock bass are. Royal peacock bass will take subsurface twitch baits during the mornings, but switch to spinnerbaits or swim jigs later in the day when the sun is higher in the sky.
The gill plates of the royal peacock bass are sharp. Therefore, using long-nose pliers to pinch the gills will save the angler’s thumbs from getting bloody.
4. Black-Striped Peacock Bass
The black-striped peacock bass, or Cichla melaniae, is a newer species of the genus Cichla to anglers.
The distribution range of the black-striped peacock bass is limited to the lower Amazon basin. The most prominent feature of the fish is a bold black stripe that begins at the snout of the fish and extends through one eye to the tail. The body of the fish above the black stripe displays colors like greens and blues when the fish are excited.
The black-striped peacock bass prefer rocky rivers with clear waters and moderate current. The behavior of the black-striped peacock bass is more similar to that of a smallmouth bass than to other species of the genus Cichla. Smallmouth bass are known to live in areas with clear waters so that they can view their prey.
Because of the preference for clear waters by the black-striped peacock bass, anglers must use long casts and fluorocarbon fishing lines to remain stealthy when fishing for them. Additionally, the strike of black-striped peacock bass is fast but tires more quickly than speckled species of similar size. Therefore, the black-striped species can be targeted with lighter fishing gear.
5. Kelberi Peacock Bass
Then there is the kelberi peacock bass, or Cichla kelberi. Additionally, it is also known as the orange peacock bass because of the orange hues that are visible on the flanks and belly of the fish. This species is more adaptable to different environments than the other species within the genus Cichla.
For example, the species has been introduced into lakes outside of its native range into areas of Florida and Hawaii. In its native range of the Tocantins and Araguaia rivers, the species does not grow larger than 15 pounds. Kelberi peacock bass prefer schools and hunt in packs.
When they encounter prey in schools of bait fish, there are explosions of the fish at the surface of the water. Kelberi species have a tolerance for warmer water and low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. This factor is one of the reasons that kelberi species survive in man-made reservoirs.
In addition to water requirements, the kelberi species can be targeted from the shore or from fishing boats. Bright colors of the jigs and crankbaits work well for this species. Additionally, the fight between angler and kelberi peacock bass is not as strong as that between angler and speckled species. However, the fights are more acrobatic.
6. Monocle Peacock Bass
Finally, there are the rare Cichla monoculus species, which feature the single prominent eye spot on the tail fin of the fish; hence, it is also known as the monocle peacock bass. These species are smaller than the other species discussed.
Instead of the olive coloration of other species in the genus, monocle species have an iridescent sheen to their scales. Additionally, the body is more elongated like a greyhound than the football-shaped bodies of the butterfly species. The monocle species prefer to live in tributaries and creeks within the Amazon basin.
Additionally, many fallen trees into the rivers that limit the movement of the fish. Because the monocle species are smaller in number and size than other species, they can be caught with light spinning gear or even fly rods. Additionally, because they eat flying insects that land on the surface of the water, the use of surface bait such as poppers will entice the species to bite.
The monocle species are located more towards the tributaries of the Amazon river system that are further from the main Amazon river. However, the visual experience of the species pursuing a fly in the water is one of the favorite experiences among fishing enthusiasts. Regardless of the species that the angler targets, there is one fact about the genus Cichla that is true of all species: they are the apex predators of their environment.
This one fact explains the beauty of the genus Cichla, but also the bad attitude of the species once they are hooked to the fishing line. Understanding the genus Cichla, the different species that exist within the genus, and how to fish for each species is the key to an angler to creating an unforgettable experience for themselves and the trip. Therefore, the next time someone mentions that they caught a “peacock bass,” it is appropriate to ask them what species of the genus Cichla they encountered.
This question will reveal the quality of the fight between the angler and the fish.