Peacock Bass
The Peacock Bass has a unique appearance and is one of the most sought after bass by both beginner and expert anglers alike. This is not only because of its taste, which is mild and meaty, but also because of its colorful appearance that has been compared to a peacock’s feathers.
The Fish, also known as Brazilian Tucunare, is a large freshwater fish. It is a member of the genus Cichia. There are currently 1600 identified species of Cichia, but it is estimated there are upto 2 to 3 thousand varieties.
These Fish are a predatory fish found mainly in South America.
Despite their name, Peacock Bass are not even closely related to native North American Bass. (Black Bass, Largemouth Bass etc)
The fish are considered important food fish because of their taste and size. But are also considered great sport fish for the fight they put up when captured.
It’s because of their size and food value that these fish are also subject to fish farming. This has caused some ecological problems for other fish. The farms have been introduced in areas that were not suitable for the fish to be in the wild. They have however , on occasion, escaped and caused great damage to local environments.
In some areas they have been introduced as a new species with bad consequences. They have become invasive and predatory on native species. It has become necessary then to try and eradicate them from these areas.
Size
It is hard to put a definite size to the largest of these fish. We currently know that The Speckled Peacock Bass can grow to 13 kilos (29 pounds) and around 1 meter (3feet 3 inches) long. But, it is reckoned that there may be a thousand or more fish in the species which are currently unidentified, so this figure could be way out.
Peacock Bass as a Game Fish
Sport fishermen love these fish. As previously mentioned they are great to eat, but it’s the actual catching that is important to the angler. All its life the Peacock Bass will fight and bully its way around. When it comes to getting caught it is no different. A good fight will break out at all times during the landing process. Sometimes this fight will end with broken gear and the fish escaping.
Enthusiastic anglers from all over the world go to Brazil on organized tours just to have the experience of the fight.
Introduction to USA
In 1984 Butterfly Peacock Bass and Speckled Peacock Bass were deliberately introduced to Florida. This was to prey on other non native species invading the area.
The Butterfly Peacock Bass has thrived whereas the Speckled Peacock Bass has not. This is because they cannot tolerate the lower water temperatures away from the Tropics. It is therefore now illegal to catch Speckled Peacock Bass in the USA.
Aquaculture
Because of the fabulous coloring of these fish they are fairly popular in Aquarium settings. However no matter which variety you have, even the smaller ones, you still need fairly large tanks.
Conclusion
Peacock Bass are not really Bass as such, and are bold and aggressive in most situations. They are however, among the most beautiful of fish and in some circumstances are of great benefit to the environment