A dark, male peacock bass (note the humped back) from Guri Lake, Venezuela.

Peacock bass are among the world’s hardest fighting freshwater fish, and species that perform much the same as largemouth bass and can be caught using similar methods. Native to South American jungle or rain forest rivers and reservoirs, peacock bass have become popular with anglers as fishing opportunities in South America have increased and as these fish have been introduced in appropriate North American waters through stocking efforts, most notably in canal systems in southern Florida and warmwater reservoirs in Texas. They are valued in their native range as table fare, but their willingness to take lures, strike hard, and provide a strong and exciting fight make them primarily of interest to anglers.

The Name Game

The term “peacock bass” is a misnomer in nearly all respects, but it is a name that has good marketing value and one that has stuck in the English- speaking world. Species that are called peacock bass in English are formally known as pavón in Spanish-speaking South American countries and as tucunaré in Brazil.

The actual number of species that masquerade under the name “peacock bass” is unclear, as extensive scientific and taxonomic evaluations and reports have been lacking, especially in the English language and in the native range of these species. Because peacock bass are broadly referenced in scant literature as fish of “the Orinoco and Amazon River basins”—which make up two of the world’s greatest watersheds, thousands of tributaries, six or more relatively undeveloped countries, and prob-ably half of an entire continent (much of it roadless)—it is not hard to understand that the exact number of different species and their ranges and life histories is barely known. In fact, more has been learned about one or two species due to their introduction to nonnative waters (as in Hawaii and Florida). It is known, however, that the biggest species and specimens have been caught in lakes and rivers in Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia.

Like many other fish that are called bass, peacock bass are not true bass. Their body shape is generally basslike, however. All known species of peacock bass have a prominent black eyespot, surrounded by a gold ring (ocellus), on their tail fin. At some time North Americans saw the physical similarity between this fish and the largemouth bass, observed that it was readily taken on similar fishing tackle and techniques as largemouth bass, noticed that the eyespot was like that of the eyelike spot on the plumage of a peacock, and dubbed it a “peacock bass.” This unofficial nickname turned into a fortunate stroke of public relations genius, and as more became known about the sporting attributes of this species, it kindled interest. Ironically, there are other species of South American fish that are also admirable but little known because of their less-familiar names and less-extensive range. These include payara (see), bicuda (see), matrincha (see), trahira (see), and arawana (see).

Peacock bass probably would have become a star attraction under any name, and deserve their great reputation. They are stronger, harder fighting, jump more and higher, and are generally much meaner than a largemouth bass or most anything else that swims in freshwater. Some species of peacock bass grow much larger, or are found on average in larger sizes, than largemouth bass. They also hit surface lures like no other fish, and destroy lures, line, equipment, and the thumbs of anyone foolish enough to lip-lock them.

Species

Blackstripe Peacock Bass

Butterfly Peacock Bass

Speckled Peacock Bass

Spotted Peacock Bass

As noted, the number of peacock bass species is unknown and most, including the more prominent ones, have not been thoroughly identified and described. Brazilian biologists at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa Amazonia in Manaus, reported in 1996 that there were “eight, maybe more” species of tucunaré.

Whatever the actual number of species, they are all cichlids, members of the Cichlidae family. Well known to aquarium hobbyists, this family includes the popularly collected oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) and angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare), as well as the important food fish tilapia (see). Cichlids are the third or fourth largest family of bony fishes, numbering approximately 1,300 species (with 105 genera), and are widely distributed in Africa, Central and South America, Syria, southern India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Iran. Many cichlids are colorful species, which is a main reason for their popularity with aquarium hobbyists. Most have bodies that are moderately deep and compressed; this is especially so for peacock bass, which, although similar in shape to largemouth bass, are more sleek and appear more muscular, without the sagging belly that big largemouths develop.

It is estimated that 300 cichlid species are native to South America, primarily in rivers; the various peacock bass species are among the largest and most predatory of these. As with piranha (see), many terms have been used to name the different peacock bass species, and the term “peacock bass “ (also pavón and tucunaré) is often used by anglers and nonscientists generically to refer to any of these fish, regardless of their particular characteristics, appearance, or species.

In addition to being superb gamefish, peacock bass are excellent table fare, and larger species and individuals are important commercially. All known peacock bass have a similar shape and a particularly distinguished coloration; some are especially brilliant, and, individually or as a group, peacock bass are among the most colorful of all sportfish in freshwater or saltwater.

The three species currently recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for record-keeping purposes are the speckled peacock, butterfly peacock, and blackstripe peacock.

Blackstripe peacock bass (Cichla intermedia). The blackstripe peacock is also known as royal pavon, royal peacock bass, pavón real. It is limited to the Orinoco watershed in Venezuela south of San Fernando, making it a less frequent encounter for anglers.

The blackstripe peacock bass has an irregular black stripe that runs laterally along the full length of the midsection of the fish and is crossed intermittently by a series of six to eight fainter black oval bars. This is the only species of peacock bass that has more than three black vertical bars. It rarely weighs more than 10 pounds, although 12-pound specimens have been caught. Some consider it the toughest species pound for pound.

Butterfly peacock bass (Cichla ocellaris). The butterfly peacock is also known as peacock cichlid, tucunare, tuc; in Spanish as pavón mariposa, pavón amarillo, pavón tres estrellas, marichapa; in Portuguese as tucunaré-acu; and in Hawaiian as lukanani. The full extent of its range in tropical South America is undescribed scientifically, although it occurs in the Orinoco and Amazon drainages and in the upper reaches of these systems in several countries (see: Brazil). It was introduced in Hawaii (where it is primarily known as tucunare) from British Guyana in 1957, and in Florida in 1984 and 1986; it has also been stocked in Puerto Rico, Panama, Guam, and the Dominican Republic.

Butterfly peacock bass possess great variation in color. They are generally yellowish green overall, with three dark, yellow-tinged blotches along the lateral midsection; these blotches intersect with faint bars, which typically fade in fish weighing more than 3 to 4 pounds. The iris of the eye is frequently deep red. A conspicuous **** exists on top of the head in breeding males, and spawning fish have an intensified yellow coloration. They are distinguished by the absence of black markings on the opercula and are believed to attain a maximum size of 11 to 12 pounds; the all-tackle world record is a 101/2-pound individual from Río Branco in Brazil.

Speckled peacock bass (Cichla temensis). The speckled peacock bass is also known as speckled pavon, painted pavon, striped tucunare; in Spanish as pavón cinchado, pavón pintado, pavón trucha, and pavón venado; in Portuguese as tucunaré-pacu. As with the butterfly peacock bass, the full extent of this species’ range in tropical South America is undescribed scientifically, although it occurs widely in the Orinoco and Amazon basins. It was introduced to Florida in 1985 and has reportedly been stocked in other countries.

Speckled peacock bass have dark blotches on the opercula and three distinctive vertical black bars on the body; these may become more pronounced with age, although this does not appear to be absolute. There are light or faint spots on the dorsal and caudal fins, and a conspicuous **** exists on top of the head in breeding males. Some individuals (described as another color phase) may have four to six horizontal rows of light-colored dashes or spots along the sides and speckling over the rest of the body and fins; these fish are called “spotted peacock bass” by many anglers and were previously thought to be a distinct species.

It is the only peacock bass that has broken longitudinal lines and spots on the head, opercula, and caudal and dorsal fin regions, resulting in a speckled appearance. Many speckled peacock bass, however, especially the largest specimens, do not exhibit this speckling along their flanks.

Speckled peacock bass exhibit many color variations, the adults being lighter than the juveniles. Generally, they are dark green to black along the back, golden to yellow or light green along the flanks, and lighter on the belly. The pelvic, ****, and lower half of the caudal fins are often reddish in color, sometimes yellowish green. These colors are general conformities, however, and significant variations exist, especially in intensity (some have an orange or bronze tinge), which may or may not be due to season or habitat.

This species attains the greatest size of all the peacock bass. The current all-tackle world record is a 27-pound speckled peacock bass from the Río Negro in Brazil, but fish of 30 pounds and better reportedly have been speared, netted, or handlined. Speckled peacock bass up to 10 pounds are the norm in many waters; however, specimens exceeding 10 pounds are common in some places, and fish over 15 pounds are considered trophies. Some waters consistently produce individuals from 18 pounds to more than 20 pounds.

Due to its size, the speckled peacock bass is an important commercial species, especially in the larger rivers of the Amazon and near population centers. Overall, owing to its wide distribution and large size, it is the most important species to visiting anglers, and the main object of angling interest throughout the Amazon and Orinoco watersheds.