I had an absolutely wonderful time Tuesday (May 27) fishing a new spot in the Everglades with my friend, Alan Zaremba, Florida's top peacock bass guide. We fished the L-67 canal at Everglades Holiday Park off U.S. 27.

The place is full of fish. The action will remain hot until the summer rains begin and the water rises.

We caught 50 largemouth bass, 49 peacock bass, 25 Mayan cichlids, 30 bluegill, 3 oscar, 3 shellcracker, 2 speckled perch (crappie) and a gar. Alan also missed two chain pickerel.

He was using spinning gear and a No. 7 Rapala. I used fly rod and caught my fish on poppers, Myakka Minnows, Wooly Buggers and Clousers.

I managed the largest bass of the day, a nice 4-pounder.

I shot all of the photos, so that's Alan in the pics.

I highly recommend this spot.

Best bass:



Speckled perch:



Oscar:



Mayan cichlid:

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Steve

Marshall Univeristy, 1971

Heritage-endorsed guide

Thanks for the pics

I bet a peacock bass on a flyrod would be thrill

Yeah, peacocks are great, but I think oscars and Mayans are a little better on equivilant tackle.

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Steve

Marshall Univeristy, 1971

Heritage-endorsed guide

Those Mayans sure are a pretty fish

You got that right good job.

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you awt not talk that a way, you just a boy

Thanks! I would highly recommend a trek to the 'Glades in order to experience oscars and Mayans. Pound for pounds, they're no doubt two of the hardest fighters in fresh water. They're incredibly strong.

In addition, there's a better than average chance you'll get a lunker bass.

What's so funny is that the area has a tremendous population of big, thick bluegill. But few people mess with them because of the peacocks and largemouth. Shellcracker are pretty plentiful and large, too!

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Steve

Marshall Univeristy, 1971

Heritage-endorsed guide