Peacock, butterfly Cichla ocellaris

Bloch, Schneider, 1801

CICHLIDAE FAMILY
Also known as pavón mariposa, pavón amarillo, marichapa or pavón tres estrellas, tucunare, lukanani

The butterfly peacock is native to tropical South America. It was introduced in Hawaii in 1957 and in Florida in 1984 and 1986. It has also been stocked in many other countries including Puerto Rico, Panama, Kenya, Guam and the Dominican Republic.

Of all the peacock basses, the butterfly peacock has the greatest variation in color. They are yellowish green, with three dark, yellow-fringed blotches along the lateral midsection, or bars that typically fade in fish larger than three or four pounds. A smaller “eyespot” spot, characteristic of all "pavónes,” appears at the beginning of the caudal fin. The iris of the eye is frequently deep reddish in color. They are also distinguished by the absence of black markings on the opercula. This species is believed to attain weights of 11 to 12 pounds.

The butterfly peacock’s powerful, laterally compressed body and aggressive temperament make it pound for pound one of the hardest fish to handle on light tackle, but because of the size, light spinning, bait casting, or fly fishing outfits are recommended. Small fishes such as shiners or threadfin shad are the best bait, but light spinning lures and surface lures that resemble small fish are also highly effective. The butterfly peacock has rapidly become the one of the most popular game fish in the areas where it has been introduced. It is more than just a fighter. It is not only beautifully colored but tasty as well

Peacock, speckled Cichla temensis

Humbolt, 1821

CICHLIDAE FAMILY
Also known as pavón cinchado, pavón pintado, pavón trucha, tucunare, and pavón venado

The speckled peacock is a world-class warm-water sportfish native to South America’s Orinoco and Amazon River Basins. It has been introduced into other countries and is established in southeastern Florida as a result of a deliberate introduction made in 1985.

Adult speckled peacocks are distinguished by blotches on the opercula and three vertical black bars on the body which become more pronounced with age. Another color phase may have 4-6 horizontal rows of light colored dashes along the sides and speckling over the rest of the body and fins. The above description may be confusing, but it combines what was thought to be two different species until 1981. This is the only Cichla spp. which has broken longitudinal lines and spots on the head, opercula and in caudal/dorsal fins, resulting in a speckled appearance.

An excellent game fish, the speckled peacock can be caught on spin, bait-casting or fly tackle. Their pound-for-pound power is brutal, even when matched to heavy tackle. They will strike plugs, spoons, spinners, streamer flies and popping bugs. Their top water strikes are stunning in ferocity and they make spectacular jumps and strong runs. The larger they get, the more fiercely they fight. Considering they can grow to more than 30 pounds, be prepared for a battle when you hook into a speckled peacock!

An excellent food fish, the flesh of the speckled peacock is firm in texture and varies from white to a creamy white in color

Nembwe Serranochromis robustus

Günther 1864

CICHLIDAE FAMILY
Also yellow-belly bream, robbie, tsungwa, sungwa, olyfkurper, nsuku

This species is found in Southern Africa’s lake Malawi and the Shire River, but has also been introduced to other waters including the upper Ruo River in Malawi and Swaziland and Natal.

The body of the nembwe is heavy and robust; the mouth large with large well spaced conical teeth. The pectoral fins are relatively short, 19-23% of the standard length. The coloration is olive to bright green, with a deep olive band along midbody. Fins are olive with yellow orange margins, anal fin of males with orange egg-spots.

The nembwe is Africa's answer to the American bass. This predatory bream resembles the bass in appearance and behavior. It uses structure from which to launch an ambush, or hunt down its prey of fish like the Mbuna and sand-dwelling invertebrates. Larger specimens prefer deep main channels and permanent lagoons, whereas smaller fishes occur mainly in lagoons and secondary channels. Nembwe breed in the summer, nesting along vegetated fringes of mainstreams.

Like a bass, the nembwe will sometimes take to the air when hooked, shaking its head in an attempt to rid itself of the lure. The "robbie" will take almost any presentation used in bass fishing. Rapala type plugs and spoons, jig heads rigged with plastic baits and spinnerbaits are all excellent baits for this outstanding fish.

The nembew is a major angling target and is an important component of commercial and subsistence fisheries in Southern Afric

Peacock, Orinoco Cichla orinocensis

Humboldt, 1821

CICHLIDAE FAMILY
Also called pavon and borboleto. Orinoco peacocks can be distinguished from all other species of peacock bass by the presence of three large, dark ocellated blotches along their side. They are often confused with butterfly peacocks (Cichla ocellaris) because they are commonly called “burboleta”, which is Brazilian Portuguese for “butterfly. Orinoco peacocks are one of the more common species and can be found in Brazil in the Amazon, Rio Negro rivers, as well as in the Orinoco river in Venezuela and Columbia. These beautiful cichlids are powerful fighters that can be caught on bait, lures and flies. The All-Tackle record is 13 lb 11 oz (6.22 kg) and was caught in Venezuela

Peacock, blackstriped Cichla intermedia

Ogilvie, 1966

CICHLIDAE FAMILY
Also known as pavón real or royal pavón

The blackstripe peacock is limited to the Orinoco watershed in Venezuela south of San Fernando.

Blackstripe peacocks are characterized by an irregular black stripe which 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 shaped spots. This the only Cichlid that has more than three black bars.

The blackstripe peacock will rarely weigh more than 10 pounds, although 12 pound fish have been caught. As a point of interest, while the blackstripe pavon is less frequently encountered by anglers, most experienced pavón fishermen feel that pound for pound C. intermedia is the gamest of the pavónes. Like the speckled and butterfly peacocks, it is easily caught on spinning, bait-casting or fly rod tackle. And, like the other peacocks, it is a superior foodfish

Oscar Astronotus ocellatus

CICHLIDAE FAMILY
Also called acará-acu, cará-acu, acará-grande, bola-de-ouro, paya, marble cichlid, red oscar

The oscar is native to the Orinocok Amazon and La Plata River basins in South America. In Florida, its presence was recorded as far back as the 1950’s. Today the oscar is established throughout southeast Florida and has been introduced to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, Hong Kong, Cote de’Ivoire and other locals.

The thick-bodied oscar, is a dark brown fish with variable olive to red markings on most of the body. The key feature is an ocellus, a black spot encircled by a distinct red ring, on the tail. The caudal, dorsal and anal fins are rounded and fanlike, much like the saltwater tripletail.

Oscars are aggressive and some anglers claim, a much stronger fighter than either a largemouth or bluegill of equal size. Attaining a maximum size of 18 in (45.7 cm) and 3.5 lb (1.6 kg), oscars can be a challenge for an angler employing light spinning tackle or a flyrod. The oscar is prized for its tastiness and the chunky body can provide nice fillets