The Peacock Cichlid, also called the Peacock Bass, is found from Central America down through the Amazon waterways. Its name comes from the ocellus at the base of the tail reminiscent of a peacock's plumage, and from the fact that its shape and habits superficially resemble North America's Largemouth Bass.
 

The predominant peacock bass species we have in Peru are the Cichla Ocellaris known as the “Butterfly Peacock Bass”. The butterfly peacock bass is a yellowish-green color, with three black bars on the side and often with red-orange pectoral, caudal and anal fins. They have massive mouths, and voracious appetites making explosive strikes ability to break heavy lines and straightens hooks. Typically size up to 12 pounds and are not as large as its big brother, the Cichla Temensis that are popular fishing targets in Brazil.

Jungle Summer time (July through November) is the best time to fish for peacock bass in Peru. During these months the rivers and lakes are low and clean, making good scenery for presenting the lures or flies.  

 

The rivers of Amazonia are lined with lagoons of all shapes, sizes, depths and configurations.  In most rivers and under most conditions, the great majority of peacocks are caught in lagoons.  The interiors of lagoons provide sheltered grazing and breeding areas for forage fish that make up the majority of the peacock's diet while offering a wide range of structure and cover for hunting, spawning and fry guarding peacocks.  The mouths of lagoons are often particularly attractive to fish because of their transitional nature, interfacing the flowing water of the river with the still waters of the lagoon.

Peacock Bass river fishing is relatively unproductive.  Sometimes, however, in certain fisheries, anglers will have opportunities to successfully pursue peacock bass in the rivers themselves. River fishing becomes most productive when water levels are extremely low and lagoons become too shallow and too hot.

 

Cast and retrieve as fast as you can, the more time your lure is in the water and in front of fish, the more likely you are to catch them.  The more productive a lure used for a specific circumstance, the greater the probability of a hookup.  The greater the number of effective techniques you use, the more likely you are to entice a strike.  All of these factors interact with each other multiplying (or dividing) your chances for success.  Optimizing the numerical factors lets you win at the "numbers game".