Freshwater

Blue peacock bass (tucunaré azul)

Tucunaré azul (pavón azul)

Cichla piquiti

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–4 lb.

Depth

3–20 ft.

Best time

Morning and late afternoon.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Peacock bass with a bluish-gray to olive back, five dark vertical bars on the side, a pale belly and a gold-ringed eyespot on the tail.
Typical size: 1–4 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft; most are under 5 lb.
Diet: Fish and shrimp.
Behavior: Hunts in schools along rocky points, drop-offs and flooded timber.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Amazon & Pantanal and Brazil Lakes & Rivers. Native to the Tocantins and Araguaia rivers; stocked in many reservoirs of the upper Paraná basin and other parts of Brazil.
Habitat: Native to the Tocantins and Araguaia rivers; stocked in many reservoirs of the upper Paraná basin and other parts of Brazil.
Depth: 3–20 ft.
Fishing depth: 3–12 ft along points and timber.
Best season: Warm months in reservoirs; dry season in rivers.
Best time: Morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: No tide; wind and water level matter more.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, stable weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Native to the Tocantins and Araguaia rivers; stocked in many reservoirs of the upper Paraná basin and other parts of Brazil.
Rig up: Medium baitcasting or spinning rod. 30–40 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Small live fish (lambari) where allowed. Lures: Topwaters, jerkbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits.
Fish it: Work points, drop-offs and standing timber with topwaters and jerkbaits; follow feeding schools.
Time it: Morning and late afternoon. No tide; wind and water level matter more.

Fishing techniques: Work points, drop-offs and standing timber with topwaters and jerkbaits; follow feeding schools.
BigJoe's tip: Watch for terns and splashes over open water — that's a school feeding.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: White, mild meat; good grilled or fried.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Treble hooks; use pliers.
Regulations: Brazilian states set limits; outside its native range it is an introduced fish and rules vary. Every country requires a fishing license (in Brazil, the Licença de Pesca Amadora), each Argentine province and Brazilian state adds its own rules, and most rivers close during the spawning season. Indigenous lands and strict reserves are closed to outside anglers without permits.
Conservation: Introduced peacock bass can hurt native fish in reservoirs outside their range.

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Sources & photo credits