Winter cools off the Florida water ways, with the exception of the very south of Florida which maintains temperatures in the 80s and 70s, and water tempertures much cooler. This is critical as many early attempts to stock fish in Florida failed because the Butterfly Peacock Bass died off in the winter when the water dropped below 65F (18C).
South eastern Florida canals temperature never drops below 65F (18C) degrees and has been able to sustain the population in the south. This is due largely to the Biscayne Aquifer, which flows warm water into the canals, keeping the fish alive and the population stable.
If you are going to venture out during winter, casting is preferred over trolling and lures are preferred over bait as live bait is difficult to keep alive and obtain. Once your hook is set, Butterfly Peacock Bass will put up a strong fight, making repeated short jumps and they do not give up when they are close to the boat. The minimum line strength is 20, but in most situations, 40 pounds is recommended as the big lunkers can exceed 30 pounds and are tough to land on 20 pound test line.
Flashy diving, shallow running and surface plugs are affective along with jigs, large streamer flies and fly-rod poppers. When they strike on surface plugs, it is aggressive and savage so be prepared.
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