Want to do some Florida fishing, but don’t want to go offshore? If you’re looking for a lower maintenance kind of fishing that doesn’t have to involve a boat, try out freshwater fishing. The lakes, freshwater canals, and even some retention ponds are home to all sorts of fun fish to catch including largemouth bass, peacock bass, and the exotic clown knife fish.
If you’d like a guide to take care of the prep work, contact Captain Johnny Stabile of South Florida Fishing Charters, or Captain Kevin Cannon of Peacock Bass Adventures. Both are great family guides in Palm Beach County who will make sure you have a great time on the water. If you’re trying to catch a “Lake Ida Slam” (a largemouth bass, a peacock bass, and a clown knife fish in the same day), your best bet is to go with a guide!
Bass, peacock bass, and clown knife fish can all be caught on a light spinning rod with either artificial lures or live bait. If you’re looking to try live bait, you’ll need size 1 or 1/0 circle hooks, and a bucket with an aerator. Call around to your local tackle shops to see who has shiners (live bait) in stock, and go buy a could dozen depending on how long you want to fish. I’ve seen kids go through ten shiners in 20 minutes getting them stuck in weeds, but also had 12 shiners last a few hours with patient adults, so be prepared accordingly.
If you already live on a freshwater lake or canal, you’re lucky enough to be able to sit in your own back yard, hook a shiner from the bottom to top lip, and let it swim freely in areas you may have seen fish. The best days for bass are when the sun is beating down on the water, but they like to hide a little up under trees or near water pipes.
Once a bass goes for your bait, let him eat it for a second so the circle hook sets in the corner of the mouth, then have fun reeling him in! Once he gets to shore, hold the fish with your thumb by the bottom lip, remove the hook with your other hand or pliers, and quickly put him back in the water making sure he’s alive and moving first. If he seems to have calmed down, hold him in the water to let water run through its gills until he revives enough to swim away.
Bass, peacock bass, and clown knife fish are fun to catch, but they are not good table fare. Fish enough and you will master the sport of catch and release!
Please obey all applicable laws and never go fishing without first purchasing a Fishing License from FWC.
