South Florida invasive fish collectors

[ZEROPILOT]

I've been fascinated by invasive fishes here in Broward County Florida.
I've collected Salvini. Jewel, Jaguar, and other South America as well as several African cichlid species.
There are the very large cichlids including Midas. Red Devil, Convict, Mayan, Oscars etc. But I'm primarily interested in the "fishtank" sized species. Up to 6" in length.
I'm going to be making a few trips in a few days to several spots I've marked out to catch specimens on hooks or in fish traps to place inside one of my two 1,700 gallon fish ponds.
Is there or are there any local TFO members that are interested in going on an aquarium fish hunt with me?
Please contact me through PM if so.
Ed

 

[dd33]

I've been fascinated by invasive fishes here in Broward County Florida.
I've collected Salvini. Jewel, Jaguar, and other South America as well as several African cichlid species.
There are the very large cichlids including Midas. Red Devil, Convict, Mayan, Oscars etc. But I'm primarily interested in the "fishtank" sized species. Up to 6" in length.
I'm going to be making a few trips in a few days to several spots I've marked out to catch specimens on hooks or in fish traps to place inside one of my two 1,700 gallon fish ponds.
Is there or are there any local TFO members that are interested in going on an aquarium fish hunt with me?
Please contact me through PM if so.
Ed

I went on a peacock bass fishing trip with a professional guide last year down in Miami and had a blast. I’d totally be up for catching some fish with you but I couldn’t make time for a few weeks at best.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I went on a peacock bass fishing trip with a professional guide last year down in Miami and had a blast. I’d totally be up for catching some fish with you but I couldn’t make time for a few weeks at best.

Boy
Peacocks are everywhere
Don't waste good money on a guide

 

[ZEROPILOT]

The ponds are back up and running.
Now for the actual fish catching.
Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I stopped in Davie, Florida
I didn't go all the way into Hollywood.
I caught SQUAT. But I saw several marauding Butterfly Peacock bass. They're beautiful. But I wasn't rigged up for them.

 

[Yvonne G]

Is that your fish catching equipment? and did you catch any?

 

[jeff kushner]

Easiest way to go.....minnow trap for a couple days. Smart work isn't hard work! Those are nice ponds, really nice install on the pumps....KISS

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Today I went to my actual hot spot but I only bought my large trap.
I caught small mosquito fish in uncluding an unusual "Dalmation" that unfortunately hopped back into the water. A few Mayan cichlids that are easily the most common fish in our waterways.....And one lone keeper! A 1.25" Butterfly Peacock bass.
At this size they look a LOT like a largemouth. But they have an "eye" spot near the tail. A dead giveaway. They also lack the solid lateral line that a Florida large mouth has. And has a series of spots or broken lines down the side.
He has his own 1,700 gallons of pond for now. But he may soon have company because I'm going back there with fishing tackle and live bait as soon as I can.

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh man. . . take your camera next time. You know what we say, " Pictures or it didn't happen. "!!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks to a member on another forum I've found a location for Midas cichlids in a water system in south Miami.
5-11-2022
I caught 3. Kept just one. Two are photographed.
The orange guy is at least 11" and every bit of 2 lbs. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do him justice.
He straightened out my hook and broke my 4lb test line as I netted him.
The other one is the same species. Just a dark variant. I caught two like that and released them. Both were much smaller.
An interesting fact is that in their native range, it's thought that only 20% of Midas are brightly colored. But in the south Florida feral population its just the opposite. With about 20% being the dark variant.
However, they're all dark until a few months of age and about 4".


He's now in my fish pond #2

More to come soon

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Is that your fish catching equipment? and did you catch any?

I've been striking out because health and extra time have limited my fishing trips and the locations

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This is an unofficial Midas coloration breakdown.
Strangely they failed to recognize the solid black/blue black variation that I've caught several times.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

I've been fascinated by invasive fishes here in Broward County Florida.
I've collected Salvini. Jewel, Jaguar, and other South America as well as several African cichlid species.
There are the very large cichlids including Midas. Red Devil, Convict, Mayan, Oscars etc. But I'm primarily interested in the "fishtank" sized species. Up to 6" in length.
I'm going to be making a few trips in a few days to several spots I've marked out to catch specimens on hooks or in fish traps to place inside one of my two 1,700 gallon fish ponds.
Is there or are there any local TFO members that are interested in going on an aquarium fish hunt with me?
Please contact me through PM if so.
Ed

I wish. And hey I'm Ed too😂

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This is a Jaguar Cichlid. A very small one.
These are suddenly very common also

 

[TammyJ]

Where are these fish from originally that ended up in your lakes and streams?

 

[jeff kushner]

Where are these fish from originally that ended up in your lakes and streams?

They look to me Tammy, that they are the same fish that I have seen in Jamaican & Central American rivers....I'm guessing these were at one time rooted in "Pet releases"

(How fitting, a Sandals beach ad pops up on the right as I type the word "Jamaican")

 

[ZEROPILOT]

They look to me Tammy, that they are the same fish that I have seen in Jamaican & Central American rivers....I'm guessing these were at one time rooted in "Pet releases"

(How fitting, a Sandals beach ad pops up on the right as I type the word "Jamaican")

Yes
From the aquarium hobby