Mayan, Jaguar, and Oscar Cichlids in the Everglades

For my first trip back in Florida I decided to drive south into the Everglades. This time of year when the water levels are still low the fishing is great. All the fish get stuck in the deeper canals and the action is near non-stop. Unfortunately during this trip it was mostly mayan cichlids and not much else. I guess that's like most of South Florida these days though.
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Fishing Equipment Used
St. Croix Avid X 6'6" MLF: amzn.to/2TUYrpC
Daiwa Legalis 2500: amzn.to/3kMF5yJ
Berkley Trilene XL 6 Pound: amzn.to/35QQh7c
Crappie Magnet Kit: amzn.to/3yjdmwR
Recording Equipment Used
GoPro Hero5 Black: amzn.to/3fXR0GB
*Some links are Amazon affiliate links where I may make a commission from sales.

[@michaelinraleigh]

Dude just grab the fish and release them. You are beating them up with the rocks and those metal grips.

[@TheFishingNomad]

Thanks man. I'll be sure to keep doing what I'm going. Appreciate the support.

[@redterrorz]

I like that you take pics of them. too many other utubers don't & just release w/o us getting a good look at the fish.

[@TheFishingNomad]

Thanks. I love the way the fish look. The beauty of all the different species is one of my favorite things about multispecies fishing. Sharing them with the whole world on here is what I love about KZbin.

[@ParabellumFishing]

I liked it 👊🏻 I know those Mayans can be a pain, but they sure are a lot of fun on that lighter gear. I don’t usually head that far south, for the same reason you said. Stinks to make that trek for a bunch of fish you can catch in the local canals. But the change of scenery is nice.

[@TheFishingNomad]

Yup. It's nice to try something new out and sometimes you get lucky, but the drive blows if I catch the same fish I can catch up here.

[@gtractivity2132]

Wow... very beautiful fish my friend👍

[@TheFishingNomad]

Thank you.

[@gtractivity2132]

@@TheFishingNomad welcome new frend🙏

[@purge5398]

I catch them often as well I live in fort Myers, you could have caught some peacocks with bigger lures maybe they’re pretty common around the glades

[@bluesky5587]

Big ups …great catch

[@TheFishingNomad]

Thank you.

[@eddwiggins4383]

Where is THAT spot? Here in Broward county, just about all you catch in the EVERGLADES are Tiger Oscars

[@TheFishingNomad]

This was Tamiami Canal roughly 10-15 miles west of Krome Ave.

[@brianshea748]

Yea. I'm definitely fishing there when I'm in Florida next April. I've been trying to pinpoint the spot on Google maps. BTW I didn't know you were from Jersey. I live in Mount Laurel.

[@TheFishingNomad]

Yup. Spent the first 22 years of my life in Bayonne. If you head west on SW 8th Street from Miami you can fish the whole canal. This was roughly 10-15 miles west of Krome Ave.

[@brianshea748]

@@TheFishingNomad So just pull over on the shoulder and start fishing?

[@TheFishingNomad]

@@brianshea748 Basically yes. If you go on a right Saturday or Sunday you'll see hundreds of people doing it.

[@williamborrero8849]

All nice fish and the Jaguar was very cool! What brand of fish grips were you using to hold the fish?

[@TheFishingNomad]

Thanks. Just the generic Bass Pro Shops brand ones. I think they were around $5-7.

[@lelonbond6682]

new gadabout Gadis

[@BriansRCStuff]

My son and I are big into tropical fish and have 3 cichlid tanks. We live in Delaware but are going to south Florida in a April and would love to catch some of our favorite cichlids in wild. Can you catch Oscars/other cichlids in just about any fresh water body (I guess canals are the best?)? Any tips on bait? We will be staying in Jupitar. Thanks!

[@TheFishingNomad]

Jupiter is a little farther north than what I'm used to fishing. I'm sure there will still be some cichlids around, especially Mayans, jewel cichlids, and maybe a few others, but not as much as further south. Basically any body of water should have them, but I'd focus on the canals.

[@BriansRCStuff]

@@TheFishingNomad thanks! Any preferred bAit? Can you catch live bearers somewhere too?

[@TheFishingNomad]

@@BriansRCStuff Not sure how I missed this comment. Sorry about that. How'd it go for you?

[@BriansRCStuff]

@@TheFishingNomad Pretty good overall… But learned some lessons. I will have to paste the long post about how the pH issues with the alkaline water down there sent me for a bit of a loop. Long story short, we had some ammonia issues that I could not keep under control and I did not think to bring pH down with me. We did get a few Mayans cichlids and a bunch of live bearers home with us! Are you on Cichlid addicts on Facebook?

[@TheFishingNomad]

@@BriansRCStuff Now you know for next time. I'm not in that group, but I'm in Cichlidaholics.

[@tombiga8254]

What bites in late Jan?

[@TheFishingNomad]

Everything, but if there's a cold front it'll be tougher.

[@lelonbond6682]

since they are invasive sshould you be throwing them back?

[@TheFishingNomad]

There isn't a body of water in the US that doesn't have at least one non-native species in it. Yes this is hyperbole, but the point stands. We've messed up our ecosystems so much that throwing these fish back isn't going to mess them up any more.

[@zcarp8642]

If I'm right,you have to catch and KEEP cichlids caught. They are invasive, and releasing invasives is technically against the law. Best to bring an ice chest to toss them in, or a water container to keep them, though I think it could be sketchy as some fish aren't allowed to be transported live

[@TheFishingNomad]

You're wrong.

[@joej6985]

Hey bud gòod content just ine suggestion you can actually use your hands to grab the fish and release the right way without hurting the fish don't know how things are in jersey but in Fl. If a FWC sees you let's just say he won't be using vaseline. Just a suggestion stay safe .

[@ncfishboy]

IS the fishing good in Feb or March?

[@TheFishingNomad]

Yeah it's pretty good. If you can wait until March/April it'll be better.

[@dillpickl3429]

Hey bro what is the address for this location?

[@TheFishingNomad]

Tamiami Trail Canal roughly 10-15 miles west of Krome Ave.

[@dillpickl3429]

@@TheFishingNomad thank u man hopefully I will go there someday

[@mlk08012]

They’re an invasive species, why throw them back?

[@TheFishingNomad]

They are not invasive. They are non-native. Similarly to how trout and largemouth bass are non-native to most of the US.

[@sparticus163]

Please learn how to release fish before your next trip. Not Cool.

[@TheFishingNomad]

Thank you. I'll be sure to roll them around in some sand next time and chuck them into the ground so they can flop their way back into the water on their own.

[@trumptardism6755]

​@@TheFishingNomad love it 😂 watch out for okay KAREN 😂 those precious Mayan cichlids 🤣😭😂you really should have practiced catch and fillet 🤣those things are so tuff they didn't infest evey canal and thrive by being weak fish. Their rather bad ass actually.

[@trumptardism6755]

Johnny 🤔🤭😂😭 Green Cool last name👍

[@johngreen3666]

@@TheFishingNomad These beautiful critters deserve to be treated less like garbage. At least get them into the water rather than bouncing along on the rocks and gravel.

[@TheFishingNomad]

@@johngreen3666 No thanks. Let me just throw them on Tamiami Trail next time. Maybe they'll get run over by a semi.

[@billweithman52]

You must not eat fish. That many good size Mayans can make a decent meal.

[@TheFishingNomad]

Not really. I eat them a few times per year.

[@virginiarosa1298]

Bro I love Mayans they taste really good

[@kyliecalnan499]

Harsh releases….

[@TheFishingNomad]

For sure. Definitely not my best day.

[@samueldevine433]

Lmao i was thinking the same thing. Definitely knocked that oscar out cold