Top 3 Lures To Catch MONSTER Peacock Bass In Florida

Here are my top peacock bass fishing lures you need in your tackle box if you plan on coming down to Florida to catch your bucket list species, or even if you're a resident. These fishing lures are the best you can get that will survive being eaten by a peacock bass. I've been fishing for these things quite some time and have gone through a lot of lures that cannot stand up to their incredible power. I've narrowed down the best selection for you, so you can have success when you come to Florida to fish for peacock bass.
~Eric
*These are Amazon affiliate links
Rapala X-Rap: amzn.to/3IFJXDE
Whopper Plopper: amzn.to/3WBMzbr
Hair Jig: amzn.to/42bb1BH
Jumpin Minnow: amzn.to/43mXfNX
Yozuri 3DB Prop: amzn.to/3MCJ2F8
Yozuri Lipless Crankbait: amzn.to/3OGa1Cl
Live Target: amzn.to/3MY0OUX
Bull Shad: amzn.to/43wnCk5
The rapala x rap is one of the most durable jerk baits on the market for peacock bass fishing. Pea's are known to destroy lures, and many of the jerkbaits on the market are made of balsa which, if you can imagine, isn't that strong. The x rap takes a beating and keeps ticking.
River 2 Sea whopper plopper is an amazing bait. It's especially good for novice anglers, or someone who has never used a top water before. All you do is cast and reel. It helps to cast around heavy cover, current seams, and any shallow flat or sea wall where the peacocks usually stalk.
Hair jigs are such a versatile lure. They work well for bed fishing, but also as a search bait. You would think a peacock wouldn't chase down a jig that's being swam back to the boat, but they can jump out of their skin to eat one. They don't have much action, but the slight sway of the hair mimics the profile of a baitfish swimming franticly away.
The jumpin minnow needs no introduction. Rebel came out with this fishing lure years ago, and its a staple in all fishing veterans tackle boxes. It can walk the dog, and also dive slightly when you speed up your retrieve. It looks identical to a minnow fleeing for its life.
Prop baits have been fished for peacocks in the amazon for many years. The peacock bass we have in Florida don't quite get as big, so there's no need for a giant wood chopper. The 3DB prop by Yozuri fits the bill perfectly. It has an amazing coloration and vibrant pattern that reflects light in a very unique way. However, its the prop noise that gets the peacocks fired up. Whatever feeding instinct the amazon fishermen discovered with the choppers is exactly what the 3DB prop brings out in the Florida peacock bass.
Lipless crankbaits are another great lure to find fish and also catch them if you're a novice. Same as the whopper plopper, you cast and reel. Depending on the depth of the water, you can wait a few seconds before retrieving to fish it deeper. The speed of your retrieve will also dictate how deep the bait runs. Other great lipless crankbaits to use are the ones by livetarget, the original Rat-L-Trap, and the Googan squad clutch.
Mike Bucca's baby bull shad is a miniature version of the best multi jointed swimbaits that has ever existed. The baby bull shad was the missing link to catching all other fish that swim rather than just gargantuan largemouth. Its the perfect size for peacocks. Mike even commented on my video where I was throwing the lure under docks for peacocks. He was doing research on how to target them on the Ida/Osbourne chain of lakes and found me whacking them on his lure. Needless to say, they work and are super fun to fish.
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#jerkbaits #whopperplopper #peacockbass

[@sunbutma4285]

Thanks for the tip. Flying down there in a couple of weeks. As a bass angler I have so much tackle and feel naked without having all my gear in my disposals. Since I'm just going to have a carry on. This helps me so much to narrow it down. I can't wait to land one.

[@CoastalFeverTV]

Excellent choices! You totally nailed it!

[@SkyNetGeneral-]

Dope video man thanks a lot!

[@MrSandomir]

Great! Thank you for tips!

[@lwall1445]

I am coming down in a couple of weeks with my nephew to catch some Peacock Bass. You got me excited. My trip was planned before seeing your video, but I am now a fan of yours and a new subscriber.

[@FloBass]

Go get em!

[@gauleapparente]

I love those lures ❤❤

[@I-aventura]

Thank you for your tips.

[@FloBass]

Catch em up!

[@JohnDrach]

Coming to the Everglades this week from Colorado. Wish me luck!

[@michaeltrecki5699]

Thanks for the tips. Never caught a peacock before and ten mins after using that x rap I got a big one on ice

[@Trillz217]

Rapala x-rap is really great for catching Ps

[@DeucesHighFishing]

Have a couple more 3db props here. Snook like busting them too. Must be that zipppppp. Thanks!

[@FloBass]

Yep the snooters do like that Yozuri prop!

[@barryhowell9]

Sane jerk bait lure I use and have caught a ton! Jus don’t stop rippin! Glass Gjost is a good one too, and the Yo-Zuri 3DS in ayu or ghost. Great info, love the channel! My second choice is a green and chartreuse hair jig, and 3 is the Heddin baby Totpedo ! Definitely in line with ya!

[@barryhowell9]

Got a few typos in there lol

[@DennisDoOffical]

You are reading my mind and so did the algorithm. 😮

[@chronicnoob8673]

Xrap has that special sauce, but I constantly destroy the lips. Got a life time supply of Xrap twitch baits:)

[@steves3760]

I like using the Heddon Baby and Tiny Torpedo.

[@barryhowell9]

In Bull frog color I jus gets explosive hits!

[@Aherrxs]

Hair jigs never seem to work for me. Can do you a vid on how to fish the hair jigs

[@joshuaarmand5236]

Do a top 5 baits for Snakeheads

[@terbofishing6402]

Frog, frog, frog, frog, and frog

[@javierpepin3154]

Good video question. Rapala x rap 3 1/8 1/4oz can I use spinning rod medium light rated1/8 to 3/8 oz with 10lb mono?. Top water lures 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz can I use medium fast line 10 lb mono?

[@PeterParker-bc7mk]

Im going to cocoa beach and want to drive south to catch some peacocks. Where a good spot to got shoreline or a bridge perhaps a character

[@javierpepin3154]

Hair jigs best colors ?

[@98kutch]

Going to Naples this weekend to hopefully catch my first. Suggestions?

[@FloBass]

I really don't make my way over to naples for the peacocks unfortunately.

[@ryanthornton5462]

Is the Whopper Flopper useful in cooler months like January I head to sothern Florida in January and was hoping to do some peacock bass fishing. Thanks.

[@FloBass]

If we're experiencing high pressure, the peacocks will stay down deep. But if its a nice warm day there's a good chance they'll eat any top water. If water temps are below 70 degree's, they will most likely not be willing to eat a plopper.

[@ryanthornton5462]

@@FloBass Thank you. Very useful information. I'll get one or two in the box, just in case.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

The 90 is great for fingers too...😂

[@FloBass]

You would know best!

[@lwall1445]

I came down last weekend and fish TaMiami Trail Sunday, 3/3/24. There were so many people fishing and fishing pressure. Saw a couple of illegals (Some didn’t Speak English) catch a few fish using live bait. They were keeping everything regardless of size limits. We caught four fish ourselves. We fished for about three hours total. Decided to keep going and go to Naples Beach. We did catch 2 small Snook which was on my bucket list and an Oscar and Large Mouth.

[@FloBass]

The trail is the most fished area in South East Florida. Its a domino effect since you fish in plain sight, people see you, then they go, then someone see's them, and it just exponentially gets out of proportion. Still lots of good fishing to be had. I need to make a video out there... But yes, way too many people don't follow the fishing regulations out there. Not just migrants, but from all walks of life, including native born Floridians. In this day and age where information is available to everyone, people are still ignorant to how unsustainable it is to keep everything you catch.

[@javierpepin3154]

Make a video your rod arsenal

[@javierpepin3154]

All the lures you are talking about can i use this set up. 7 ft medium fast action spinning rod with 3000 size reel and 10 lb or 15 lb monofilament? Even with live bait this set works?

[@SkyNetGeneral-]

6’6, 2500 Spider dura 20lb braid that’s what you need its enough. Shimano sienna with an ugly stick 👍

[@alexgoldsmith]

What are the best colors for the hair jigs?

[@FloBass]

I like white, pink, and orange with a black tail.

[@alexgoldsmith]

K thanjs

[@DanTheFireman]

The smaller Plopper 75 is my favorite, the belly keeps it from spinning as I tend to rip it harder after all those chopper casts in the Amazon. I tried the little 60 but it spins.

[@FloBass]

I tried the 75's when I was fishing up north in the rivers and they would spin on me. The 90 ran straight for me. Maybe the 75's don't like current. I haven't tried them in any other water.

[@DanTheFireman]

@@FloBass I fished a bone 75 out of Holiday Park, early afternoon topwater bite was crazy on it, that was no current. We got some solid fish on the big ploppers in Brazil and Colombia, they hold up well.

[@FloBass]

Nice! Are they actually stacked up in the center canal like last few years or did you have to drive around? I fished a month after the cold front and it was a graveyard.

[@DanTheFireman]

@@FloBass That was last fall on the north/south canal where the airboats go, saw the cold front kill videos and it was looking dismal. Interestingly enough, I'm up in Lake Worth and there were no floaters in my back yard and our peas are thriving.

[@Shadowolf24]

I've got results from their bedding using a jig head with a paddle tail

[@FloBass]

They will eat a bare hook with nothing on it when they're nesting...

[@barryhowell9]

Absolute best bedding lure is the Zman TRD CrawZ on a Ned jig head or a 1/6oz BulletZ jig. They can’t stand that on their bed. The tiniest twitch and they will totally annihilate that craw! I’ve caught hundreds of ‘em on that set up

[@robertmartin265]

I’m flying in Tuesday. Can put me on one ? Ft Lauderdale

[@FloBass]

I have some availability vallypro.com/p/65ce18901f882b97b2a7e759

[@floridareptiles1831]

Lake where I live os packed with peacock. Used all lures you said 🎉and nothing. Caught a blue gill and a peacock tried to eat it but didn't fit in it's mouth. What am I doing wrong?

[@FloBass]

Hard to say without being there. Keep fishing. Try different retrieves. Pay attention to the moon phases. Could have been a day they weren't feeding.

[@javierpepin3154]

Hair jig size, colors , weight oz?

[@javierpepin3154]

Never thanks

[@Peeler86]

What's your favorite summer bait for July?

[@FloBass]

Peacock bass don't really follow your typical feeding patterns like largemouth. They will feed on anything any time of year for the most part. It just depends on the particular day, not the time of season. For example, last week I ran a charter where they wouldn't hit any top water lure, but when we broke out the fly rod they would hit a popper fly in the same areas we threw the plopper, and spook on spinning tackle.

[@Peeler86]

It seems like they always hit the xrap when I go, I just had no luck on topwater.

[@Peeler86]

@FloBass is that deep diver xrap good when the hot like this out?

[@javierpepin3154]

The deep diver the colors.is the same.

[@vhdavalos]

I hate to be that guy, but the 1/4 oz Yakima Rooster Tail Spinner in chrome and whitetail is far superior to any of these three lures. Those three work, but the rooster tail destroys.

[@FloBass]

I congratulate you on the proper use of the oxford comma 👏🏻

[@wandersonsantana6610]

you need to come with us to brazil to catch a real peacock bass, 20+ lbs

[@FloBass]

I will be in 2025!

[@wandersonsantana6610]

@@FloBass who are you going with? and what river are you going?

[@FloBass]

The Araca, Demeni, or Cuiuni depending on the conditions.

[@wandersonsantana6610]

i’ll be at there beginning next month, i have a partnership on a lodge between barcelos and santa isabel

[@Xerouu]

Good list, though I would add plastic paddle tail swim baits, really good for straight retrieves to cover water and to jig on beds