NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA CANAL AND URBAN POND ANGLER

WHO ARE WE?

This newsletter is a publication of the Community-Based Fishing Project of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). To contact The City Fisher, phone John Cimbaro at (561) 791-4730, or e-mail john.cimbaro@MyFWC.com. You can also write to: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 8535 Northlake Boulevard; West Palm Beach, FL 33412.

NEW NEIGHBORS

Exotic Fishes

BUTTERFLY PEACOCK

STATUS: The butterfly peacock is the only legally-introduced exotic fish to become established in Florida. About 2,000 fingerlings were stocked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in eleven south Florida canals between 1984 and 1987. These fish were protected by law until their population was deemed large enough to support harvest, and in mid-1989 anglers were allowed to harvest up to two butterfly peacock bass per day, only one of which could be longer than seventeen inches. This regulation remains in effect to this day.

SIZE: The butterfly peacock can exceed ten pounds in weight; the current International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record is 10.5 pounds and was caught in Brazil. Butterfly peacock are doing so well in Florida that twelve out of fifteen IGFA line-class world records have been caught from Florida waters rather than the species. native habitat!

IDENTIFICATION: This fish is not a true bass like the largemouth, but is related instead to other cichlids such as the oscar and spotted tilapia. This bright, gold-colored fish is hard to mistake. The lower fins are bright red, and there are three vertical black bars on the body that are more pronounced in younger fish. Unlike the familiar largemouth bass, bigger butterfly peacocks will most likely be males rather than females. Male peacocks can also be distinguished by a pronounced hump on the forehead during the breeding season.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The speckled peacock was introduced in south Florida at the same time as the butterfly peacock. None survived, and no speckled peacock exist in Florida today. The presence of butterfly peacock with gold "speckles" on their bodies continues to confuse anglers who often believe they have landed a young speckled peacock.

ANGLING QUALITIES: This highly desirable gamefish is well-known for its aggressive strikes and strong fight. Highly piscivorous (eating other fishes), this fish will fall to most minnow imitations. Small jigs and various topwater lures are other favorites. Experienced largemouth anglers, take note: butterfly peacocks will almost never hit rubber worms, and they do not feed at night! When using bait, live shiners are the top choice.

NOTE: Detailed fishing maps of access sites for butterfly peacock are available by writing to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Non-Native Fish Research Laboratory; 801 NW 40^th Street; Boca Raton, FL 33431.

IDENTIFICATION: This unusual fish. normally found in saltwater but able to survive quite well in fresh. is quite distinct compared to other freshwater species. The mottled brown color, large mouth, rounded tail, and lined cheeks identify the bigmouth sleeper. Another primary identification mark, the divided dorsal fin, has led to guesses of walleye by puzzled anglers.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The only similar species found in Florida is the fat sleeper, another salt water intruder like its larger relative. Shorter, stockier, and darker, this fish rarely exceeds ten inches.

ANGLING QUALITIES: This uncommon fish usually arrives as a surprise to anglers expecting a better-known species at the end of the line. An ambush predator, the bigmouth sleeper usually rests in vegetation waiting for fish to swim within feeding range. As such, it is most often caught when anglers use minnow-imitating flies or lures (or live minnows, for that matter). Not a tremendous fighter, the challenge with this species is not so much to land it, but to identify it!

One of the factors fisheries biologists must often determine in order to fully understand a population of fishes is its age structure. This includes knowledge not only of how old individual fish are, but what percentage of the population makes up each different age group.

Aging fish is based on the principle that fish grow at a slower rate during the winter when cooler temperatures slow metabolism. In any structures (such as scales or bones) where growth layers are laid down, winter layers will be narrower and spaced more closely together than warm-weather, fast-growth layers. These narrower and closer layers, as a group, will appear as a single dark band, while the wider and more broadly-spaced growth layers laid down during warm weather will appear as a single light-colored band. Each light and dark band will represent a single year's growth in a fish's life. (The technique is similar to counting rings on a tree.) The light/dark contrast will not be as distinct in Florida's subtropical climate as it would be in much colder northern states, and some structures (scales, spines, and certain bones) also seem to be more reliable for some species of fish than for others. In our mild south Florida climate, only ear bones called "otoliths" have been found to be reliable for aging largemouth bass.

These earstones are located within the skull and are important to the fish for sound and vibration detection. When properly sectioned, these otoliths can reveal growth rings (called "annuli"). A very thin slice is carefully removed from the otolith using a fine saw and the cross section mounted on a microscope slide. At 100X magnification, the growth rings can be counted (or "read") and the age of the fish determined:

Once the ages of a number of fish from a population have been determined, the biologist can calculate the age structure of that population.

The chart below was compiled from nearly 200 bass collected in the L-67A Canal in Water Conservation Area 3 in 1997. The average age is three years.

DIRECTIONS: Take I-95 to Forest Hill Boulevard and head west. The park entrance is between Jog Road and the Turnpike overpass (but the TP does not exit here). Enter at the second entrance (not the Okeeheelee Golf Course entrance) and simply stay right to reach the section of the lake that has fish feeders. Staying on the main road will take you to the non-feeder portion of the lake.

SIZE: 157 acres. An 11-acre section of the lake containing fish feeders is more intensively managed, but the remainder of the lake provides fishing as well.

FISH SPECIES PRESENT: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, and spotted tilapia. All species can also be caught in the non-feeder area of the lake (although channel catfish will not be as common).

SPECIAL FEATURES: Six fish feeders, fish attractors, annually-stocked channel catfish, fishing pier, boat ramp, and excellent shoreline access around most of the lake. Fishing at the feeders will produce the most catfish and sunfish, while largemouth bass can be found all along the shoreline or at fish attractors. The bass tend to be small but are plentiful and ideal for light tackle.

LOCATION: Water Conservation Area (WCA) 3, north of Everglades National Park. This canal is in a very rural setting, but within easy driving distance of a number of large urban areas.

DIRECTIONS: Take I-75, the Turnpike, or I-95 to Griffin Road and head West past U.S. 27. That's it! The road dead-ends at Holiday Park, which is the primary access to the L-67A. You can also access the canal from the S-333 structure off Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) roughly 10 miles west of Krome Avenue (Highway 997). The telephone number for Holiday Park is (954) 434-8111.

SIZE: The L-67A itself is 26 miles long, but connects to the L-68A, Miami, and L-29 Canals to provide additional fishing opportunities.

FISH SPECIES PRESENT: Largemouth bass, oscar, Mayan cichlid, bluegill, and redear sunfish. Butterfly peacock are uncommon in the L-67A, but can be caught regularly in the more southerly L-29.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Both put-in sites offer excellent paved boat ramps. Holiday Park also provides camping, boat gas, and a combination convenience and bait-and-tackle store. While some bank fishing is available at both points, access is primarily by boat. The L-67A is best-known for regularly posting some of the highest largemouth bass catch rates in the state. As water levels begin to drop in Spring, bass move from the increasingly-shallow marsh areas and concentrate in the L-67A Canal. At this time, some boats report catches of over 100 bass in a single day, and individual fish can weigh up to ten pounds. Fishing is not as spectacular during high water, but eight marsh access trails created by the FWC in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District allow access to vast marsh areas where large bass can be found. Be aware that an orange flag at least 10X12 inches flying at least 10 feet from the bottom of the boat is required in marsh areas for safety. A map of the access trails is available (Note use your back key to return to this page). Keep in mind that the fishing in both marsh and canal will depend primarily on current water levels. Minnow imitations and topwater lures are popular in the canal, while many anglers stick with weedless topwater baits if fishing the marsh area. Flipping along the canal edges reportedly works when all other methods fail. The oscar is the other fish that draws anglers to this canal (even from out-of-state). Now abundant, this species has successfully recovered from a major kill caused by cold temperatures in 1995. As an illegally-introduced exotic, the oscar has no bag or size limits. Anglers locating a school or two can take home large numbers of fish; probe deep into the vegetation with live worms or Missouri minnows for fast action.

Biographical Profile: Alan Zaremba is a butterfly peacock and largemouth bass guide in south Florida. Miami-born, this native knows the waters and puts his knowledge to good use during the tournaments he enjoys fishing. If he's not busy landing outsize peacocks and bigmouths, you might just catch him rooting for the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Braves!

City Fisher: Most anglers would love to guide for a living! How did you get started?

Alan Zaremba: Twelve years ago I was asked by a local bait and tackle shop (Pat Fitzsimmons at Everglades Pro Bass Center) if I could run some trips for peacock bass. It was to be part-time on weekends, as I had a sales job for a food distributor. He had customers that were asking him about the peacock bass that they were reading about in some of the magazines and local news articles. He was aware that I had grown up in Miami and that I knew a lot of the waters in the urban areas, but at that time the person guiding out of his shop didn't want to put his boat in those waters. He also knew that I had been fishing for and catching a lot of peacocks down in the Miami area. One thing led to another and here I am!

City Fisher: Every occupation (no matter how glamorous) has its pros and cons. What are some of the ups and downs of your job?

Alan Zaremba: On the downside, I have to deal with boat problems, fishing equipment malfunctions, bad weather, and uncooperative fish. The positives include being outdoors in the great weather that Florida also has, and the smile on a client's face the first time he lips a peacock bass!

City Fisher: What can clients do to make things go more smoothly when going out on a guided trip?

Alan Zaremba: This part is mostly up to me. I need to be a positive thinker, but it helps if the clients are, too. They also need to listen to what I'm telling them to do, and to keep an open mind about fishing for peacock bass because they are not the same as largemouth bass.

City Fisher: You guide primarily for peacock bass. What are some of your favorite lures and techniques?

Alan Zaremba: I like topwater prop baits such as the Johnny Rattler, Peacock Bass Bait, and Chug Bug. I am also finding that bigger lures are better. City Fisher: What other interesting catches have you or your clients made in south Florida's peacock bass habitat?

Alan Zaremba: We've boated largemouth bass up to nine pounds, snook to twenty pounds, and tarpon to forty pounds. Smaller (but interesting) catches include exotic fish like the jaguar guapote, Midas cichlid, and Mayan cichlid.

City Fisher: Could you give one tip that you think would increase an angler's catch of peacock bass more than any other advice?

Alan Zaremba: Think fast with your lures! Speed is a big factor when fishing for peacock bass, and a good general rule is "Faster is better!"

Alan Zaremba can be contacted at (954) 961-7512 and (954) 961-0877. You can also write to him at 1604 N. Park Road; Hollywood, FL 33021.

"SOME OF THE FISH I'VE BEEN CATCHING LATELY HAVE SORES ON THEIR BODIES. WHAT CAUSES THIS, AND ARE THESE FISH SAFE TO EAT?"

The disease organism causing sores or lesions on a particular fish will almost always be some kind of virus, bacteria, or fungus. However, it can often be quite difficult to know which of these three is the culprit. Even with that information in hand, the specific species responsible is even more difficult to determine, and most experienced fisheries biologists will normally leave the diagnosis (if one is deemed necessary) up to a fish pathology specialist. Fish specimens sent for examination must be carefully selected and handled for an accurate assessment to be possible. First, the biologist must try to obtain several fish (not just one) that all show symptoms of the disease. Since parasitic organisms often die soon after the host dies, these fish must also be alive when collected and must survive their trip to the pathologist's lab, as well. An effective way to accomplish this is to place the fish in a bag of water that has been injected with pure oxygen. When securely packed in a cooler with some ice to keep the fish cool, the bag and its contents usually make the trip safely, assuming the disease has not already taken its toll. The fish pathologist then has specimens that will hopefully allow him to make an accurate diagnosis.

Factors contributing to such infections are far easier to identify than the organisms that actually cause them. Pathogens thrive in the warmer water temperatures of Spring and Summer. These higher water temperatures also contribute to reduced oxygen levels that stress. and even kill. fish. In addition, this is the time of year that puts the greatest amount of stress on fish due to breeding activities. Combat with other fish over preferred spawning sites, the abrasive work of fanning out beds, and lack of feeding while protecting eggs or fry all contribute to exhausted fish with weakened immune systems. It is this combination of large numbers of parasites with stressed and susceptible fish that produces the results seen by so many anglers during this part of the year.

Fortunately, fish disease organisms found in south Florida (unlike those in many other subtropical and tropical areas) are not harmful to humans, particularly when the fish has been properly cooked. There is no need to avoid eating such fish unless the angler himself finds the fish to be unappetizing due to its condition and chooses to release it.

The Classic Bassin' Pro Shop was misidentified in last issue's Tri-County Bait and Tackle Shops list. The correct name is Lone Star Bassin' Pro Shop. The complete tackle shop list is available online at:http://FloridaFisheries.comoffices/cityfish/btshop.html

Largemouth bass: While cold fronts may occasionally slow fishing, these three peak spawning months will find large females cruising the shallows in nearly all water bodies. In the Water Conservation Areas (the L-67A and L-35B Canals are most popular), catch rates go from good to excellent as water levels drop and fish move from the marsh areas into surrounding canals. See the Canal Corner for specifics on the L-67A.

Butterfly peacock: While peacock bass can still be readily caught, cooler weather means less action from our favorite South American import. Reports of peacock bass in the northern portions of their range diminish, and fishing during the warmer part of the day makes more of a difference than at other times of the year. On cooler days, wait until the sun is well-risen before starting your trip.

Sunshine bass: Our only local population lives in the Lake Osborne-Ida system in Palm Beach County, and this is the time of year that anglers do best for this species. Cold weather causes many of these fish to migrate to the southern portion of Lake Osborne, and they can be caught by shoreline anglers at the bottleneck under the 6^th Avenue bridge. Boat anglers will continue to find fish in the deeper holes of both lakes.

Sunfish (various species): Like the largemouth bass, although cooler weather may slow panfish angling, it is the prelude to the bedding season. Panfish begin to spawn a bit later than largemouths (not until February), but anyone locating some early-season beds should have good action.

Oscar and Mayan cichlid: These exotics are less active during cold weather, but fishing will definitely improve as the year warms and should be good by the time the quarter ends.

Black crappie: Cooler temperatures lead to larger catches around this time of year. These fish are uncommon in urban canals, but the Lake Osborne-Ida chain has a good population inhabiting the deeper holes and the fish attractors. For urban anglers making the drive to more rural settings, Lake Trafford always posts good catches during these months.

Catfish (various species): Except for the effects of the very coldest weather, catfishing tends to be less seasonal than fishing for other species. Angling for channel catfish is good year-round in Okeeheelee, Caloosa, Plantation, and Tropical Fish Management Areas as well as the Osborne-Ida chain where they are stocked regularly. Yellow and (less commonly) brown bullheads can also be found by bottom fishing most canals or urban ponds.