Butterfly Peacock Bass

About this species

A vivid, aggressive Amazonian cichlid, not a true bass, prized for savage strikes and dazzling color. It ambushes baitfish around structure in warm rivers and lakes, with a black eyespot on the tail. Loud topwater lures and jerkbaits worked fast draw explosive surface blowups.

Season

Depth

0 – 10 m

Habitat Spots

Fishing Methods

Bait & Rig

Loud topwater poppers, fast-retrieved jerkbaits, and large swimbaits worked near surface structure in warm, clear Amazon tributaries.

Edibility & Taste

Good eating with mild white flesh, but mainly caught and released; local consumption is common in remote Amazonian communities.

Similar Species

The butterfly peacock bass has a large black ocellated spot at the tail base; distinguished from the closely related speckled peacock bass (Cichla temensis) by fewer lateral blotches and smaller adult size.

Record Weight

9.1 kg