Of all the incredible gamefish in the Amazon basin, the one that has received the most press is the peacock bass. Their remarkable, explosive topwater strike, combined with an astonishing ability to break heavy lines/leaders and straighten even stout saltwater hooks, makes them one of the most sought after species in the Amazon basin. FISHING TACTICS - FISHING TACKLE

Peacock bass are not a true bass such as the largemouth and smallmouth bass (Micopterus Sp.) found in North American waters, but comprise a genus within the family Cichlidae. Cichlids are a diverse family of tropical fish found primarily throughout Africa, South America and southern Asia.

Although all peacock bass species are highly temperature sensitive fish, some have been successfully introduced in tropical areas from Panama to Hawaii. The latest transplants (C. ocellaris and C. monoculus) are happily swimming in many of the major freshwater irrigation channels in Dade County, Florida. No permanent populations of the giant species, C. temensis have ever been successfully transplanted outside of the Amazon basin and Lake Guri.

Although there are countless color variations throughout their range, there are only four currently recognized species of peacock bass, C. temensis, C. ocellaris, C. monoculus and C. nigrolineatus (there is a raging debate among ichthyologists and anglers on this topic). All species are commonly called tucunaré in Brazil and Peru, while other Spanish speaking South American countries use the term pavón.

The ‘blue’ or ‘spotted’ tucunaré/pavón (Cichla temensis), better known as ‘azul’ or ‘paca/pinta lapa’ is the largest of the four species, with an average weight of about 6-pounds.  The females (and especially females not old enough to spawn) are so distinctly spotted with a fawn pattern running laterally along their back, that many people think they are separate species.  The name paca/pinta lapa comes from a 40-pound spotted jungle rodent called an agouti.  As the males mature their spots fade out or disappear altogether.  They also develop a distinct fatty lump on the top of their head during breeding season (this subsides after spawning).  There is much speculation as to the purpose of this growth.  It has been postulated that it is utilized as a food source by the peacock’s fry for several weeks after hatching.  It is also thought that the peacock’s lump may disperse a chemical marker that keeps the young close to the adult.  In clear water, one often sees tightly-packed clouds of peacock fry swarming about the head of their protective father.  If a male is caught post-spawn, the growth on the head is often rubbed raw, as if the young have been nipping away at the swollen nodule. 
 
Body coloration and markings vary greatly.  Whatever the color phase, this fish has an unmistakable mottled patch directly behind its eye.  Three vertical black bars are usually visible (intensity varies from fish to fish) beginning just behind the pectoral fin and ending underneath the soft portion of the dorsal fin.  Often, the previously mentioned lateral white spots are present, running along the top third of the fish's body.  On rare occasions, there are neither black bars nor horizontal stripes/spots, however, the mottled patch directly behind the eye remains a distinct identifying characteristic.  This species is found throughout the Brazilian, Venezuelan and Colombian Amazon.  The largest specimens are caught in the Rio Negro tributaries of Brazil and Venezuela.

A third species, the ‘gray bar’ or ‘fire belly (Cichla monoculus)’ exhibits three black triangular-shaped markings along the back, with a distinct inkblot pattern above the belly.  In the central Amazon, this fish does not commonly grow much over 3-pounds, but on the periphery of the basin (Brazil and Bolivia in particular), ‘gray bars’ can attain weightsexceeding 12 pound.  ‘Gray bars’ are also found in Florida and Hawaii. 

The fourth  species is the ‘royal’ tucunaré/pavón (Cichla nigrolineatus).  This species is normally not found in Brazil, since it prefers fast water in a rocky habitat (it is most common in several Colombian and Venezuelan tributaries of the Orinoco River).  The royal’s distinguishing features include a narrow, serrated, horizontal black ‘band’ that runs from just behind the gill plate, past the soft part of the dorsal fin (this ‘band’ is often broken up, but the fish's coloration remains quite distinctive from the 'butterfly.')  Unlike the other three species, ‘royal’ peacocks prefer fast moving water and act very much like our smallmouth bass.  ‘Royals’ reach a top weight of about 5-pounds.