Look at a photo of a Butterfly Peacock Bass and it looks like something straight out of the Amazon
jungle. Bright gold flanks, intense orange patches, and a massive black spot on the tail. But you don't
need a passport or a $60,000 bass boat to tangle with these exotic street fighters. They are
swimming right in the drainage canals, neighborhood ponds, and concrete waterways slicing through
Fort Lauderdale and Davie.
At Fishing With Jake, we skip the boat ramps entirely. We specialize in professional, hardcore
shoreline guiding, proving every single weekend that the best way to catch a trophy peacock is with
your boots firmly planted on the bank.

The Secret Weapon: The Land-Based Edge

Most people think you need to be out in open water to find big fish. With peacocks, that assumption
will leave you skunked. These fish are highly visual, aggressive structure-hunters. They live, spawn,
and hunt right against the canal walls and shallow shelves.
 Total Stealth: Big boat motors—even silent electric trolling motors—push a massive pressure
wave through tight canal water. It spooks wary fish before you even get in casting range. Foot-
travel lets us creep up on shallow fish completely undetected.
 Reaching Hidden Pockets: Fort Lauderdale is packed with hidden culverts, low-clearance
bridges, and tight limestone ledges where a boat simply can’t squeeze into. Shoreline access
opens up water that hasn't seen a lure in months.
 Maximum Line Time: On a boat, you waste half your day idling from one spot to the next.
When we stalk the banks, every single step we take is a new casting angle into prime real
estate.

60 Years of Beating Up the Canals

You can buy all the fancy tackle in the world, but it won’t buy you the instincts needed to track these
fish down. When you head out with our crew, you’re standing on the shoulders of Ron, Jake, and
Zach—three generations of local anglers with over 60 years of combined shoreline experience on
these exact waters.
 Ron Lewis: I’ve spent my entire corporate life running high-level sales operations. I bring that
exact same obsession with preparation, punctuality, and "number one" client satisfaction to our
guide service.
 Jake and Zach: My boys grew up with rods in their hands along these very banks. They know
how the local tides shift, how these fish react to a passing South Florida storm, and exactly
where the biggest bulls hide when the pressure changes.
 Zero Guesswork: Six decades of combined time on the water means we don't guess. We
know the structure, we know the cycles, and we know how to trigger strikes when other
anglers are scratching their heads.

Dialing in the Target: The Peacock Bass Blueprint

Peacocks aren't actually bass at all—they are aggressive cichlids. That means you have to throw the
traditional largemouth rulebook completely out the window.

 Sun Worshippers: While largemouth bass shut down and seek heavy shade when the
midday heat gets brutal, peacock bass wake up. The hotter the sun, the faster they swim and
the harder they hit.
 The Sight-Fishing Rush: Walking the elevated canal banks gives you a massive vantage
point advantage. You can peer straight down into the water, locate a target cruising the shelf,
and drop your bait right on its nose.
 Cracking the Spawning Code: From late winter through spring, these fish lock down on
shallow, sandy beds to spawn. This is prime time for our land-based style. We can pick apart a
specific bed with surgical accuracy until the protective male finally loses his temper and
explodes on the lure.
If you want an unforgettable, high-action outdoor experience that doesn't involve sea sickness or
crowded boat ramps, you’re in the right place.
By Ronald Lewis
Fishing With Jake
954-903-3311