THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

It's just a pity that the hundred or so fingerling barred peacocks didn't follow through to share in the
story, for these fish can easily grow upwards of twenty pounds.
Perhaps that is something the FWC will take another look at in the future. But for the moment at least,
they are looking to conserve the success of the project as it currently stands by encouraging catch and
release for all peacock bass caught, with a mandatory maximum take home bag limit of two fish per
day.
In addition to this, only one fish may be greater than seventeen inches to preserve the spawning integrity
of the population and success of the project, because as it turns out, peacock bass appear mainly to prey
on the undesirable exotic species, leaving the smaller native prey species to be controlled by the
indigenous largemouth bass.
FLORIDA - CAPE CORAL
Paul Haynes, co-director of Warrior Boats, owns a big house with a boat and boat dock on the canal
system at Cape Coral, and had on a number of occasions after singing the praises of the fishing over
there, suggested I might want to go over for a fishing holiday and take a look. So in 2011, Dave Devine,
his brother John and I, plus the wives, decided to do just that.
It was as much a holiday as a fishing trip. But with a twenty six foot boat with a two hundred and fifty
hp engine strapped to the back at your disposal, plus Paul over-lapping our stay by a few days to show
us the ropes, you just have to use it. Good job he was on hand though, otherwise things might not have
gone as well as they did.
Paul's house was set way back up the canal system, which if you used the on-site boat dock, would add
an hour or so in each direction to the days travelling.
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