Fishing Q&A
has anyone ever tried Oscar, Mayan Cichlid or Peacock Bass?
Just moved to South Florida, don't really eat a lot of fish but was told that the Mayan and the Oscars are invasive species and so catch and release is not recommended...There is a 2 a day limit on peacocks though..I read that they are supposedly all good to eat. Just wanted to know if anyone had any first hand experience..Fried? Baked? texture? any info would be appreciated!
Public Comments
- I've had experience with 2 out of 3. The Oscar's are inedible as far as I'm concerned as they tasted like mud and I didn't catch them myself. The Mayan taste like Sea Bass, and I love them cut into fillets and fried in oil..You can bread them or not..your choice. We caught Mayan's and Peacock Bass on a trip to Chile 2 years ago..The Peacocks were the most fun to catch of any fish I have ever fished for anywhere.. They put up one hell of a fight, and you have to keep constant tension on your rod once they are hooked....They automatically/instinctively run for the shore to get into the root systems of submerged tree's to get away, and they will strip you reel bare if you let them. They are beautiful fish and very colorful. The one's we caught averaged about 12-18 lbs with a few that went 24-26 lbs range. They hit on noisey surface plugs fished close to the tree root systems on the river banks. Those that we caught in south florida were a bit smaller but fighters all. The Mayans and Oscars are not native fish so if caught don't put them back into the water..They are highly destructive to the florida ecosystem and do a lot of damage. The Mayans and Peacock Bass are a mild flaky white meat fish that has a pleasant taste without tasting fishy..Baking is the best (CLEANED WHOLE FISH) or grilling fillets on a charcoal grill (Not a gas grill). Grill with a little butter melted and brushed on and the juice of 1 lemon. The friends I fished for these with were not fish eaters..Now they can't get enough! Good Luck!
