Florida Spring Break

[WTL]

Hey guys, thought Id post a couple pictures of my spring break in Florida

First is my largest bass ever. I dont bring a scale anymore, but I carefully measured it and it was 25 inches in length with a girth of 20 inches...a very fat female bass. The BPS calculator, and most online calculators indicate this would be around 10 pounds 7 ounces, and that certainly jives with my estimate. For years I had sat on around 9 pounds according to who you asked, but now I am sure I broke the 10 pound trophy mark. It was caught in some lily pads on a spinnerbait with white willow blades, which is also the same general spinnerbait that has accounted for a few of my other big pigs over the years. It was covered with some sort of parasitic bug, that didnt seem to be causing much damage, some sort of underwater lice or the like. In accordance with the state of Florida catch and release only policy for this particular lake, I released the fish immediately. Some day I might have a replica made, but I dont have to today.



This next bass is my first peacock bass, caught in the Miami airport lakes close to antonio maceo park. I struggled that day to get a peacock bass, and it was looking grim, but it finaly hit an academy swimbait shortly before I reached the ramp, which I was working my way back to.



This next picture might be the shot of the trip, although I was guilty of holding the fish very close to the camera to kinda mislead as according to size. They both were around 5 pounds, I think the LM was a little bigger. These were caught not very far from Key Largo.



This picture is of the famed zara spook, afloat in the florida keys., It was in the water for all of 20 minutes, before I decided I was gonna get killed with that 25 mile north wind sweeping down the gulf. No fish caught in the keys, it was pretty, but when I go back to that I wont be so cheap, Im getting a guide.

[bassinbob]

Congrats on your PB. How was the fight with the peacock?

[WTL]

It was a good fight, they are explosive...the weird thing is in the canal, the largemouth of size fought in the same manner, agile, explosive....and I've noticed that before. When you are competing with peacocks for food, you get bigger and meaner.

[WatterBoy]

Great pics and awesome fish, Billy! That 25-incher is a real HAWG -- congrats!

[bamabassman]

Fatnastic billy !!!!! Awesum fish man!!!

[Jrob78]

Looks like a great way to spend spring break. The Keys' water color is really pretty.

[WTL]

Yeah, I had to get out of the water at the keys quick, I busted my trolling motor on some rocks, the waves lifted the bow up and just hammered the tm....its ok, popped some rivets on the bow cap, but I would have damaged the boat more. Just not a good day, so I went inland and caught some more peacocks. I caught 17 bass one day, not counting peacocks, and 24 the next.

[joedog]

Now that's a Spring Break you'll always remember....the DAYS anyway.

[nobass]

way to go sounds like you had a great time

[keithdog]

Thats awsome Billy. I can't think of a better time. Warm sunny Florida, boating and fishing. Beautiful scenery, what more can you ask for? I'm hoping to hook into some peacocks myself some day.

[Bassboss]

Man I miss Florida... love to take a week or two to go back! Glad you enjoyed it Billy, that top bass is a TOAD!! I'd definitely say it's over 10lbs! Also a very nice peacock you got in that bottom picture!

[kennethdaysale]

Congrats on the big bass billy! When I saw the thread title I thought maybe I was going to click on some pics of hottie babes @ the beach or maybe a pic of a tattoo like this tribute to the bait monkey you got after a night of wild debauchery.

[bassboogieman]

Nice trip - you do it all by yourself? Really like the solitude bit, huh? Shoulda called me, I would have met you somewhere in Florida and we could have fished from our kayaks for a few days. I really want to catch a Peacock bass, without having to go to South America. I didn't get down there this winter, but next year I am going back for a couple weeks with my kayak. It's the perfect mid-winter, cabin fever remedy for us Norfer's

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Great picks Billy. Peacock is right behind small mouth on the bucket list for me. Looks like you chose being sore from slinging baits and fighting fish over a hangover. Nice choice.