“A two-pound oscar would kick the butt of a six-pound peacock, no contest.” “Pound for pound, in my opinion, they are the toughest-fighting Florida exotic,” Wheeler comments. What this sportfish lacks in looks, it makes up for in feisty temperament. OSCARĭocumented as one of the first reported exotic fishes in Florida, the oscar made its debut in the late 1950s and has since made a home of warm, marshy waters south of Lake Okeechobee. To my surprise, the findings were not exactly what I anticipated. Brett Isackson of provided some additional insight. On the hunt for answers, I reached out to long-time FWC personnel, non-native fish and wildlife biologist Kelly Gestring and regional freshwater fisheries administrator Barron Moody. For those of us lucky enough to live here year-round, a drive to our local spillway, backyard canal or residential pond can make short work of a fresh fish dinner.Īs an editorial team member at Florida Sportsman, I’ve been equal parts intrigued and concerned at the number of non-native species being reported to us in recent years. We now have people traveling to Florida just for the chance to lay claim to our exotics. ![]() ![]() Other options, like bottom-feeding tilapia and ditch-dwelling black acara, would soon have most anglers turning up their noses at the prospects.Ī lot has changed over the years. ![]() The oscar was among the first to become established, a tropical species which, anglers soon learned, doesn’t give up its tasty fillets without a worthy fight. Tilapia (introduced in the 1960s) have little reputation as gamefish, but don’t tell that to Trey Wheeler and other enterprising fly fishermen.
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