With a cold front bringing the water temperatures down throughout South Florida, Capt. Mark Hall worried I'd have a tough day. I said, I'm here anyway, so no expectations, and no pressure. I'm glad we went.

We fished a canal system in South Miami rife with butterfly peacocks. I basically alternated between two rods: A five-weight rigged with a clear floating line and a green and white clouser (with orange accents), and my saltwater six-weight with 150 grain sink line and a green and white "Eat Me" fly.

Fishing was tough. Mark had me cast the 5w around bridge pilings and structure, and the 6w in deeper pools and culverts. We got a few small peacocks here and there. But then, as the day warmed up in the late afternoon (to about 74 degrees) the fish started to turn on. We changed tactics a bit and I used the 6w and sunk the Eat Me deeper in the water column under the bridges, and started nailing the fish. My nicest one of the day (pictured) took me to the reel, made it sing a bit, and kept trying to wrap me around the pilings, like a snook. Just a tremendous fight. I can't say enough about how hard these fish hit and how well they fight. If you base your estimate on a smallmouth or largemouth fight, you'll overestimate the size of the peacock you've hooked. These cichlids are fast moving up my list of favorite fish to pursue. I can't wait to get after them again.