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A clean background
A clean surface, such as a sandbank or concrete slab, is a favourite spot for peacock bass. Even if they are clearly visible, the slightest movement on the bank will cause them to disappear, so you need to scan the edges from a distance to spot them, and by the same token, fish for them from a distance.
Vegetation
Peacock bass seem to like vegetation, but not too much... In other words, in addition to a clean bottom, it will generally choose direct proximity to a small weed bed or water lilies.
However, highly vegetated areas seem to be much less appealing. It can still be seen in such areas, but it is more likely to be marauding or hunting, rather than resting.
Stones
Stones and human constructions are peacock-bass magnets. The majority of these structures can be found at culverts running under intersections or bridges. These particular spots are popular with peacock-bass, and are among the areas to be explored as a priority.
Safety
Another point that peacock-bass is looking for is control of its environment and, above all, the ability to see everything that's going on around it.
As a result, it is never in the middle of a body of water, where danger could arrive from all sides, but will rather frequent the edges, with even a preference for closed-angle edges. By meticulously choosing its zone, the peacock-bass reduces the area it has to monitor and the number of accesses to potential predators, for itself or its offspring, coming from the water.
A mixture of the 4 criteria
Ultimately, an ideal spot for peacock-bass is one that combines all the above points.
The canals
In Miami and the surrounding cities, peacock bass are mainly found in the canals. Peacock bass are also found in lakes, but as these are generally private, it's in the canals that most of the fishing takes place!
There aren't really any canals that are better than others; you can assume that there are peacock-bass everywhere, as long as it's fresh water. What's more, it's more relevant to judge a channel by section, not as a whole.
In fact, one section can be excellent, and the next nothing to write home about, even though you've just crossed a street. For this reason, it's best to explore the entire length of the canal, not just one section, as surprises can happen at any time.
In this exploration, it's important to identify the conditions mentioned above, to orientate your search and avoid wasting time on unpromising areas.
