Hillbilly Pleco Fishing

A plecostomus is a large black fish with a hard exterior shell that are very common in the South Florida Canals.  They have very unique and interesting features and looks that set them aside from all other fish in the canal. They have sharp spines running along the sides of their bodies with spines sticking out of their fins.  Plecos have spots encompassing their body.  

Pleco's eat algae of the bottom of the rocks with their suction like mouth in which they cling to the bottom with.  They can reach sizes of up to 24" long and have little predators once they reach over 6".  These fish can't be caught by rod besides when they are snagged, a technique to hook a fish through the side by pulling it and piercing the fish's side.  

The way that we catch them in South Florida is with our hands.  In order to catch them, you have to sneak behind them while under water, and rapidly grasp them between the tail and body.  These fish can sometimes cut somebody's hand due to there sharp body and spines, so gloves are recommended.  

They can be found along rock edges, hiding in grass, and on rocks along the bank.  They can sometimes be found during the day, but can easily be spotted with a spotlight along the banks at night, usually multiple fish in a single spot.  

Overall these fish are lots of fun to catch when a mask is available and you run out of bait or tackle.  They are quite difficult and a skill is developed to time when to reach and get a hold of the fish, but when it's developed, this is one of the most exciting things to do on the canal.