Photo Source: Alan Zaremba

South Florida is full of weird, exotic fish, but the strangest of all might be the clown knifefish.

The funny-looking fish, which gets its name from its tapered body, long anal fin and distinctive spots, is native to tropical Asian countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, clown knifefish are only in the Lake Ida chain of lakes, which stretches from Boca Raton to West Palm Beach.

Like many of the region's exotic fish, such as lionfish and oscars, clown knifefish gained a foothold when someone decided to dump the contents of his or her aquarium.

According to Capt. Alan Zaremba of Hollywood, who specializes in guiding anglers to peacock bass, which were stocked by the FWC in an effort to control the population of other exotics, clown knifefish can be caught using live shiners for bait.

That's how Gary Hamilton of Wilmington, Del., caught a 61/2-pounder fishing the Ida chain. It was the first knifefish for Hamilton in 17 years of fishing with Zaremba.

Hamilton fished 31/2 days in the L-30, L-28, C-4 and E-4 canals and caught a total of 52 largemouth bass up to 6 pounds, 55 peacocks up to 4 pounds, some Mayan cichlids, some oscars and a chain pickerel in addition to the knifefish.

While offshore anglers were waiting for the wind to stop blowing — Thursday looks like it'll be the first time in a while that seas are relatively calm — Zaremba's customers weren't bothered by the breezy conditions.

He reported that peacocks were schooling most days in urban canals and biting topwater plugs and hard jerkbaits.

Steve Oppenmyer of Atlanta and Gary Cohen of San Francisco caught 34 peacocks up to 5 pounds on a morning trip in the E-4, which runs north through the Lake Ida chain.

Kevin Cheatwood of Central Florida caught 13 peacocks up to 41/2 pounds, two largemouths and a 7-pound grass carp in the C-1 in Cutler Ridge.

Gerald Moore and Ron Balfour of Marion, Ohio, caught a two-day total of 43 peacocks up to 51/2 pounds and seven largemouths in the E-4 and C-8 in Miami Lakes.

John and Nel Schafner of Fire Island, N.Y., and Steve Mitchell and his son Stevie, 12, of Plantation caught 13 peacocks up to 21/2 pounds and a 3-pound snook in the C-4 by Miami International Airport.

Bass-N-Fools results

Paul D'arcy and George Williams caught a two-day total of 31.59 pounds to win the Bass-N-Fools club tournament on Lake Kissimmee.

Dan Stubbs and Bill White were second at 23.66, followed by Randy Norton andJoe Moran at 23.46, Scott Krull and Rich Tate at 20 and Bruce and Ryan Langford at 17.96. Tom Trapani had the biggest bass at 5.36.

The club's 36th annual Giblets and Gravy Team Bass tournament is Nov. 15 on Lake Okeechobee out of Clewiston. Register in advance at BJ's Bait and Tackle in Plantation or call 954-475-0248.

Dolphin talk

George Poveromo of "George Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing" presents "Dolphin Trolling Strategies" at Wednesday's meeting of the West Palm Beach Fishing Club. The meeting is 7 p.m. at the clubhouse at 201 5th Street. A ballyhoo rigging workshop starts at 6 p.m. Call 561-832-6780 or visit westpalmbeachfishingclub.org.

Swordfish seminar

The Swordfish Club presents the free swordfishing seminar "Swords, Swords & Swords" Thursday at the Lighthouse Point Yacht & Racquet Club. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there is a cash bar. Hosted by Capt. Skip Smith and RJ Boyle, the evening features advanced tips and techniques, swordfish stories and an open forum. Call the RJ Boyle Studio at 954-420-5001.

Boat show

The 56th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is Nov. 5-9 and features more than $4 billion worth of boats, engines, electronics, artwork and marine accessories at seven sites. Purchase discounted tickets at showmanagement.com.