Tapera River, Amazon Basin, Brazil
Amazon Fishing
The Amazon is the most diverse freshwater fishery on Earth. Stretching through much of South America including Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, this enormous watershed is home to literally thousands of fish species. The most sought-after is the Peacock Bass, a brilliantly colored member of the Cichlid family. Arapaima, Payara, Wolf fish, Pacu, Piranha, and many species of exotic catfishes are also commonly pursued. Some amazing fishing can be had here, but the Amazon can be a very difficult fishery to master. Most of the waters near population centers are pretty fished out, especially around Manaus, which is the gateway to the Amazon in Brazil. People in these areas will be happy to take your money to take you fishing, but you shouldn't expect much. You have to get out into the jungle and rough it a little bit to access the best fishing. Even in remote areas water levels can fluctuate wildly and wreak havoc on the fishing. If the water levels are too high, the banks of the rivers flood and the fish disperse into the jungle, making them almost impossible to catch. Low water levels concentrate them in the main river, which can yield some fantastic fishing, but if the water levels are too low navigation can become difficult. Most of the best fishing operations are mobile tent or barge camps, which allows for adaptation to changing water levels. Water levels changes are less drastic close to the headwaters.
Before going to the Amazon I imagined that it would be full of bugs, spiders, snakes, and all the other things you see in the movies. While certain areas do have those things, many of the best fisheries have surprisingly few of them, especially in the dry season. This is because of the dark tanin stained waters that are characteristic of some of the best Peacock Bass fisheries. My first week in the jungle in Brazil I only saw two mosquitoes, no spiders that I can remember, and no snakes. There was a lot more life under the water including millions of fishes, turtles, caimans, exotic freshwater rays, and pink river dolphins. If not for all the Piranhas it would have been an amazing place to snorkel. Other places, like Colombia and Bolivia, had a lot of bugs. The Amazon is an incredibly diverse place.
This is definitely not a fishery you should attempt to wing on your own. It pays to go with experts. I have done three trips with Acute Angling and highly recommend them. They can give you all the information you need to go chase Peacock Bass, Payara, Catfish, and the other major species. Fish Colombia is also a great operator that can put you on big fish.
Click on a pic below to enlarge and visit the species pages for information on how to catch these:
The Amazon is the most diverse freshwater fishery on Earth. Stretching through much of South America including Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, this enormous watershed is home to literally thousands of fish species. The most sought-after is the Peacock Bass, a brilliantly colored member of the Cichlid family. Arapaima, Payara, Wolf fish, Pacu, Piranha, and many species of exotic catfishes are also commonly pursued. Some amazing fishing can be had here, but the Amazon can be a very difficult fishery to master. Most of the waters near population centers are pretty fished out, especially around Manaus, which is the gateway to the Amazon in Brazil. People in these areas will be happy to take your money to take you fishing, but you shouldn't expect much. You have to get out into the jungle and rough it a little bit to access the best fishing. Even in remote areas water levels can fluctuate wildly and wreak havoc on the fishing. If the water levels are too high, the banks of the rivers flood and the fish disperse into the jungle, making them almost impossible to catch. Low water levels concentrate them in the main river, which can yield some fantastic fishing, but if the water levels are too low navigation can become difficult. Most of the best fishing operations are mobile tent or barge camps, which allows for adaptation to changing water levels. Water levels changes are less drastic close to the headwaters.
Before going to the Amazon I imagined that it would be full of bugs, spiders, snakes, and all the other things you see in the movies. While certain areas do have those things, many of the best fisheries have surprisingly few of them, especially in the dry season. This is because of the dark tanin stained waters that are characteristic of some of the best Peacock Bass fisheries. My first week in the jungle in Brazil I only saw two mosquitoes, no spiders that I can remember, and no snakes. There was a lot more life under the water including millions of fishes, turtles, caimans, exotic freshwater rays, and pink river dolphins. If not for all the Piranhas it would have been an amazing place to snorkel. Other places, like Colombia and Bolivia, had a lot of bugs. The Amazon is an incredibly diverse place.
This is definitely not a fishery you should attempt to wing on your own. It pays to go with experts. I have done three trips with Acute Angling and highly recommend them. They can give you all the information you need to go chase Peacock Bass, Payara, Catfish, and the other major species. Fish Colombia is also a great operator that can put you on big fish.
Click on a pic below to enlarge and visit the species pages for information on how to catch these:
