Fishing Getaway in Brazil - Peacock bass in the Amazon

Content:
1. Fishing Trip in Brazil - Journey to the Amazon
2. Fishing Trip in Brazil with Accommodation - Amazon Xplor
3. Fishing in Brazil - Day 1 fishing for peacock bass
4. Fishing in the Amazon Lake - Day 2 of Fishing in the Jungle
5. Top-Class Catfishing in Brazil - Day 3
6. Big Lures - Big Fish - Day 4 of fishing the amazon
7. Dream Fishes in Brazil - The Last Chance - Day 5

8. Request prices and dates for your fishing trip to brasil now 

Fishing Trip in Brazil - Journey to the Amazon

On January 13, 2023, my journey to Brazil began. The alarm went off at 5:00 am, dragging me out of bed with excitement. Stumbling from my doorstep to the train station, I grabbed a strong coffee for the trip from Hamburg to Frankfurt Airport, which I reached after a few hours and the usual delays. Here, I met Gunnar, my travel companion, and we checked in at the KLM terminal, waiting for our flight from Frankfurt to Sao Paulo, a 12-hour journey. Exhausted, we hit São Paulo at 4:30 am local time, had to check in again, a shock with our tight flight schedule. We barely made it onto the plane to Manaus, and for the next 5 flight hours, we couldn't catch a wink due to the older plane battling turbulence. Around 11:00 am, we landed in Manaus, surrounded by numerous tour providers offering guided fishing tours right at the airport. They even organized a taxi to our hotel, just 10 minutes from the airport.

Thrilled to finally meet the rest of the travel group, we shared a few cold drinks. Lucky, our "tour guide" from "Brazil Fishing Trips," pumped us up for the upcoming days. The excitement was palpable, conditions on the Rio Negro seemed excellent. In the evening, the entire group headed to a shopping mall with a fishing store, mainly to acquire sturdy hooks, catchy bait, and thick fishing line. Since the visit stretched over several hours, we enjoyed a typical Brazilian dinner in the mall before finally hitting the sack.

Unfortunately, the alarm rang again the next morning at around 6:00 am, and shuttle buses chauffeured us back to the airport. At 8:30 am, the small jungle plane followed the course of the Rio Negro through breathtaking rainforests, revealing the vastness of the fishing area for the first time. After about 2 hours of flight, we landed in the middle of nowhere in Barcelos, and our luggage was promptly transported to the lodge's private ferry.

While exploring the small fishing town, our bags were already loaded, and the first cocktails for the transfer to the "Amazon Xplor" camp were being mixed. The four-hour journey passed through stunning nature, colorful birds, and small boat-hotels – truly unique. The Brazilian specialties and a few cold drinks elevated the mood of the entire group. Arriving at the camp in the middle of the jungle, we were warmly welcomed by the guides and the owner. We quickly assembled our rods, settled into the huts, and, right after the evening buffet, retired for the night to be ready for the first day of fishing. 

Fishing Trip in Brazil with Accommodation - Amazon Xplor

The Amazon Xplor company is located between Barcelos and Santa Isabel do Rio Negro in the northern state of Amazonas. The camp is equipped with 15 bass boats and 115 HP engines, ensuring swift spot changes and fishing in the absolute Outback. The luxurious jungle hotel boasts 14 chalets, an in-house restaurant, bars, swimming pools, and more. During the season, 40-60 staff members ensure smooth operations and a unique experience.

The absolute highlight is the air-conditioned huts equipped with massage beds and even hot water – a godsend after a day of continuous rain. Of course, there's also a laundry service and more than enough opportunities to enjoy the evenings at the camp. 

Fishing in Brazil - Day 1 fishing for peacock bass

We started at 6:00 am with a quick breakfast buffet, meeting our guide at the boat 15 minutes later. The mission for the day was clear: "break-in and decide." We enjoyed a short boat ride on Arirarrá until we reached the first spot. The first casts were intense; we could spot massive wakes behind our topwater lures. True giants, a bit moody due to the rapidly rising water level. Nevertheless, before lunch, we managed to outsmart artistically patterned peacocks, sometimes just 5 meters from large alligators annoyed by our presence.

We naturally celebrated the first impressions of the waters and the incredible fighting spirit of the target fish with the group. So, we decided on a joint lunch on a sand island in the middle of the Amazon. It quickly became clear that all participants had already been successful, even catching dream fish over 70 cm. Our guides set up a small camp on the lonely island, cooking a tasty lunch over an open fire. After a short nap in the hammock between two palms, we fished until sunset, landing more peacocks. Gradually, all guides with happy customers arrived at the camp, opening the evening buffet with unbelievably delicious dishes. The day ended with communal fresh cocktails by the pool, and we collapsed, exhausted yet ecstatic, into our beds (with a massage function). 

Fishing in the Amazon Lake - Day 2 of Fishing in the Jungle

The next morning greeted us with occasional heavy rain showers and our guide had a special plan. In the dry season, the river level drops so drastically that small lakes emerge in the middle of the jungle, where peacocks can hunt almost undisturbed by predators. We traveled through small rivers, logs, and vines until we spotted a lake in the heart of the rainforest. As rain gradually set in, we fished, following our guide's instructions, with large "propeller baits" causing a commotion on the surface.

It didn't take long, and we could scoop up the first good fish on our boat. The frequency was staggering, and all imaginable baits delivered fish. As strong thunderstorms with even heavier rains formed, our clothes gave in within minutes. However, the fishing adventure didn't end until the non-existent sunset, and this day remains etched in our memories to this day. At the buffet, we learned that even two fish over the 80 cm mark were caught, and we were already eager to fish again. 

Top-Class Catfishing in Brazil - Day 3

Since the Rio Negro and its tributaries are home not only to excellent peacock bass populations but also many powerful catfish species, we had to face this challenge. So, we headed straight to the rushing main river to catch a few piranhas as bait with small twitchbaits. After about 30 minutes, we had enough bait for the catfish rigs and anchored the boat at a deep spot right at the steeply sloping shoreline.

For catfishing, large multi-reels were used in combination with Big Game rods to give the catfish enough resistance during the fight. The fish pieces from the piranha were laid just a few meters next to the boat, and after just 10 minutes, the first rod bent, and the fight began in earnest. Unfortunately, we lost the fish after a few headshakes and switched to a new spot immediately. This spot, too, yielded a vigorous bite after a short time, and the catfish ultimately landed in the boat.

The next few hours, we continued fishing for various catfish species and were rewarded with more catches before making a short detour to a nearby peacock bass spot that delivered several trophy predators in minutes. Since our guide provided fresh sandwiches and plenty of cold drinks, we bridged the lunchtime and only returned to the camp in the evening, delighted to report our fantastic catches. The catfish were thus ticked off for us, and we wanted to concentrate on peacock bass for the remaining days.

Big Lures - Big Fish - Day 4 of fishing the amazon

Having experienced fantastic and fish-rich angling in the past days, our guide, a local in the region, decided to visit a well-known big-fish lake a few kilometers away. So, we sped for about an hour by boat to an enchanted lake that immediately captivated us. In the first minutes, we could see several big fish robbing the surface and finally hook them, but unfortunately, we couldn't lead them to the net. We had a bit of a streak of bad luck as the massive target fish successively opened our hooks like paper clips.

We had several chances at the coveted 80-plus fish but couldn't capitalize on them. However, we learned from this and will fish with even stronger hooks in the future. Since a huge BBQ awaited us on an island with the entire camp that day, we called it quits early and enjoyed tasty meat and fresh cocktails in the middle of the jungle. In the afternoon session, we landed more fantastically patterned peacocks up to 70 cm, making the day an absolute highlight.

Dream Fishes in Brazil - The Last Chance - Day 5

The last day started with a leisurely breakfast with our guide and the subsequent final tour in fantastic weather. We caught many dream fish and looked somewhat wistfully at the upcoming departure day. However, the Rio Negro spoiled us once again from its most beautiful side. We saw masses of dolphins, alligators, and even monkeys bidding us farewell with roars. The communal farewell dinner made it clear that we would be coming back next year.

If reading this post has sparked your interest in fishing on the Rio Negro, feel free to contact us, and we'll arrange your personal trip to Brazil. Just follow this link and let us know what you are looking for.