‘CABEÇEIRAS’ HOUSEBOAT ADVENTURE FISHING TRIPS - BRAZIL
‘GIANT PEACOCK BASS FISHING IN THE HEART OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST’
Destination Southern tributaries and Rio Negro tributaries, Amazonas
Country Brazil
Season Aug – Sept in our Southern fishery and October - February in our Northern fishery
Trip Type Jungle Adventure Peacock Bass Fishing Trip
Species Peacock Bass, Suribim, Traira, Bicuda, Dogfish, Jacunda, Arowana, Piranha, mixed Catfish
Description Large houseboat accommodation deep in the Amazon rainforest, targeting Giant Three-Barred Peacock Bass
Cost $4450 per angler
Duration 10 Day Trip with 6 + days fishing
TRIP INTRODUCTION
….
Amazon-Angler’s Peacock Bass adventure trips in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest are THE trips for big Cichla pinima ‘Yellow’ Peacock Bass and Giant Cichla temensis Three Barred Peacock Bass fanatics and newbies alike.
This adventure trip is based from our all-new and refurbished houseboat. As well as awesome Peacock Bass fishing, our guest anglers will catch many other species that hit lures and flies too.
In the Southern fisheries, waters recede at the end of May and we fish this area in August and September. In the Northern fisheries, the same happens in July, water levels start to drop quickly, and our season here runs from October to end February. These are prime times to target Giant Peacock Bass and other species as the water levels have dropped and the fish are easier to target.
Our main target, the PEACOCK BASS ….
The headwaters of these tributaries have lagoon after lagoon, and in the Southern areas we target hard-fighting ‘Yellow’ Peacock Bass (Cichla pinima) that can reach 24lbs. In the Northern watershed we target ThreeBarred or ‘Speckled’ Peacock Bass (Cichla temensis) that can reach over 29lbs.
Fish hold up in fallen trees and tree stands, drop offs, points and sandy beaches as well as in the thick structure of the huge lagoons and river points.
Our fishing boats are 17ft skiffs with raised both front and middle decks with fishing seats if needed, 30hp engines and electric trolling motors. Two anglers share a boat with a guide and each one will have an ice box filled with ice and drinks of your choice. These boats are light and can easily be dragged into landlocked lagoons if needed.
Peacock Bass anglers will tell you, that once you have had a big fish explode on your surface lure, you’ll be hooked for life! There is nothing more exciting and exhilarating than seeing that big fish blow up on your Propbait, Spook or other surface bait. The strike is nothing less than aweinspiring, incredibly loud, far too aggressive, fast, furious and shocking
Peacock Bass are structure-loving fish, although spawning fish are often seen with their young dimpling the flat mirror glass surface of a quiet lagoon. If they don’t want to eat a bait, they’ll want to just kill it with explosive strikes
Best surface baits to use are Klures propbaits and walk-the-dog stick baits like saltwater Spooks and other cigar-shaped lures.
Best sub-surface lures are lead-head jigs, minnow-style baits like Rapala X raps, Yozuri Crystal Minnows, Cotton Cordell or similar. Stevie Stinger Bucktail Jigs with extended tails can catch you over 150 fish a day, although many will be smaller than when using the larger baits.
* Be sure to change out and upgrade all hardware, hooks and splitrings. Even a 10lb Peacock Bass can destroy lures in seconds.
Fly fishing is also a fantastic method to catch Peacock Bass, off sandy beaches, in lagoons and in the many river situations Anglers can catch plenty of Peacocks a day with large, flashy streamer flies and poppers.
OTHER SPECIES YOU CAN ENCOUNTER ….
We can catch many other species that attack lures intended for Peacock Bass too. All great sportfish in their own way, each has its place in our fishing agenda. Most can be caught on the usual Peacock Bass lures, but many anglers like the variety that these great fish give, so will often bring a few different lures in the tackle box to target them.
Arowana/Monkey Fish, due to its jumping prowess in high water and feeding of birds, spiders and other insects up in the higher branches of submerged trees. Great sport on medium tackle and reaching over 12lbs, they take stick baits, jigs and minnow baits and flies.
Traira/Wolfish are usually found at the back end of lagoons or in any oxygen-depleted water. They readily take spooks and other stick baits and love jigs, flies, minnows etc. They max. out at around 7-8lbs.
Bicuda is a fast-water species that can grow to 10lbs but average 2-3lbs in these waters. Lightning-fast and acrobatic too, these long pike-like fish will hit most topwater and small subsurface lures, jigs and flies.
Peixe Cachorro/Dogfish are great fun on ultra-light tackle and will inhale flies, small jigs, mini-rapalas etc. They look like a small freshwater Barracuda and have a set of teeth only a Rottweiler would love. A nasty little predator with an elongated body and getting to a max. 3lbs.
Jacunda is one of the prettiest fish in the Amazon and a shame that they don’t grow larger. Reaching 2-2.5lbs, they will take most small lures, flies and jigs.
Piranhas, which will take a chomp at anything small or big enough! Any jig, soft plastic or wooden lures can be ‘Piranhavized’ at any time. My advice to fly and jig tiers, go simple, no elaborate designs, or you’ll be spending lots of cash on new ones!
Surubim/Shovelnose Cats are great on lures also, often taking jigs, small minnow baits and flies and roaring off at a rate of knots. They grow to over 30lbs in the Rio Negro Basin and can be seen on submerged sandy beaches and in lagoons slowly swimming along.
*Redtails and Piraiba Cats are here in the deeper holes and gullies and can be caught on cutbait.
WHERE YOU’LL BE STAYING….
Our anglers will arrive in the city of Manaus in Brazil and will be met and transferred to the Hotel Quality (or similar, depending on availability) to spend the night.
Early morning we will transfer our guests to the airport for a 6.30am checkin and 7.30am flight by floatplane to our houseboat. After unpacking, sorting out your gear and a good lunch, fishing to start at approx. 2.00pm
Each guest will have his/her own room, although the cabins have two bunkbeds (the bottom bed is a small double if wanting to share with partner/spouse) and its own private bathroom and shower. All soft drinks, beers, coffee and juices and some local liquors are available and delicious meals are prepared by our chef. On one of the nights, we will have a Luao full-on BBQ party on the beach with all the staff included.
YOUR ITINERARY ….
• DAY 1: TOUR STARTS – arrival in the city of Manaus and transfer to the hotel and overnight (included).
• DAY 2: transfer to airport and early morning check-in at 6.00am. Floatplane flight at 7.30am to our houseboat, and after lunch start fishing at approx. 2.00pm
• DAYS 3 – 8: six full days of guided fishing.
• DAY 9: flight back to Manaus arriving Transfer to the hotel and overnight.
• DAY 10: onwards journey home – TOUR ENDS
WHAT IT WILL COST YOU ….
DURATION 10 Days Hosted Trip with 6 + days fishing.
COST $4450 per angler (all costs are in US dollars) including taxes and fishing licenses.
OCCUPANCY Single anglers, partners, families (with children 9yrs and above), small groups all welcome. Rooms are based on double occupancy. Max. 8 anglers per group.
INCLUDED Transfer on arrival day before trip only and overnight at hotel in Manaus, return floatplane flights to and from our houseboat, transfer on return to Manaus at the end of the fishing, all food and beverages while at the houseboat and while fishing, daily laundry and 6 + days guided fishing
NOT
INCLUDED International and domestic flights to and from Manaus apart from as specified above, meals and drinks while in Manaus, tips, wine, fishing tackle, rods, reels, lures, jigs, fishing licenses (we will arrange these).
TRIP NOTES *Terms and conditions of payments: 50% as deposit on reservation, 50% due 90 days before arrival in Manaus.
*A strict 18kgs per angler must be adhered to for all floatplane flights. Anyone with overweight luggage will be required to leave items in Manaus until their return at the end of the trip.
*A complete and comprehensive list of gear, clothing and tackle suggestions will be provided once reservation and deposit payments have been made.
*Tips – we suggest $150pp for your guide and $150pp for the remaining houseboat staff.
*Through our travel agent associates, we can secure excellent rates for all your international and domestic flights that are not included in our packages. Please ask for details.