Cabeceiras Brazil

Peacock bass per live aboard

Cabeceiras Brazil

Peacock bass per live aboard

Tip

We cooperate with Amazon-Angler for this fishing trip. This company has specialised in perfectly organized fishing trips to the furthest corners of the Amazon for many years. Steve Townson, the owner of Amazon Angler, has arranged these fishing trips in detail and you are in the best of hands. All these trips are unique fishing trips to different locations in the Amazon jungle.

This fishing trip is set up for fishermen who appreciate a fantastic adventure as well as comfort. You fly deep into the Amazon jungle on a floatplane and stay on a luxurious and comfortable houseboat. You will then fish in Aug - Sept in the Southern tributaries and from Oct - Feb on the Rio Negro and Northern tributaries, for Giant Peacock Bass, Arowana, Traira/Wolfish, Bicuda, Piranha, Jacundá, Matrinxá, Surubim Cats, Redtail Cats and Piraiba/Filhote Cats. All in all, more than enough variety and top fishing in an impressive environment.

Amazon-Angler’s 'Cabeçeiras' Houseboat Peacock Bass trip in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest is an exciting adventure fishing trip for Giant Peacock Bass.

Our 'all inclusive' jungle adventure trips are based out of Manaus by floatplane on a large Houseboat on our Southern Fishery and also on the Rio Negro and tributaries.

Check out our pilot trip here:

We operate these trips from August - September in the Southern area and October to end February in our Northern fishery and 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. Most Cats can be found also, depending on water levels at the time.

The tributaries in our Southern area and in the Rio Negro Northern area have lagoon after lagoon, filled with hard-fighting Peacock Bass (Cichla pinima in the South and Cichla temensis in the North) that can reach up to 24lbs and 30lbs respectively. 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.

Peacock Bass anglers will tell you, that once you have had a big Peacock blow up on your surface lure, you’ll be hooked for life! There is nothing more exciting and exhilarating than seeing that big fish explode on your Propbait, Spook or other surface bait. The strike is nothing less than awe-inspiring, loud, aggressive, fast, furious and shocking all in one.

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 kill it with explosive strikes and that’s NO exaggeration. Baits have to be worked fast here in the Amazon. Nothing slow swims in the Amazon and stays alive for long.

In the rainy season, the waters rise incredibly. A river that is only 100m wide within its banks in the dry season, may be 20 or more kilometers wide in the rainy season, spread way out into the flooded jungle. Fishing during that time is like finding a needle in a haystack as the predators have followed the baitfish far back into the jungle. Once the rains stop and the levels recede back out of the jungle and into the river banks, this is prime time to catch this magnificent adversary.

Key structures that Peacock Bass love to inhabit are entrances to lagoons, points of beaches and trees, shoulders between a bank and an island, blow-downs and lay-downs, stands of trees and individual trees, drop-offs and sand bars. Best surface baits to use are Klures propbaits or similar propbaits, poppers, walk-the-dog stick baits like 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. Bucktail Jigs with extended tails can catch you over 150 fish a day, although many will be smaller than when using the larger baits. Fly fishing is a great way to fish in the right conditions, off sandy beaches, in lagoons and in the many river systems. You can catch plenty of Peacocks a day with large, flashy streamer flies and poppers.

We catch other species that hit 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/Wolf Fish 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 7lbs.

Bicuda is a fast-water species that can grow to 10lbs here but average 2-3lbs. Lightning-fast and acrobatic too, these long pike-like fish will hit most topwater and small subsurface lures, jigs and flies.

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. There are the ever-present 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. They are a real pain in the A@@. 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. And of course we have bigger Cats for those who want to chill out in the shade with a cold drink and wait for a reel-burning experience.

Redtails and Piraiba Cats are here in the deeper holes and gullies.This is a great trip for those who would like not only some amazing lure fishing for the hardest fighting freshwater fish on the planet, but also plenty of comfort at the end of the day and during the night.

Are you interested in this fishing trip of a lifetime? Then please contact us and we will help you as best as I can.

The large houseboat is new and completed in 2024. The houseboat features individual cabins for each angler. Each room has a spacious double bed, private shower and toilet and it has its own air conditioning. There is also a general dining area with bar and the most delicious dishes come from the kitchen. From this upper floor, you have a magnificent view of the overwhelming nature you are staying in and watch the sun set after an impressive day of fishing.

Beers, soft drinks, some local liquors and other beverages are always ice cold, and sumptuous meals are prepared by our chefs. This is the perfect fishing trip for couples, families, partners or even solo anglers.

All cabins and the dining room are fully air-conditioned. There is a maximum of 8 fishermen to this trip.

Our fishing boats are 17ft skiffs with raised decks, fishing seats if needed, 30Hp engines and electric trolling motor. Each boats will have an ice box filled with ice and drinks of your choice. Two anglers share a boat with a guide. These boats are light and can easily be carried and dragged into landlocked lagoons and lakes if needed.

The fishing boats are 17 feet long and equipped with 25 HP outboard motors. In addition, the fishing decks are raised and comfortable fishing chairs are provided as well.

Each boat is driven by a local guide and there is space for two anglers. The boats are light and can easily be carried and towed to off-river lagoons and lakes if necessary.

All in all, this is the right equipment that will make this fishing trip an unforgettable experience. A list of recommended tackle will be provided with your travel documents but expect sturdy jerkbait rods, strong boat rods and ditto reels and lines to resist these fish. And also a good selection of surface lures, jerks/stickbaits, bucktails, crankbaits, jigs, super strong hooks and leaders.

You need to bring your own equipment on this fishing trip. It is not possible to rent or buy equipment on the spot. Furthermore, there is a strict 15 kilo luggage limit on the domestic flight per floatplane.

Travel Plan

Day 1: arrival in the city of Manaus and transfer to the hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Early morning pick up and transfer to airport for floatplane charter flight to the Houseboat, and fishing starts at 14.00 hours after lunch.

Day 3 – 8: Six full days of guided fishing.

Day 9: return by floatplane to Manaus, transfer to hotel and overnight at hotel.

Day 10: guests to be transferred to the airport for onwards journey home ……….

The cost of this trip is € 4.750,- per person for a 10 day, 9 nights with 6 + fishing days. These costs based on each angler to have private cabin and en-suite bathroom and fishing with a partner or another solo-booked angler

It includes:

transfer on arrival day before trip and overnight at hotel in Manaus,
return floatplane flights to the Houseboat and back,
transfer to hotel on day returning to Manaus,
overnight at hotel and transfer final day back to airport for onward journey home,
all food and beverages while at the Houseboat and while fishing,
wifi satelite internet on board houseboat,
all taxes and fishing licenses,
daily laundry and
6+ days guided fishing with 2 fishermen and 1 guide per boat.

Not included:

international and domestic flights to and from Manaus (other than stated above),
meals and drinks while in Manaus,
tips,
imported hard liquor and wine,
fishing tackle, rods, reels, lures, jigs etc
local fishing 'tax' approx. USD $50 (to be paid on arrival to host)
visa

N.B. European, American, Canadian, Australian and Japanese citizens do NOT need a visa to enter Brazil.

For tips per person, please allow USD 150 for the fishing guide and USD 150 for the boat staff. Prices are indicative and may be subject to currency and seasonal variations. Payment terms: 50% as a deposit upon booking, 50% to be paid 90 days prior to arrival in Brazil. Please check with your local physician for any necessary medication or vaccinations.

A strict 15kgs (33lbs) must be adhered to for all charter floatplane flights to the houseboat and return. A complete and comprehensive list of gear, clothing and tackle suggestions will be provided once reservation and deposit payments have been made. Currently the new Covid regulations are: Travelers are required to present proof of vaccination with any of the WHO-approved vaccines or must present a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the Brazil.

Of course we are happy to take care of the international flights for you as well. All fishing trips to the Amazon are a true fishing adventure. Despite years of experience and thorough organisation of the trips, it can always happen that on these expeditions things happen that are not in the regular script. Participants of this fishing trip must therefore realise that in exceptional cases the trip may not go entirely according to plan and that a certain flexibility may be desirable.

Are you interested in this fishing trip of a lifetime? Then please contact us and we will help you as best as I can.

Cabeceiras Brazil