Amazon Rainforest Explorer Fishing

Can you imagine casting lures or flies for the most aggressive predators in freshwater? Perhaps you may want to go after the legendary Giant Catfish from the depths? Or what if you’d like to just taking it easy and do a spot of coarse fishing? Maybe you would like to do it all on the same trip? Well, we have it right here, just for you. Now, that’s what we would call a true exploratory trip!
 
Imagine drifting down river, deep in the Amazon rainforest, just you, your fishing buddy and a guide, surrounded by spectacular rainforest. Macaws squawking overhead, Toucans calling to each other from the treetops, rivers filled with rocks and boulders (some with ancient Indian petro-glyphic markings), roaring white water over cascades and waterfalls, sandy beaches, slow stretches with deep holes and shallow, inlets and streams, primary and secondary jungle with tall fruiting trees and with such an abundance of wildlife all around, we have it all for you.
 
Working closely with our Brazilian associates, the most breath-taking locations have been found for our exploratory trip agenda into the unknown. Deals have been made and plans put into action with some of the indigenous Indian tribes, who have allowed exclusive fishing inside their reservations deep in the jungle.
 
Few white men have ever been to these pristine areas and thousands of miles of rivers have yet to be discovered. We feel privileged to be among those who have been granted permission and invited to fish within these incredibly diverse, pristine, virgin jungle waters.
 

Overall, there is no other type of fishing trip that can offer so many different methods of fishing for such a diversity of freshwater fish species all in the same week.
 
Each morning after an early breakfast, your Indian guide will take you to various haunts to fish with lures and flies. Or you may opt to simply catch fresh bait to try and hook into that Giant Catfish.
 
There is superb topwater action to be had with Peacock Bass and Bicuda (and in some rivers, big Traiarao), using surface Prop baits, poppers and stick baits/Super Spooks amongst the rocky islands and against the submerged trees and banks. Excellent subsurface action can also be had from big Payara, Black Piranhas, Bicuda and Pescada in the faster currents.
 
Other Amazonian gamefish and huge Catfish can be taken using cutbait on the bottom, like Giant Black Piranha, Surubim, Jandira, Piraiba, Redtails, Manji, Barba Chata and Jau. Even a free-lined fish strip or a whole ‘Sardinha’ drifted slowly downriver can result in slamming strikes. You can also catch smaller ‘coarse’ fish and use them as livebait under a balloon. Drifted down a fast riffle or deep run, a livebait will often be taken by a big Payara or Bicuda.
 
Fly fishing is a wonderful way to search out many species with amazing results. Most of the fastwater species like Bicuda, Pirapitinga and Payara will rip line off your reel at a blistering pace and stripping gloves must be worn to avoid cuts and burns. Peacock Bass congregating around the rocky islands and banks of the river will attack flies with abandon.
 
The Peacock Bass of these Highland streams and rivers take on a different shape to their lowland cousins with a shorter but thicker body form. As they use the current to their advantage, pound for pound these smaller but feistier bruisers are the hardest fighting freshwater fish in Latin America. A point to be noted here is that these Peacock Bass will not move too far away from their shallow haunts as the Giant Black Piranhas will rip into them in the deeper water.
 
Pirapitinga and Pacu are predominantly nut and fruit foragers and the guides will often collect these baits from the forest floor to use for fishing or snack on during the day. Most are rock hard and will stay on the hook for a long time. They are easily cast out using either conventional spinning gear with a light line and only a small hook, or even on the end of a fly outfit. It’s so exciting to see Pacu feeding on nuts dropping into the water from the trees. Casting to a rising Pacu knowing he’ll take the floating offering at any moment is so exciting. Brazil nuts are also used in pursuit of Pacu. Guides will crush the nuts, shells and all into smaller particles to use as groundbait. Once attracted into the area, Pacus can be caught by the bucket load.
 
For the European ‘coarse anglers’, there are literally hundreds of lesser-known ‘coarse fish’ in these rivers and daily bags of 200lbs or more with Aracu, Pacu, Matrincha, Ariri, Cara, Sardinha and many more other brightly coloured fish can easily be caught, with fish weighing from a few ounces to 10lbs or more!
 
The fishing boats have been purposely made for these wild waters and with two anglers and a guide, our camps have a maximum capacity of eight anglers only per week. We use 14-foot narrow boats with 15-25hp shallow-shaft engines to negotiate these exciting rivers.
 

The camps have been tried and tested to suit our clients. They are fairly basic with tents, mattresses and hammocks if required. They are very comfortable, safe and well organized. We have camp managers, trained kitchen staff, daily laundry service and help is at hand 24/7. There is always a satellite phone and radio communication at camp in case of any emergency situation.
 
As these are mobile camps, we can easily move up or down river for many miles in one day. This way we are totally flexible and 100% non-reliant on anyone else. We may opt to either keep the camp in one area for the week if fishing is good or simply pick it up and move on to another site. Our work force will go on ahead and clear a flat area in preparation for putting up the camp in one easy move.
 
And we even have great ‘bathroom’ facilities built to measure, all screened and private. No part of the jungle is ever destroyed when our camps are set up and we must leave it as we found it. Not a beer can is left, not a banana skin can be seen once we leave and move on.
 
Although there will always be a stock of meat and poultry in the camp brought in weekly by plane, our chef may opt to cook up some Peacock Bass fillets, Surubim or Jandia Catfish stew freshly caught that day or perhaps a wild pig, Agouti ‘Paca’ or maybe a turkey-like Mutum bird that our Indian guides have hunted especially for us. The meals are always delicious, always filling and totally wholesome.
 
Drinks are available 24/7 and include all coffee, soft drinks, bottled water and beer. At the beginning of the day, a cool box will be put on the boat with a constant supply of drinks at your disposal. As we provide daily laundry service, packing can be kept to a minimum.
 

Our exploratory camps in the Northern camps’ season runs between December/January through to March, depending on water levels.
 

Days are typically hot with temperature over 60 deg F at night and 80-90+ deg F during the day. This is fishing in the Tropics and we advise clients to bring a lightweight rain jacket/suit as it can get chilly when temperatures drop during a storm. As we are fishing in tannin-stained acidic water, there are few or no mosquitos or biting insects.
 

Schedules may vary depending on areas to be fished.
 
IN THE NORTHERN REGION:
 
Day 1: From Europe – you will fly to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia or similar, clear customs and check into a national flight to Manaus. From the States, you will arrive either via Atlanta or Miami directly to Manaus.
 
Day 2: Arrival in Manaus. You will be met by Steve or our English-speaking representative and from the airport taken to a nearby hotel to relax. You may want to go and see the sights of Manaus and we can have our representative organize this for you.
 
Day 3: After a good night’s sleep, we will transfer you to a small airport and onto a charter flight or floatplane into camp. Upon arrival you will be taken to the camp and from there start your fishing trip of a lifetime. Depending on charter plane departure and arrival times, fishing should be possible this same afternoon.
 
Day 4-9: Six full fishing days.
 
Day 10: You will fly on an early charter plane from camp to Manaus arriving at about 11.00am. You will be met and transferred to Eduardo Manaus airport for your flight back home.
 
Day 11: Arrive from Brazil and make the onward journey home.

Included: Six full days of fishing; 7 nights in the exploratory camp, double occupancy; basic meals; open bar; charter plane; fishing licenses, guided fishing (2 anglers/ boat); overnight at Hotel in city; airport assistance and transfers.
 
Not included: *International and National air transportation to and from cities, Brazil; tipping; lures; passports; visas (Citizens of the EEC do NOT need visas for Brazil); meals in Manaus or elsewhere other than in camp; costs associated with medical advice and medications for your trip; other hotel stays (if necessary) elsewhere.
 
NORTHERN EXPLORATORY CAMP PACKAGE
$4,950 / £2,995 / €3,345 per angler *
 
A 50% deposit is required to reserve places when booking. The remaining payment is due 90 days before actual trip starts.
 
* Prices are stated as a guide and may be subject to currency and seasonal variations. Please enquire for exact prices for the dates you are interested in.
 
* Flights to Brazil and onto Manaus are not included, but we can help you arrange them.
 
**A strict 20kg weight allowance will be enforced on each trip for smaller charter flights.
 

See our Kit Page for a PACKING LIST with advice on suggested FISHING KIT

Through our travel agent partners we are able to secure excellent rates for all your international and domestic flights and travel insurance that are not included in our packages.
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