Aruana - Amazon Fish

Aruana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) Peixe Macaco or Monkey Fish are a wonderful light-tackle sportfish common in waters where Peacock Bass are found.

They tend to gang up in quiet lagoons and under overhanging trees in the shade. Aruana are often seen jumping in the trees (hence the name Monkey Fish) to catch birds, insects and even snakes and lizards.

They are extremely long and slim, like a ribbon, with a big trap door mouth and large scales. These fish hit topwater lures with abandon and can also be caught on flies, jigs and subsurface minnowbaits. When hooked, they jump all around the lagoon and even swim backwards like eels.