JUCUNDA (RAINBOW BASS)

Jacunda (Crenicichla marmorata) is a very interesting member of the Cichlid family of fishes of which the Peacock Bass is the largest & best known.   Commonly known as a Rainbow Bass to American Anglers due to its vivid colors, it is not to be confused with the Guapote of Central America also referred to as the “Rainbow Bass".  Jacunda, seldom weighing more than a couple of pounds, exist in several different color phases depending upon which stage of the spawning cycle they are in.  The first Jacunda I ever saw was caught by a fly fishierman n a shallow lagoon off the Rio Negro River in Brazil’s Amazon and was sporting its normal green and yellow with multiple black bars down its flanks with a beautiful red “ocular spot” just behind its pectoral fins.  The second Jacunda we caught in the same lagoon a few minutes later was only about 10 inches long but sported an almost florescent red translucent body as it was deep into it’s spawning colorization. It was stunning to say the least.  Over the last 15 years I have caught Jacunda in many different phases between their normal non-spawning color phase and this translucent red spawning coloration.

These colorful fish, like all members of the Cichlid family of fishes, are formidable predators, feeding on aquatic insects, small fish and plant material.  Most often Jacunda are caught on flies and jigs, incidental to Peacock Bass fishing and thus on pretty heavy tackle which doesn’t allow the fish to show its fighting ability.  Found mostly in small streams and shallow bays off the main river channels, they will give a good account of themselves if pursued with light spinning tackle or a 4 or 5 wt fly rod, readily striking small flies and jigs.  Jacunda can be caught in their vivid red spawning coloration from late September through late November in northern Brazil’s Amazon.