​5 anglers (2 of them fly fishermen) boated 9 Peacocks weighing over 20 lbs in 6 ½ days of fishing last week on River Plate’s exclusive fishery on the upper Uneuixi River in Brazil’s Amazon.  This fishery has been touted by the Amazon guides as the best fishery in the upper Rio Negro watershed and that is proving to be true!  River Plate’s concept of “fly-in” fishing on remote stretches of backwater tributaries with small groups of a max of 8 fishermen per week is again proving to offer the best fishing for BIG Peacock Bass in South America!  Brazil’s Amazon has been known for the last 30 yrs for producing the biggest Peacocks in the world, but the heavy traffic of 50+ yachts and river boats, handling up to 30 angler each per week operating out of Barcelos and Ste Isabel on the main river channels of the Rio Negro, has greatly diluted the number of 15+ lb Peacocks caught by anglers.  Much like the fishing in Alaska evolved years ago, the new norm for catching big fish in Brazil’s Amazon is the remote “fly-in” fishing trips offered by River Plate and its associates!

The Rio Negro, in the state of Amazonas, drains lands in Columbia and west-central Venezuela where rainfall has been above normal. As a result, November water levels on the upper Rio Negro have remained higher than expected, but are beginning to recede. By contrast, the tributaries in the Rio Branco Watershed in the state of Roraima are reaching optimum water levels for productive Peacock Bass fishing 6 – 7 weeks earlier than normal. The Rio Branco drains lands of eastern Venezuela and Guyana which have been experiencing lower than average rainfall this fall.

Dry Zone #3 NW
Upper Rio Negro between Moura and San Gabriel
Including the Barcelos and Ste. Isabel areas in the State of Amazonas.
Water levels in the upper Rio Negro Watershed fell nicely thru the 3rd week of September hinting at good levels for Peacock Bass fishing this fall. Unfortunately, rainfall the last week of September and the first two weeks of October caused the water levels to rise once again - hampering the Peacock Bass fishing. Since the 3rd week of October water levels have been falling slowly, only just reaching the abnormally high levels recorded in November 2016. It will be interesting to see what water levels do in mid-December when the upper Rio Negro transitions into the historic rains of late-December commonly called the Christmas rains. Operators this fall have reported slow fishing for Peacock Bass in Dry Zone #3 NW with may reports of tributaries out of their banks and limited sandbars showing in the main river channels.

Dry Zone #4 NE
Rio Branco Watershed including Omero Lakes, Xeriuni, Itapara, Kabori & Jufari Rivers between Cracarai the Rio Negro in the state of Roraimi.
PEACOCK BASS FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN ENJOYING CATCHES OF 20 – 60 PEACOCKS PER DAY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS!
Water levels began dropping unusually early during October in the Rio Branco Watershed north of the village of Moura - just downriver from the Rio Branco’s confluence with the Rio Negro. The Rio Branco Watershed, northwest of Manaus, historically sees ideal water levels in January and February. Lower than expected rainfall has produced better than normal fishing conditions this fall. One group of 4 fly fishermen boated 1,700 Peacock Bass in 6 ½ days of fishing the 3rd week of November.
Many of the best black water tributaries in the Rio Branco Watershed are protected by private Indian lands – accessible only by operators leasing these remote lands. Unlike the heavily fished public waters of the upper Rio Negro, the lease programs allow the exclusive operators to manage the fishing pressure greatly enhancing the angler’s Peacock Bass fishing experience. They also directly benefit the indigenous peoples living on these lands and help preserve the rainforest and its inhabitants. These remote, Fly-In fishing operations are rapidly becoming the premium Peacock Bass fishing experience in Brazil’s Amazon much as they did in Alaska over 20 years ago.

Dry Zone #2 SW & #1 SE
Rio Madeira Watershed south of Manaus
Dry Zones #1 & #2 in the Rio Madeira Watershed experience their optimal water levels from mid-July to mid-October, and have now concluded their season.
FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST

Fished last week in Brazil's Amazon on the Jufaris River northwest of Manaus. We flew directly into one of River Plate's Single-Occupancy Safari Camps on private Indian lands and had a great time. Water levels were a little higher than ideal, but considerably lower than the main River Negro. The Peacocks were spawning with fish transitioning from the non-spawning Paca coloration to their 3 Bar spawning colors.

Rio Madeira Watershed

Dry Zone #2 SW Matupiri River
Water levels have gone down slower than usual in September on the Matupiri River, River Plate’s exclusive fishery in the Mahura Indian Reservation south of Manaus.  Anglers have still experienced good catches of Peacock Bass averaging 35-50 Peacocks per angler boated the last three to four weeks.  With the water just now approaching ideal water levels the bigger Peacocks, upwards of 19 lbs, are beginning to be caught.  This fishery should produce good catches through late October.

Dry Zone #1 SE Marmelos River
The Marmelos River, River Plate’s exclusive Peacock Bass fishery in the Tenherin Indian Reservation south of Manaus, produced great Peacock Bass fishing from mid-July through mid-August this year with anglers averaging 40 – 45 Peacocks per day weighing upwards of 20 lbs.  We did some exploratory trips as much as 70 miles above where we normally stage our Safari Camps to ascertain the multi-species fishing this area might offer.  We were pleasantly surprised with the variety of fish including Peacock Bass, Jacunda, Sorbium Catfish, Piranha, Bicuda, Wolf Fish and other varieties that were caught on this trip.  The headwaters offered rapids and waterfalls with crystal clear water ideal for sight casting.  Next season we will be offering special trips for small groups to experience this untouched multi-species sight fishing.

Rio Negro Watershed
 
Dry Zone #3 NW   Urubaxi River, Jufaris River & the main Rio Negro
Water levels are dropping quickly in the upper Rio Negro Watershed from Sao Gabriel down thru Santa Isabel & Barcelos to Mora, located 200 kilometers upriver from Manaus.  It looks like water conditions will make for good Peacock Bass fishing in October this year, as much as 2 or 3 weeks earlier than historic norms.  With no La Nina or El Nino weather conditions apparent in the Pacific Ocean this fall and winter we are expecting excellent water levels throughout the 2017-2018 fishing season.

Rio Branco Watershed
 
Dry Zone #4 NE    Xeriuni, Itapara and Omero Lakes
Water levels are receding at normal historic rates in the upper Rio Branco Watershed which usually reaches ideal water levels in early January providing good Peacock Bass fishing into early March when water levels are rising to unfishable levels on the Rio Negro.  If the water continues to drop normally, it is possible the tributaries to the Rio Banco could become fishable in December.

FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST!
There are many different operations offering Peacock Bass fishing trips in Brazil’s Amazon with the majority of them, consisting of over 50 river boats and yachts operations handling up to 30 guest per week, on the heavily fished waters of the Rio Negro operating out of Barcelos.  Much like Alaska evolved into many years ago, the operators offering Fly-In trips to remote locations on private Indian lands and government have become the primo operations for trophy Peacock Bass fishing in Brazil’s Amazon.  We offer upscale floating Safari Camps for small groups of 6 – 12 anglers on over 8 million acres of remote Indian lands where our anglers experience exclusive fishing rights in both single and double occupancy air-conditioned cabin Safari Camps.  Check out our remote Fly-In Safari Camps and experience the great Peacock Bass fishing opportunities that were available in the 1990’s in Brazil’s Amazon.
www.peacock-bass-fishing.com
Fishing the Amazon Since 1992

Early September is the time of the season when Peacock Bass fishermen scheduled to fish on the upper Rio Negro River and its tributaries between Mora, located approx. 225 Kilometers up the Rio Negro from Manaus to Sao Gabriel, located approx. 700 Kilometers upriver from Manaus, need to begin to look at water conditions.  Water levels are beginning to drop in earnest this time of year from their highs during the wet season, usually peaking in July.  A successful Peacock Bass fishing trip is predicated on advantageous water levels, as if the rivers are out of their banks, the fish spread out into the flooded rainforest and are not accessible to the fisherman.  Therefore, it is important to fish in different areas at different times during the dry season, which on the upper Rio Negro usually runs from mid-September thru maybe late February, depending where on the upper Rio Negro Watershed you are fishing.  Normally, the farther you get upriver the earlier the water levels are fishable.  During the 2015-2016 fishing season the upper Rio Negro watershed experienced some of the lowest water levels in recorded history and during the 2016-2017 fishing season it experienced some of the highest water levels in recorded history, hampering fishing success.  With neither El Nino or La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean this season we are anticipating good water conditions for the first time in 3 years!

The majority of Brazil’s Peacock Bass fishing river boat and lodge operations in the Rio Negro watershed operate within this 600 Kilometer (around 350 – 400 miles) stretch of the main Rio Negro River and its tributaries between Mora and Sao Gabriel.  Well of 50 river boat and yacht operators use Barcelos, located around 300 kilometers upriver from Manaus, as the origination point for their trips, as this is the only city centrally located on the upper Rio Negro that is large enough to resupply these operators with provisions and fuel.  There are a couple of outfitters operating out of Santa Isabel (“Tapuruquara” on the Amazon maps) and one or two operating out of Sao Gabriel on the extreme upper end of the Rio Negro.  Therefore, the most commonly fished areas in the upper Rio Negro watershed will be within a 150-kilometer radius of Barcelos & thus most fishermen will be concerned with water conditions between Mora and Santa Isabel.

​As you can see by the water levels graph for Barcelos, the wet season did not bring water levels up as high as it normally does and the highest water levels did not reach the levels of 2016, which were lower that the historic averages for June and July.  The graph also shows the water beginning to drop around 2 weeks earlier than it did last year which would be indicative of good water levels earlier in the fall than we experienced last season.  The problem during the 2016-2017 fishing season was that due to the La Nina conditions in the Pacific it began to rain in November and continued to rain thru February which is historically the dry season, flooding most all the Rio Negro and its tributaries. Thus, by the first of January, most the black water rivers in the upper Rio Negro watershed were unfishable.  What we are ideally looking for on the water level map of Barcelos is water levels between say 425 cm and 350 cm for good fishing conditions.  It is still very early to predict water levels for mid-October when water levels can begin to present decent conditions for fishing, but it looks at this point that the prospects are good.

Santa Isabel, located nearly 200 kilometers upriver from Manaus, does not offer the number of lakes and backwater oxbows nor does it have the extensive sandbars that the Barcelos area downriver does, but it does offer several black water tributaries that offer excellent Peacock Bass fishing.  Water levels stabilize at fishable levels earlier in the Santa Isabel area as it is further upriver than Barcelos and can produce good fishing in late September.  As you can see from the graph, water levels are falling quickly and have reached the same levels as 2016, two weeks earlier which is very encouraging. 

​San Gabriel is the western most area fished by Brazil’s Peacock Bass fishermen and experiences the least fishing pressure as it is nearly a 4-hour Caravan flight from Manaus.  Water levels in the San Gabriel area are usually fishable in mid-September and can be fishable into December.  Water levels are decending to fishable levels around 10 days earlier than last year.  Don’t be fooled by the elevation levels on the left side of the graph as San Gabriel is at higher elevation than the Barcleos and Santa Isabel areas are.

I have left Mora and Manaus last as they are not as indicative of water conditions in the prime Peacock Bass fishing waters of the upper Rio Negro as San Gabriel, Santa Isabel and Barcelos are since Mora and Manaus are downriver from the confluence of the Rio Negro and its major tributary, the Rio Branco.  The Rio Branco flows from the north out of Venezuela where the wet season lasts later into the year than in Columbia, which feeds the Rio Negro & thus water levels in Mora and Manaus will show much higher water levels than the areas upriver from the Rio Branco.  As you can see from the graphs for Mora and Manaus they are both reaching lower levels 7 to 10 day earlier than they did last year.  Many people look at water levels in Manaus when they are trying to ascertain water conditions for their Peacock Bass fishing trip and the water levels and trends in water levels in Manaus in no way reflect the water levels in the upper Rio Negro where the majority of Brazil’s Peacock Bass fishing takes place!

Without the effect of El Nino or La Nina on water temperature predicted for the Pacific Ocean this fall and winter we are anticipating normal historic water conditions in the upper Rio Negro watershed during the 2017-2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon.  This means water levels should be in good shape in mid to late September in the San Gabriel and Santa Isabel areas and in the Barcelos area by mid-October.  Historically water levels continue to fall until mid-December when the Amazon receives what is called the “Christmas Rains” for 2 or 3 weeks bringing up water levels which is advantageous and then water levels remain fairly stable or begin to slowly fall thru mid to late February when they begin to rise again.  Historically, the rainy season begins in earnest in March when water levels signal the end to the fishing.  Water conditions in Brazil’s southern fishery in the Rio Madeira watershed in July and August of this year have been at normal historic levels and Peacock Bass fishing has been outstanding as reported by River Plate Anglers fishing their exclusive Marmelos River fishery.  We are anticipating an excellent fishing season on the upper Rio Negro and Rio Branco watersheds as well this year after two years of disappointing water conditions across Brazil’s Amazon due to El Nino and La Nina.  THE 2017-2018 PEACOCK BASS FISHING SEASON HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF A BANNER YEAR, COME JOIN US IN BRAZIL’S AMAZON!

​www.peacock-bass-fishing.com
Fly-In Peacock Bass Fishing at its Best!
FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST

Marmelos River   Dry Zone #1 SE
Rio Madershed, Brazil
16 August 2017​

​Water levels remain ideal on the Marmelos River, River Plate Angler’s exclusive Peacock Bass fishery located in the Tenhiram Indian Reservation south of Manaus in the Rio Madeira watershed, producing the huge numbers of Peacock Bass these fisheries are known for.  Last week anglers fishing at River Plate’s mobile Safari Camp AVERAGED 45 Peacock Bass per day/person up to nearly 21 lbs for the 6 ½ days of fishing they enjoyed with 50+ of these fish weighing 10 lbs or better!  The Marmelos River in our southern fishery continues to produce large numbers of Peacock Bass as well as Trairas, Piranhas, Jacunda, Surubim Catfish & Bicudas. 

The group of anglers fishing this week, August 12 – 19, have landed an average of 90 Peacocks per person during their first 2 ½ days of fishing.  Weather reports are calling for little rain this week and water levels should remain ideal for the foreseeable future.  Jumping Minnows have remained the most productive top water lure, with Perversa’s, Repala’s and jigs being the preferred subsurface baits.  Fly fishermen & women have done very well the last month, some experiencing catches of over 100 Peacocks per day!  Many fly fishermen have elevated a quest for Peacock Bass in Brazil’s Amazon to the top of their bucket list as word has spread about the Peacocks willingness to strike flies and their monster fighting ability when hooked.  8 & 9 wt fly rods with sinking tip fly lines and 30 – 40 lb tippets are the ideal size fly fishing equipment for the fly fisherman going after Brazil’s trophy sized Peacock Bass.
​

The 2017-2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon is looking to be one of the better ones in the last several as water levels seem to be returning to historic levels after last two years that experienced both historic lows during the 2015-2016 and historic highs during the 2016-2017 fishing seasons.  We still have a few open spots remaining for the 2017-2018 fishing season that are going fast on the private Indian lands and government reserves in all 4 Dry Zones we enjoy exclusive sport fishing rights on.  Let us know if we can hook you up with the true remote “fly-in” Peacock Bass fishing trip you have always dreamed of.
​

​FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST
Fishing Brazil’s Amazon Since 1992
www-peacock-bass-fishing.com

​The 2017-2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon begun with big numbers of Peacock Bass being boated on River Plate’s exclusive fishery on the Marmelos River in the Tenharim Indian Reservation in the Rio Madeira watershed located about 400 miles south of Manaus.  The first week of the 2017 Peacock Bass fishing season 3 anglers caught 1,035 Peacock Bass, the largest weighing 16 lbs. 
 
This past week, July 22 – 29, 4 anglers boated a total of 871 Peacock Bass, the largest being a 17 lb’er, with 102 of those 871 Peacocks Bass weighed between 8 & 16 lbs!  Water levels are reaching their optimum and after historically high water levels in July and August of 2016, catches on the Marmelos are back to their historic high numbers with a good number of big fish being landed.  Chopp minnow were the most effective bait for the conventional fishermen and brightly colored streamers were effective for the fly fishermen.
 
The first 2 ½ days of fishing for the group of anglers this week, July 29 – August 5, have produced 24 Peacock Bass over 10 lbs with the largest weighing a little over 18 lbs.  Water conditions are ideal and weather forecasts indicate water levels should remain steady for the week.  This Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon is starting off with good water levels and has all the makings for a great year!

We still have a few openings on select dates for the 2017 – 2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in both our southern fisheries in Dry Zones #1 & 2 from August thru early October and in the northern fisheries in Dry Zones # 3 & 4 in the Rio Negro and Rio Branco watershed. Here is a link where you can watch a short video that outlines the availability of fishing in 4 distinct Dry Zones in Brazil’s Amazon, and why we fish each during a particular time of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CW0WOvf3Wo&list=PL64Yq5BwddVFmBAVNwrw4mUc5pwwRMQ91&index=4
​

FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST!
Fishing Brazil’s Amazon Since 1992
www-peacock-bass-fishing.com

​The Peacock Bass fishing has been stellar at the beginning or the season in the Southeast Dry Zone #1 in Brazil’s Amazon.  The first week of the season, July 15 – 22, there were 2 fishermen using conventional tackle and one fly fisherman at our Safari Camp on the Marmelos River, boating 1,035 Peacock Bass with the largest weighing 16 lbs!  This comes to an average of 53 Peacocks caught per day per angler!  During the 8 years I managed the American offices for two of the largest mother boat operations on the upper Rio Negro, a catch of 1,000 Peacocks for a group of 12 – 16 anglers in a week’s fishing was considered a good week!  Water levels are descending in our exclusive southern fishery on the Marmelos River south of Manaus, as is normal for this time of year and the fishing is outstanding. 
 
In the first 2 ½ days of fishing this week, July 22 – 29, our current clients have averaged 72 Peacocks landed per angler with the largest being a 17 lb’er.  Jumping Minnows have been the most productive top lure with the Yellow and Red Mickey Finn pattern being the most productive fly used.  After two years of abnormal water levels everything is pointing to the 2017-2018 fishing season as being one of historically normal years.  River Plate Anglers exclusive fisheries in both our southern and northern fisheries allow us to manage the number of anglers on the water at any given time and the length we fish a given area, greatly enhancing the daily catches for our anglers.  This is what makes River Plate Anglers stand alone among the Peacock Bass outfitters in Brazil’s Amazon. We cater to small groups of 6 to 12 anglers/week at our Fly-In, mobile safari camps fishing on over 8 million acres of private Indian lands and government preserves with over 1,000 miles of black water tributaries flowing thru them where we enjoy exclusive fishing rights.

FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST
Fishing the Amazon Since 1992
www.peacock-bass-fishing.com 

​20 July 2017

​The Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon has begun in River Plate’s exclusive fishery on the Marmelos River in Dry Zone S. East (Dry Zone #1) located in the Rio Madeira watershed south of Manaus.  The first group on anglers arrived Saturday, 15 July and although the water was a little higher than optimum they are descending steadily enabling clients to land the large numbers of fish our southern fishery is known for.  Tuesday, one boat with two anglers boated 183 Peacock Bass weighing upwards of 16 lbs with a good number of fish over 12 lbs.  Anglers also caught Tambaqui, Caras & Piranha.  Top water action was excellent and fly fishermen were successful using the old standby pattern, the red and yellow Mickey Finn streamer.
 
Last season the water levels in the Rio Madeira watershed were at historic lows and fishing success suffered in late July, August, September and early October when we fish our exclusive fisheries on the Marmelos, Matupiri & Igapo Acu Rivers south of Manaus.  This year the water levels are looking to be ideal and we expect the early season Peacock Bass fishing in Southeast and Southwest Dry Zones (#1 & #2) to produce the big numbers of Peacock Bass this early season southern fishery has long been known for.  Most of the Peacock Bass fishing pressure takes place in the upper Rio Negro from October thru February, located 250 – 400 miles north west of Manaus on public water where 50+ mother boats and cruise ships exert heavy pressure on the Peacock Bass fishing resources.  River Plate in contrast, leases over 8 million acres of indigenous Indian lands and government preserves, enjoying exclusive fishing rights on those lands in the Rio Madeira, Rio Negro and Rio Branco watersheds where they can manage the fishing pressure and thus the Peacock Bass fishing resources providing the type of unpressured Peacock Bass fishing experience we did in the 1990s.
 
Peacock Bass fishing in Brazil’s Amazon is evolving much like Alaska did 40 years ago when the easy to get to waters became heavily pressured, fishing success plummeted and the trophy fishing experience became oriented around the remote fly-in lodges.  Today, Brazil’s trophy Peacock Bass fishing experience has become oriented around the “fly-in” remote floating, mobile Safari Camps fishing private Indian lands and government preserves on the black water tributaries to the major river systems frequented by the large “navy” of large and small mother boat operations.  If you are looking for the “true Amazon Peacock Bass fishing experience,” contact us and let us show you what the Amazon’s remote “fly-in” fishing experience for small groups of 6 – 12 fishermen is all about.

FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST!
Fishing The Amazon Since 1992
www.peacock-bass-fishing.com