Amazon Fishing Advice

[AlbertAlbuquerque]

Me and some friends are wanting to go fish in the Amazon sometime in 2026 or early 2027. We're really wanting to get somewhere remote down there but also have some good fishing. It's been tough to find more than a handful of operators there and even tougher to find reviews of them. Some have looked good but it's hard to tell how far from the main towns they go. Does anyone have a good outfitter they can recommend? Those who have been would you recommend Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, etc..? Any recommendations or advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

[deewayne2003]

The thing about fishing the Amazon is that your success is dependent on the water level, if you are staying at a lodge and the river is 2' higher than normal - YOUR SCREWED!

If your living and fishing on a boat then the boat simply moves to a better area.

Me and 6 friends went with Ron Speed Jr. on their amazon peacock bass fishing trip aboard the Otter river boat and had a great time.

I will warn you though, Bill Mullins the booking agent is a bit of an idiot and we had to deal with several issues regarding his communication skills ..... or lack there of.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

@gizmo

 

[AlbertAlbuquerque]

The thing about fishing the Amazon is that your success is dependent on the water level, if you are staying at a lodge and the river is 2' higher than normal - YOUR SCREWED!

If your living and fishing on a boat then the boat simply moves to a better area.

Me and 6 friends went with Ron Speed Jr. on their amazon peacock bass fishing trip aboard the Otter river boat and had a great time.

I will warn you though, Bill Mullins the booking agent is a bit of an idiot and we had to deal with several issues regarding his communication skills ..... or lack there of.

Thank you! I'll give him a call. That definitely makes sense to stay on a boat instead of a lodge, I hadn't thought about how much the water levels could change down there.

 

[Safari Dave]

I fished with these folks a few years ago.

Amazon River PEACOCK BASS Fishing | Nomadic Waters

We book extraordinary Peacock Bass fishing trips in the Brazilian Amazon River region – because everyone deserves to hold adventure in the palm of their hand. Preview a trip at NomadicWaters.com today!

www.nomadicwaters.com

Had a GREAT trip!

 

[AlbertAlbuquerque]

I fished with these folks a few years ago.

Amazon River PEACOCK BASS Fishing | Nomadic Waters

We book extraordinary Peacock Bass fishing trips in the Brazilian Amazon River region – because everyone deserves to hold adventure in the palm of their hand. Preview a trip at NomadicWaters.com today!

www.nomadicwaters.com

Had a GREAT trip!

Thank you! I'll check them out too

 

[Beretta391]

One thing to remember about going to the Amazon is it’s Hot!! Have you ever been to New Orleans in August??? It’s cool in New Orleans compared to the Amazon!!! We went once. Was a good trip. Went with Acute Angling. On our way home from a trip the wife and I always critique the trip. Last question is always do we want to do that again and the answer was No! We live in East Texas where it is hot and humid in the summer. We naively thought can’t be any hotter than here!! We were Wrong!!!

 

[jasyblood]

I've been 5 times. 4 trips to Brazil and 1 trip to Venezuela(sketchiest place I've ever been).

In Brazil, I've fished twice with Ron Speed SR/JR on the Otter and twice with Acute Angling on their Blackwater Explorer between 2009 and 2015. Between the two, I would give the edge to RSJ because of the knowledge of the fishing guides and the Otter is a much nicer/bigger mothership.

Another outfitter that I haven't fished with, but know several people that have is Capt Peacock. They run extremely nice equipment and have excellent guides, but you do pay a premium for that.

All the above leave out of the same port(Barcelos) on the Rio Negro, so you're all fishing the same water along with several other outfitters. This is one of the reasons I haven't been back in a while. Just when you think you're in the middle of no where, you round a bend in the river and there's two more boats fishing the same water.

If I were to go back(and I have been considering it), I'd book with an outfitter that has exclusive rights to an area. This is usually tribal land that the outfitter has negotiated exclusive rights to fish. It's more expensive, but would be worth it to me to keep out the riff-raff.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

 

[AlbertAlbuquerque]

One thing to remember about going to the Amazon is it’s Hot!! Have you ever been to New Orleans in August??? It’s cool in New Orleans compared to the Amazon!!! We went once. Was a good trip. Went with Acute Angling. On our way home from a trip the wife and I always critique the trip. Last question is always do we want to do that again and the answer was No! We live in East Texas where it is hot and humid in the summer. We naively thought can’t be any hotter than here!! We were Wrong!!!

Haha I've been in the Atlanta area for the past few years but I'll have to hit the sauna to prepare for that!

 

[AlbertAlbuquerque]

I've been 5 times. 4 trips to Brazil and 1 trip to Venezuela(sketchiest place I've ever been).

In Brazil, I've fished twice with Ron Speed SR/JR on the Otter and twice with Acute Angling on their Blackwater Explorer between 2009 and 2015. Between the two, I would give the edge to RSJ because of the knowledge of the fishing guides and the Otter is a much nicer/bigger mothership.

Another outfitter that I haven't fished with, but know several people that have is Capt Peacock. They run extremely nice equipment and have excellent guides, but you do pay a premium for that.

All the above leave out of the same port(Barcelos) on the Rio Negro, so you're all fishing the same water along with several other outfitters. This is one of the reasons I haven't been back in a while. Just when you think you're in the middle of no where, you round a bend in the river and there's two more boats fishing the same water.

If I were to go back(and I have been considering it), I'd book with an outfitter that has exclusive rights to an area. This is usually tribal land that the outfitter has negotiated exclusive rights to fish. It's more expensive, but would be worth it to me to keep out the riff-raff.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

Thank you, that's good to know about the crowding. I knew it was somewhat popular but I didn't know it was like that. I'll have to do some more research and see if I can find someone with an exclusive area with decent rates. Seems like the most remote areas have permanent lodges so I guess it'd be a gamble with the water levels. I messaged Tamandua Expeditions (Paul Rosolie's company in Peru) just to see what they could do and they said they'll get us in an extremely remote area but they don't really specialize in fishing. We might end up going with them just for the experience but it would also be nice to catch some quality fish so we'll see.

 

[Brod]

they said they'll get us in an extremely remote area but they don't really specialize in fishing.

Curious... what is it they do specialize in extremely remote areas??

 

[Jason Miller]

I just got back a week ago, and as someone stated it was HOT! I mean real hot, I tend to hunt and fish alone or without an outfitter so went to an area I visited last June around Porto Trombetta,

Lots of amazing fishing, Nights were brutal as we were roughing it in open hammocks and it didn’t cool down enough for me to sleep until around 2 am. Spent five days on the boat and camping in local jungle villages. Anyway, I have friends who are affiliated and guides for Nomadic Waters and also know the owner. Great outfitter and highly recommended. If you want to rough it on a budget, I will be back in August before the water level drops.

 

[Jason Miller]

Curious... what is it they do specialize in extremely remote areas??

The lead expeditions, wildlife / eco travel

 

[Hogpatrol]

If you're just looking for peacock bass fishing, Panama's another option. They may not be as big as in the Amazon but I caught many in Lake Gatun and the Chagres river when I lived in Gamboa. They hit just about anything. I see there are charters available. Lots of other things to do and probably better sleeping quarters.

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