The Best Fly Fishing in Brazil
Fly Fishing Brazil
The maze of waterways throughout Brazil are home to dozens of gamefish for visiting anglers to target. The river systems of the Amazon basin are broad and comprise a wide variety of habitat for the aquatic species that call its waters home. From the delta to lowland swamps and flood plains, to the deep jungle and high elevation mountain streams, there is something for everyone. Anglers looking for seclusion will find it here. Apapas, Payara, Piranha, Arapaima, Bicudas, Redtail Catfish, and over a dozen species of Peacock Bass are some of the most popular fishing targets in Brazil.
Peacock Bass Fly Fishing
The Açu Peacock Bass (left) is the most sought after game species in all of Brazil. Aggressive eats and hard fights are the norm for this jungle dweller. Watersheds such as the Rio Marie, Rio Novo, Uatuma River, Tocantins River, and Xeriuini River have healthy peacock bass populations. Other Peacock Bass species, such as the Butterfly and Azul (right) do not reach the sizes of the Acu but are often more vibrantly colored throughout the year. Large topwater flies and streamers are a must when targeting peacock bass. Bright colors will pull fish from cover even in the dirtiest water.
Sardinatas Fishing
Sardinatas or Apapas are another aggressive jungle fish species targeted by visiting anglers. Falling somewhere in between an overgrown shad and a undersized tarpon in terms of looks, good hooks are a must when penetrating their tough mouths. Flashy streamers do an excellent job drawing the attention of Sardinatas. Once hooked up, these fish are acrobatic and powerful fighters. Sardinata are found throughout the Amazon basin of Brazil as well as other headwater tributaries in Venezuela and Bolivia.
Payara Fly Fishing
The Payara or Vampire Fish is one of the gnarliest looking fish in the Amazon. Aptly named for its ferocious fangs, the Payara is another ferocious carnivore of the amazon. While smaller individuals can be found high in the jungle rivers, larger individuals take advantage of the bigger waters downstream where prey is more abundant. Whether they are occupying the larger or smaller waters, Payara gravitate to faster water. With their lethal weapons for teeth, Payara often make one or two killing swipes on their first pass of the fly before returning to truly eat.
Redtail Catfish Fly Fishing
The Redtail Catfish may not be the most aggressive fish in the Amazon, but these behemoths can certainly put up a fight. Slow moving streamers bounced around the bottom of deep pools are effective majority of the time. When prey is readily available the Redtail Catfish will pull into the faster waters and feed on moving baits with more abandon.
Golden Dorado Fly Fishing
The Golden Dorado brings anglers from all over the world to South America. Dorado can be found anywhere from the smallest mountain streams to the largest rivers of central Brazil. The largest individuals come from the bigger rivers, such as the Rio Manso in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Large streamers and surface flies will fool these fish most days. The golden dorado here are constantly on the move, so covering water is key to finding success.
Tocantins River Fly Fishing
The Tocantins River is renown as one of the best fisheries in all of Brazil, but is discussed little amungst the international community. Most international anglers travel to Brazil to fish for Peacock Bass Açu in the States of Amazonas and Roraima, therefore missing the opportunity to target the variety of species like the Apapás (aka Sardinatas), Payaras (aka Vampire fish), Redtail Catfish, other species of Peacock Bass, such as the "Azul", and other fishes found in the Tocantins. This well kept secret found in the Central-West and North Regions of Brazil produces trophy quality fish of all of these species. Not a small area, the Tocantins-Araguaia River Basin has a drainage basin of more than 300,000 square miles, an area larger than the State of Texas. Fisheries in the lower stretches and headwaters hide tremendous opportunities for adventurous anglers.
The Tocantins River headwaters is located in the state of Goiás, not far from Brasília (the Capital of Brazil), where it runs mostly northwards to discharge in the Pará River, South of the Marajó Island, after running through three states for over 1,500 miles (around 2,400 km). Because the Tocantins River does not discharge directly into the main stem of the Amazon River, some experts do not consider it as part of the Amazon Basin, which is debatable.
The Araguaia River is one of the larger rivers of Brazil and a tributary of the Tocantins river. Its headwaters is located in the Brazilian Highlands in the state of Mato Grosso from where it will run mostly North/Northeast-bound for about 1,600 miles (2,600 km) until it reaches the Tocantins River.
These rivers are not always navigable or wadable, and the access points are not always public. There are some public parks by the rivers though, from which you can wade from the beach. There are also some few public boat ramps in different state of conservation, just make sure you hire a knowledgeable and reliable pilot/guide, as these rivers can be rocky and some stretches of water can be pretty rough.
Manso River Fly Fishing
The Rio Manso is one of the most prolific Golden Dorado fisheries in the World. Known for producing some of the largest Golden Dorado in all of South America, the river regularly produces fish in the 20 pound range. The Manso runs through the state of Mato Grosso, which has protected the Dorado for over a decade in effort to create a world class fishery. The fishing season is open to anglers from February to September with May and September being the best months for fishing.
DIY Fly Fishing Brazil
For those not looking to spend a full week in the jungle, visiting anglers can start their adventure in the city of Palmas, the capital of the Tocantins State. The State of Tocantins is the newest State in Brazil and Palmas is a safe city with descent infrastructure, including a major airport and several car rentals companies. From there, the easiest fishing destination is right around the corner; since the Tocantins River runs just by the city of Palmas. Anglers here can target payara, peacocks, pacu, and sardinatas from from shore with some luck. Hiring a local guide with a boat is always a good idea for better performance. Simple day trips are a convenience for those looking to pass through. On Nearby Lago de Palmas, anglers can find Azul Peacock Bass, Wolf Fish, Payaras and Apapas.
If you are looking for a one or two-day trip, the Lagoa da Confusão (Lake of Confusion) is only 144 miles (232 km) or a 3-hour drive away. Confusao is home to azul peacocks as well as piranha, aruanas, and arapaima. This lake is Southwest of Palmas and about half-way to the Araguaia River and Ilha do Bananal. A fun fact, Ilha do Bananal, this is the largest fluvial island in the world (partially pertaining to the Araguaia National Park), and an awesome fishing destination, by the Araguaia River or the Ariari river.
Two other excellent multi-day destinations can be found about a 4-hour drive from Palmas. One is located by the little town of Peixe, where you can fish directly on the Tocantins River; and the other is on the lake above it, just a half-hour drive away. On the river, you will find hard-fighting fish like the Apapás and Payaras, while on the lake you will find lots of Peacock Bass Azul, some at record breaking size. Being able to sight-fish for them is always an advantage, which is possible most days outside of the rainy season.
Brazil Fishing Seasons
The fishing season varies depending on where you want to fish, but in general fishing is great yearlong, with the exception of the winter months of June, July and August when rain and colder weather stifles the bite from time to time. In some locations, fishing is not allowed during spawning periods from November to February, but there are still plenty of opportunities in these months.
Brazillian Wildlife
Fishing aside, this entire region is special for many reasons. When fishing you are likely to spot blue macaws and Toucans, pink dolphins, monkeys and giant otters. Lucky anglers may even spot an occasional sloth or jaguar. The jungle is home to hundreds of other birds and reptiles for seekers of Brazil's macrofauna.
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Guided Fly Fishing Expeditions in Brazil
To truly get off the grid and experience the most remote reaches of the Amazon and the Brazilian Rainforest, week long hosted trips are the way to go. Peach Fishing and Adventures offer just this at several locations across Brazil. Depending on your target species of choice or where you would like to go at region you would like to visit. Eduardo, a native Brazilian, has been fishing these waters for decades. His hosted trips assure that anglers are appropriately accommodated, see plenty of fishing success, and of course, make it back safely. Trips are available for all the species mentioned in this article.