Planning a Peacock Fishing Trip? Here's How to Avoid a $5,000 Dissapointment

© Larry Larson

Peacock bass are big, bad and angry, and fuel the dreams of many an angler. They live in hidden lagoons in the remote reaches of the Amazon basin and attack topwater plugs with shocking ferocity. Once hooked, they can take to the air six or seven times, all the while stripping line off heavy-duty tackle. Peacock dreams are awesome, but they can be costly. If you're going to spend $5,000 on a fishing trip, the dreams better come at least partially true. What's the secret to having a great peacock trip? Like anything, being in the right place at the right time with the right knowledge and gear makes all the difference. The more you know ahead of time about booking agents, logistics, accommodations and the fishing, the more likely your peacock dreams will come true.

Location, Location, Location

The Amazon River watershed in South America is the place to go if you're after trophy-size peacock bass. There are 11 major tributaries, all of which are larger than the Mississippi River. The basin is so massive that fishing outfitters and operations only access about five percent of the available waters. The two tributaries that get the most attention right now are the Rio Negro and Rio Madeira. Most of the fishing on these rivers is in Brazil, but a few operations also exist in Venezuela and other countries in South America. No single trip will meet the expectations of every angler. Many excursions travel to remote areas where fishing is a priority over comfort, while others have great accommodations but compromised fishing. In addition to lodges, there are mothership operations that explore Amazon tributaries and access some great waters. Fly-in mobile barge camps in very remote areas also provide excellent options. In general, a remote river system with plenty of "blackwater" lagoons will offer the best opportunities for big peacock bass. Operations on easier to reach rivers with heavy boat traffic usually offer less productive fishing.

The Amazon River watershed in South America is the place to go if you're after trophy-size peacock bass. There are 11 major tributaries, all of which are larger than the Mississippi River. The basin is so massive that fishing outfitters and operations only access about five percent of the available waters. The two tributaries that get the most attention right now are the Rio Negro and Rio Madeira. Most of the fishing on these rivers is in Brazil, but a few operations also exist in Venezuela and other countries in South America. No single trip will meet the expectations of every angler. Many excursions travel to remote areas where fishing is a priority over comfort, while others have great accommodations but compromised fishing. In addition to lodges, there are mothership operations that explore Amazon tributaries and access some great waters. Fly-in mobile barge camps in very remote areas also provide excellent options. In general, a remote river system with plenty of "blackwater" lagoons will offer the best opportunities for big peacock bass. Operations on easier to reach rivers with heavy boat traffic usually offer less productive fishing.

Timing Low Water

Low water is key to good peacock fishing. Water levels in the jungle fluctuate greatly. This makes planning crucial. When waters are high, the river may spread half a mile or more into the jungle. Peacocks disperse into the forest in search of food, and are very difficult to find. Low water, on the other hand, pulls fish out of the forest and concentrates them in lagoons and oxbows adjacent to the river. These areas often have a combination of sandbars, flooded timber, deadfalls, points, rocks and creek inlets.

The dry and rainy seasons vary from one region to another throughout South America. In the southernmost section of Brazil's Amazon watershed, the dry season is generally from June to October. In the central region, on tributaries like the Rio Madeira, it generally runs from September through November. In Northern Brazil, on tributaries like the popular Rio Negro north of the main Amazon River (and in southern Venezuela), the dry season occurs from mid-October to early April.

Check with your agent a week or two prior to the trip to get the latest water level conditions. A good agent or outfitter will offer an option to postpone the trip if waters are too high for successful fishing.
Even if you have planned the trip a year in advance, it is best to reschedule if you can. Remember, "dry" is a relative term. It's still going to rain, and water levels will fluctuate. Four or five days of rain will cause a small river to rise six or seven feet. Such times are hard to predict, but the fishing will usually be poor. Sometimes there's just nothing you can do about it.

Preplanning and Booking Your Peacock Fishing Trip

Part of your trip success will depend on finding the best booking agent for your goals. Agents vary in professionalism, efficiency and service. Find out if they handle all air arrangements and ground transfers, and get a list of references of paying guests from them if available. Booking agents may represent several "styles" of trips, from remote to luxurious. They need to know your expectations and desires in order to place you on the most appropriate trip. There is key information you need before putting your money down with an agent. You should know the maximum camp, lodge and boat capacity so you will know the "crowd" factor. Some operations have eight or 10 anglers, while others have 20 or more fishing the same waters. Know the agent's reservation deposit, balance due and cancellation/refund policies and find out if there are any charter flight weight restrictions on luggage. Most operations offer laundry service, which allows you to pack light.

You also need to get details regarding the trip experience. Find out the specifics of your entire itinerary and what is included in the cost before you book the trip. You should know the trip length, flight departure/ arrival times, ground transfers and additional domestic/charter flights, and any hotel/meal requirements. You should also know the number of fishing days, how the fishing boats are equipped, and the guides' fishing experience and language abilities. Make sure you are comfortable with the type of living facilities (fixed lodge, mobile houseboat/yacht or barge-tent camp) and find out how the facility is appointed (bed types, showers, toilets, power supply and air conditioning). Other key factors are meal schedules, and whether the facility has potable water and ice, and/or bottled water. 

Understanding the Unique Peacock Fish

The word "bass" is misleading. Peacocks are actually in the cichlid family. Their topwater strikes may remind you of bass fishing, but that doesn't mean you should employ bass strategies.

Butterfly bass and smaller peacocks will live in the moving water of the river, but the truly large three-bar peacock bass haunt the backwaters off the river. In these lagoons they stake out territories that may stretch 100 to 200 yards along the shoreline and out into the open water. Disturb their peace in that specific area and your plug may get slammed! Smaller peacocks may hide in shoreline cover, but the larger fish are often caught in relatively open water. I've caught 40 percent of my big fish toward the middle of lagoons, while another 20 percent or so came from at least 25 feet off the bank. The rest were caught when I noticed bait disturbances.

Peacocks, even monster 20-pounders, will travel in pods of two or three similarly sized fish. That's why double hookups are common. If you've caught two big fish, move on to the next section of the lagoon. That said, smaller five-pound fish may travel in schools of 20 or more. You may have a chance to catch 10 to 15 fish in one area.

Peacocks spawn twice in a low water season. They build nests and tend not to feed while spawning. Spawning should not adversely affect a trip though, in that peacocks don't spawn en masse. There are always active fish around, even if a few are spawning.  

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