Amazon Peacock Bass Fishing - Brazil

Rio Negro - Flies or Lures

River Plate Anglers - Floating Cabins

Since 2002, the Brazilian authorities have granted River Plate Anglers exclusive entry permits to fish river systems that flow through Indian reserves and government preserves. Over the last two decades, River Plate has perfected the floating cabin system to fish the Amazon River for peacock bass. River Plate now offer 12 exclusive rivers. River Plate has earned and kept its Exclusive Entry Permits for more than 20 years by funding and implementing a variety of assistance programs for local communities and tribes, collectively called the Community Base Preservation Management Program (CBPMP).




Peacock Bass Fishing - Private Waters

Rio Negro fishing

River Plate's Fishing Season:  runs from June through February, which are low-water months in the Amazon Basin when 70 to 80% of the flooded jungle dries up, concentrating peacock bass to two to three percent of the area they usually inhabit.
The River Plate Advantage:  Water Levels are key to fishing the Amazon. Rivers in the Amazon do not dry up at the same time. There are four distinct rainfall Season-Zones across the roughly 1,000-mile swath of the Amazon where most of the good peacock bass fishing occurs. River Plate has exclusive rights to fish 12 rivers. They are able to select the best water levels of their ten private rivers within a vast 1,000-mile wilderness. They have been watching and perfecting this system for years and have backup plans in case of rainfall anomalies.


12 Private Rivers in the Rio Negro System

Rio Negro fishing

Group Size:  River Plate operates six fly-in safari floating River Trains, eight anglers per camp.
Species:  Peacock bass are the main attraction, but other hard-fighting species include the pacu, catfish, piranha, jacunda, pirarucu, bicuda, and more. Catfishing is popular in the evenings, and they have equipment you can use, but you'll need to find bait.
Peacock Bass:  Their explosive topwater strike, combined with an astonishing ability to break heavy lines/leaders and straighten even stout saltwater hooks, makes peacock bass one of the most sought-after species in the Amazon basin. Peacock Bass are very territorial, which is why commercial or sportfishing can rapidly over-fish popular areas.
The Marmelos River reopened to fishing in 2017. River Plate has exclusive fishing rights to the Marmelos River (south of Manaus), fishing there from mid-July through August. Before this agreement, the Marmelos had not been fished in four years.
Uneuixi/Roçado Fishery - Click here to visit the page.

Fishing Facts:

Angler with X-arge Three-Bar Peacock Bass

Fishing Season:  runs from June through February, which are low-water months in the Amazon Basin when 70 to 80% of the flooded jungle dries up, concentrating peacock bass to two to three percent of the area they usually inhabit.
Boats:  21 ft. all-welded aluminum shallow-draft bass tunnel boats with 40 HP outboard motors, trolling motor, high-back swivel seats, fishing platforms… and light enough to navigate the shallow sandbars. Two anglers per boat and guide. Most of their fisheries are narrow, well-defined rivers. It's almost impossible for the guides to get lost.
Guides:  Carefully trained local guides are very familiar with the Amazon. They speak very little English. Many have guided with River Plate for over 15 years. River Plate sponsors a very thorough guide training program.
Equipment:  River Plate provides baitcasting and spin tackle, including heavy and mid-action TFO rods, Shimano reels, and all lures except jigs. Equipment is subject to a $100.00 loss or breakage fee.

Typical Fishing Day:
6:30 a.m. - The staff will walk by the floating suites to make sure you’re up.
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast is served.
7:30 a.m. - Your guide is ready to leave. You’ll fish the whole river and its adjacent lagoons while the floating suites navigate to unfished river segments. (The camp is moved 1-2 times per week.)
Midday - You’ll return to the cabins for lunch and a nap or enjoy a traditional asado (BBQ) on the beach and fish until late afternoon.
At about 5:00 p.m. - You'll return to camp. Sit in the river in a chair with water up to your neck and wind down with a snack in one hand and a traditional Brazilian Caipirinha in the other.
8:00 p.m. Dinner is served.

Floating Mobile Cabins

Rio Negro floating cabins

Floating Cabins:  During your trip, the floating cabins are often moved to new, unfished waters. These deluxe, shallow-draft floating cabins can bypass shallow water and sandbars. Mobility is key to exceptional peacock bass fishing. Drawing only four inches of water, the floating cabins navigate past shallow-water natural barriers.
The 12 x 15 ft. air-conditioned cabins provide comfort and style with 110 and 220 electricity and a private bathroom with a shower. Comfortable twin-size beds or queen-size beds for single or double occupancy. Their staff of 14 and bilingual host offer personalized, hands-on attention. Free daily laundry service.
Meals:  You'll have a cooked breakfast in the dining cabin. You'll take a packed lunch with you on the boat. Four-course dinners feature fresh fish, beef, or chicken with regional sides.
Alcohol:  Chilled wines, ice-cold beer, soft drinks, and Brazilian-style margaritas are included.
Communications:  Satellite phone calls are $5.00 per minute.

24-hour 110 AC and Private Bathrooms

Two Twin Beds and Views From Floating Cabins

Chilled Wines, Ice-Cold Beer, Soft Drinks...

Guide Pouring Wine for Angler Sitting on Deck of Floating Cabin

Getting to the Floating Cabins:

Most guests fly from Miami to Manaus, Brazil, a five-hour flight. You’ll fly to Manaus on a Friday. A River Plate representative will drive you to a 4 or 5-star hotel in Manaus for your overnight stay, a 10 to 20-minute drive. You'll have an early breakfast at the hotel before departing from the hotel at 6:00 to 6:30 a.m. for the floatplane flight to one of their six River Train camps. (Parties of six or eight anglers.) Flights vary from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the river to be fished. You'll unpack, attend a brief orientation, eat a quick lunch, and fish all afternoon. (The package includes one hotel night in Manaus and a roundtrip floatplane flight. There is a strictly enforced luggage weight limit of 30 pounds on all floatplane flights. Check-in luggage must be packed in soft duffle bags with no rigid bottoms.)


2024 and 2025 USD Rates:

7-nights and 6.5-days guided fishing:
(6-nights at camp and one hotel night in Manaus)
Two anglers per cabin $5,990.00 per person
One angler per cabin $6,490.00 per person
Premium Fisheries:
Rocado River - October - November:
$6,990.00 per person
Itapara River - November 2024 - February 2025
$6,490.00 per person

5-nights and 4.5-days guided fishing:
(4-nights at camp and one hotel night in Manaus)
Two anglers per cabin $4,990.00 per person
One angler per cabin $5,490.00 per person

The Packages Include:

• All fishing in exclusive remote Private River’s.
• Roundtrip floatplane flights between Manaus and camp
• Two anglers per guide-operated, 21-foot, fully equipped bass boat
• All meals at fishing destination, including wine, beer, and hard liquor.
• Daily laundry and maid service at camp.
• All necessary ground transfers in Manaus as per itinerary.
• One night in a 4- or 5-star hotel in Manaus on arrival,
  and a day room on departure day.
• Use of baitcasting and spin tackle, including heavy
  and mid-action TFO rods, Shimano reels, and all lures except jigs.
• Fishing license
• Wi-Fi service in the hotel
• Limited Wi-Fi in Camp
• Upon request, our 65-page eBook Fly-Fishing for Peacock Bass
  by Larry and Guy Schoenborn

The Packages Do Not Include:

• International airfare to Manaus, and return
• Suggested gratuities to camp staff ($250) and fishing guides ($250).
• Fly-fishing tackle, flies, and catfishing rigs.
• Satellite phone calls ($5 per minute).
• Food and beverages in Manaus.
• Extra hotel nights.
• Special airport transfers when not arriving/departing with the group.
• Tours, shopping trips, and items of a personal nature.
• A Brazilian eVisa is required as of 04/01/2024.
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
• Fishing with Larry now adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions as of December 10, 2020.

River Plate Anglers

Gary with Large Peacock Bass

Gary, our Client, with Large Peacock Bass

Gary with Large Catfish, Too

River Plate Catfishing

Gary and Lynn with River Plate Double

Two Anglers with Peacock Bass

Three Kinds of Peacock Bass:

Peacock bass species

Fly Fishing for Peacock Bass eBook on Amazon

Fly Fishing for Peacock Bass

Eric Schoenborn's Recap:

"River Plate Outfitters allows all fishing methods at its camps, including topwater, shallow lures, jigs, and flies. Many people set their expectations based on shows they’ve watched and typically have high expectations for watching giant peacocks crash their topwater presentations. The truth is that while fishing topwater makes for good TV, strikes on topwater gear are often more difficult than other methods. When a topwater strike happens, it will make your jaw drop as the sound of a giant Peacock hitting the lure sounds something like a 55-gallon drum dropped off a ten-story building into the water where your lure used to be.
Topwater lures consist mostly of wood chopper-type lures, which make an incredible amount of noise and splash as they are worked through the water. Lures like Zara Spooks, Rat’ln Walk, and jumping minnows walked on the top in a rhythmic motion produce good results. The most productive technique for peacocks in all of my trips has been using weighted flies. Peacocks are a suspended fish that use cover to ambush minnows. These minnows can be imitated with flies, and when retrieved quickly with a sinking line, the results are deadly. Along with flies, weighted jig heads, tied with rattles, flash, and synthetics, also imitate baitfish and can be very productive as well. Another tool in the tackle box is shallow diving lures such as the Yo-Zuri I mentioned above."
- Eric Schoenborn

Fishing Travel Experts


Guy Schoenborn

1-800-205-3474 ext. 1

MT Office:  406-322-5709

Email:  guy@fishingwithlarry.com

Brad Staples

1-800-205-3474 ext. 3

Cell (503) 250-0558

Email:  brad@fishingwithlarry.com