Brazil Peacock Bass - Amazon
2025 Trip Report
Trip Date: January 17-26, 2025
In January, I hosted a fantastic fishing trip with six guests on the Xeriuini River (pronounced sure-ri-knee) in the Amazon jungle of Brazil. In 2022, I fished with Bucket List Fly Fishing and was excited to host a trip here. Rob Anderson runs a top-notch floating cabin operation. Lures are allowed during our hosted trips; otherwise, they focus on fly fishing.
Our 2025 hosted group included anglers I had previously fished with, although they had not fished together before this trip. My companions were Robin, Steve, Dave, Doug, Keith, and his wife Cleo.
Our group met up on Friday morning, January 17th, in Manaus, Brazil. Everyone arrived a few days early to avoid delays from international flights, ensuring we would be on time for our float plane flight to the jungle on Sunday morning.
On Friday night, we had a fantastic dinner at Gauchos. Gauchos is a famous Brazilian barbeque restaurant that serves many different types of meat, brought to your table on a skewer, and the server slices off pieces for you.
On Saturday, we took a few tours I had arranged with Rob Anderson's help. First, we visited a famous open-air fish market; then, we boarded a tour boat that took us to a spot where we could see and swim with pink dolphins. Dave was the only one who jumped into the river and got close to the dolphins.
We returned to the tour boat and went to an area with Arapaima that weighed a couple hundred pounds. They were in floating net pens, where you could put a piece of fish on the end of an eight-foot cord without a hook. This cord was tied to a wooden pole that was about seven feet long. You would place the bait in the water, and an Arapaima would grab it for an exciting moment.
Dave with the Pink Dolphins
At this location, the tour price included lunch and a visit to a gift shop featuring locally made items for purchase. Afterward, we got back on the boat and headed to the Meeting of the Waters, where the clear, dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the muddy, brown waters of the Solimões River. Following this, we returned to the port and took a quick tour of the famous Opera House. We concluded our long day of touring with a nice dinner at the Millennium Hotel in Manaus.
On Sunday morning, we were driven to the international airport in Manaus. We boarded a 10-passenger wheeled/float plane for the 1.5-hour flight to the camp. After landing on the river, the guides came and picked us up, and we took a 15-minute boat ride to camp, which was about one mile. We checked into our floating cabins and had a brief orientation from Karim, our English-speaking host for the week.
The roundtrip floatplane flight from Manaus to the Xeriuini River is included in the package.
Rob has two camps during his five-week season. Rob was at the upper camp, and Karim was our host at the lower camp. The floating cabins are excellent. They can be relocated as needed to adapt to changing river conditions and maximize peacock bass fishing success. The cabins are spacious, each with two twin beds, an A/C unit, a bathroom, and plenty of storage for your gear. The camp remained in the same location throughout our hosted week.
In the past year or two, the northern part of the Amazon basin has experienced low precipitation levels. These reduced water levels negatively impact spawning success. During periods of low water, lagoons that become separated from the main river can trap fish. Additionally, low oxygen levels can occur, and predation rates increase due to caiman and otters.
We had decent fishing for peacock bass, although the number caught was lower than usual for peak season. Fishing was tough due to the drought conditions mentioned above. Still, we landed some nice-sized fish: Keith caught a 20-pound peacock, while his wife Celo caught a 16-pounder. Keith also landed additional peacocks weighing 15, 12, 9, and 8 pounds. Celo caught others that weighed 14, 13, and 10 pounds. They used fly and spin techniques, utilizing a 1/2-ounce inline lead weight with a 2.5-foot section of 40-pound leader tied to a fly at the end.
Doug caught an 18-pound peacock bass and landed a couple of nice arowanas weighing about 7 to 8 pounds. He was using 1/2-ounce Johnson Silver Minnows in gold and various colors and styles of hard plastic crankbait lures. It was Steve’s first trip to the Amazon, and he successfully caught a 16-pound peacock bass on the first afternoon of our arrival. Robin and Dave didn’t land any large catches, but they enjoyed catching peacocks and had a great time on the Xeriuini River.
My group was a mix of fly and lure anglers. Robin and I were 100% fly while Doug used lures. The other four anglers mixed it up. The Xeriuini is a fantastic river system with numerous lagoons and braids. The water was crystal clear, and at times, we could see peacocks chasing after our flies.
The staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic experience. Chef Chris and her assistant prepared incredible meals, especially considering our remote location. After we returned from fishing each evening, Quiuo, our bartender and server, had our favorite cool drinks ready for us. A delicious bowl of soup as a first course is one of Rob’s nightly traditions. We enjoyed a variety of dishes, including chicken, pork, beef, fish, and pasta, accompanied by plenty of vegetables and fruits. Each night, Karim, who also serves as an eco-tour guide, entertained us by answering our questions about the birds and wildlife in the Amazon Basin.
On our last night, Rob came down from the upper camp and helped with an excellent barbecue dinner. Karim had prepared a very special video from our week and other interesting photos from Brazil for us to enjoy.
This trip was special for two of my favorite FWL guests, Keith and Cleo, as they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with us. I have fished with them since 2011, and we have enjoyed trips to Christmas Island, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. They are scheduled to return to the Golden Dorado River Cruiser in Argentina for their third time with me in March of next year.
Rob received a hint from Keith that this trip coincided closely with their anniversary. We were delighted to surprise Keith and Cleo with a lovely party. Rob managed to arrange some fireworks, which he and the guides set off on the beach after dinner. It was a truly unforgettable night for all of us!
2027 Hosted Week:
I plan to host a repeat trip on the Xeriuini River with Rob Anderson and Bucket List.
January 16-24, 2027 with Host Brad Staples
Let me know if you'd like to chat about this very fun fishing adventure.
Brad Staples
1-800-205-3474 ext. 3
Cell (503) 250-0558
Email: brad@fishingwithlarry.com
Guy Schoenborn
1-800-205-3474 ext. 1
Email: guy@fishingwithlarry.com
Information Packet
The Xeriuini River System
Peacock Bass were our target species.
Peacock bass are aggressive, hard-fighting, and beautiful fish. They are fierce hunters with a mouth similar to largemouth bass and tarpon. On the Xeriuini, you'll target four species of peacock bass. One of these species, the Cichla temensis, also known as the three-bar, can weigh up to 20 pounds in these waters.
Keith and Guide with Peacock Bass
Cleo with Peacock Bass
Keith with Trophy Peacock Bass
Doug with an 18-pound Peacock Bass
Floating Cabins with A/C
Robin with a Butterfly Peacock Bass
Steve with Peacock Bass
Dave with an Araca
Robin with a feisty Jacunda
Doug with Arowanas
Hosted Group at Evening Camp
Keith and Cleo's 60th Wedding Anniversary
