🎣 Fishing Spot: Rio Trombetas – Lower Amazon Basin, Pará, Brazil

🏞️ About the Rio Trombetas

The Rio Trombetas is one of the Amazon's most pristine and remote tributary systems — a blackwater river flowing through untouched rainforest in the state of Pará, where towering rapids, hidden lagoons, and flooded forest create one of South America's premier multi-species fisheries. Rising in the Guiana Highlands on the border with Suriname and Guyana, the Trombetas descends through protected indigenous reserves and biological preserves before joining the Amazon near the town of Oriximiná.

This is trophy water in its purest form: giant peacock bass prowling lagoons surrounded by virgin jungle, arapaima rolling in backwaters where their ancestors have spawned for millennia, and goliath catfish exceeding 400 pounds patrolling deep river channels. The upper reaches above Cachoeira Porteira (the "Gateway Falls") remain one of Brazil's last truly wild fisheries — accessible only by small boats navigating Class II-III rapids, with the nearest town 100km away.

The Rio Trombetas offers something rare in modern sport fishing: low angler pressure combined with explosive action. State protection, difficult access, and the presence of waterfalls that block navigation have preserved this ecosystem in near-pristine condition. Here you can chase 20+ pound peacock bass on topwater flies, sight-cast to 200-pound arapaima, and battle catfish that strip 150 meters of line before you can blink.

🌟 Why the Rio Trombetas Is Special

• Remote and Pristine Amazon Wilderness
  Protected by indigenous reserves and biological preserves, with limited access maintaining untouched habitat. The nearest significant town is Santarém, requiring boat transfers that can take 12+ hours into the heart of the jungle.

• Trophy Peacock Bass Central
  Multiple peacock bass species including the giant Cichla temensis (speckled peacock) reaching 25+ pounds, plus butterfly peacocks, black-barred peacocks, and rare endemic species found only in the upper Trombetas.

• Wild Arapaima Encounters
  Legal fishing for one of the world's largest freshwater fish (pirarucu) in select areas, with fish averaging 100-200 pounds and occasional giants exceeding 350 pounds surfacing to breathe in shallow lagoons.

• Giant Catfish Paradise
  Home to massive piraíba (goliath catfish) over 400 pounds, acrobatic redtail catfish to 100+ pounds, and numerous other catfish species that provide extreme big game action.

• Ideal Fly and Spin Fishing Mix
  Perfect for both fly anglers targeting aggressive surface feeders and conventional anglers seeking brute-force battles with apex predators.

• Flooded Forest and Lagoon System
  During high water (February-June), the river expands into a vast flooded forest where peacocks spawn. During low water (July-January), fish concentrate in lagoons, channels, and deep pools — creating target-rich fishing zones.

• Endemic Species and Biodiversity
  The Cachoeira Porteira waterfall creates a natural barrier that has isolated upper river populations for thousands of years, resulting in unique endemic cichlids, catfish, and other species found nowhere else.

🐟 Fish Species of the Rio Trombetas

🌤️ Seasonal Fishing Overview

☀️ Dry Season - Peak Fishing (July – January)

• PRIME TIME for peacock bass — water levels drop, concentrating fish into 2-3% of their usual habitat
• Lagoons, channels, and pools become fish-holding magnets
• Sight-fishing paradise — clear water, visible fish, explosive topwater action
• Sandbars emerge creating perfect ambush zones
• Peacocks move to spawning areas in lagoons (September-December)
• Best months: September, October, November for trophy peacock bass
• Payara, bicuda, trahira most active
• Catfish move into predictable feeding lanes
• Temperatures hot (30-35°C/86-95°F) but fishing is spectacular

🌧️ Rainy Season - High Water (February – June)

• Water levels rise dramatically, flooding the jungle
• Fish disperse into flooded forest to feed on fruits, seeds, and insects
• Arapaima season — shallow lagoons perfect for targeting these giants
• Pacu feeding on falling fruit
• Peacocks less concentrated but still catchable
• Catfish fishing remains excellent
• More challenging for peacock bass (fish spread out over vast area)
• June can bridge into dry season fishing as water starts dropping

🎯 Absolute Best Periods:

• September-November: Peak trophy peacock bass, excellent visibility, optimal water levels
• October: The sweet spot — perfect water conditions, pre-spawn aggression, comfortable temperatures
• July-August: Early dry season, fish still concentrating, less pressure
• December-January: Late season, post-spawn feeding, hungry fish

🪶 Fishing Techniques on the Rio Trombetas

FLY FISHING:

Fly Fishing Tackle:

• Rods: 9-10 weight with powerful butt sections; 9-10 foot length
• Reels: Strong drag system essential; fish don't run far but require stopping power
• Lines: Tropical floating line (standard won't work in heat); 200-350 grain sinking tips for deep water
• Leaders: 7.5-9 feet, 30-40lb test; fish have abrasive mouths
• Tippet: 30-50lb fluorocarbon minimum
• Flies: Peacock Agitator, Reducer, Pole Dancer, Deceivers, Space Invader, large poppers
• Hooks: 2/0-4/0 saltwater hooks; peacocks straighten weak hooks

CONVENTIONAL FISHING:

Conventional Tackle:

• Rods: 6'6"-6'9" heavy action baitcasters; extra-heavy for catfish
• Reels: 150-200 size; 7:1+ gear ratio for fast retrieves; huge capacity for catfish
• Line: 40-65lb braid for peacock bass; 80-100lb for catfish
• Terminal: No leaders needed for peacocks; tie direct to braid

🚤 Logistics & Access

Getting There:

1. International: Fly to Manaus (MAO) or Belém (BEL), Brazil
2. Domestic: Connect to Santarém (STM) — regional hub on the Amazon
3. River Transfer:
   • From Santarém: 12-24 hour boat journey to Cachoeira Porteira (upper river)
   • OR fly charter from Manaus directly to Cachoeira Porteira airstrip (2 hours)
   • From Porto Trombetas (mining town): 4-6 hour boat to fishing lodges

Accommodation Options:

Lodge Inclusions (Typical 5-7 Day Packages):

• All meals, snacks, drinks (including alcohol — caipirinhas!)
• Aluminum fishing boats (5m, 15HP motors) — 2 anglers per boat
• Local guides (limited English, excellent river knowledge)
• Boat fuel
• Transfer from Santarém or Porto Trombetas
• Some lodges include 2 nights hotel in Manaus

⚖️ Regulations & Permits

Fishing Licenses:

• Brazilian Fishing License: Required for all anglers — arrange through lodge operators
• Lodges handle permits: Most packages include all necessary permits and fees
• No visa required: US, Canada, Australia citizens no longer need tourist visa for Brazil (as of recent changes)

Conservation Rules:

• Arapaima: Heavily protected; only legal in specific managed areas with quotas
• Peacock Bass: Catch and release encouraged; some harvest allowed in certain zones
• Catfish: Can be harvested but catch and release preferred for trophy fish
• Indigenous Reserves: Upper Trombetas flows through protected indigenous lands — respect all regulations
• Protected Species: Know local rules — some endemic species have special protections

⚠️ CRITICAL: The upper Rio Trombetas is within biological reserves and indigenous territories. Access is strictly controlled. Only fish through legitimate lodge operators with proper permits. Illegal access can result in heavy fines and equipment confiscation.

Best Practices:

• Barbless hooks recommended for all species
• Land fish quickly — Amazon sun is brutal, minimize handling time
• Proper fish handling — wet hands, support weight, quick photos
• Release equipment: Have hemostats, pliers, landing nets ready
• Respect spawning areas — avoid fishing nesting peacock bass (obvious spawning behaviors)

🧭 Summary

The Rio Trombetas is the deep Amazon experience serious anglers dream about — where virgin rainforest meets world-class multi-species fishing in waters that remain largely unknown to the sport fishing world. This is not the commercialized Amazon; this is the real jungle where rapids crash through boulder gardens, arapaima breathe in hidden lagoons, and 25-pound peacock bass explode on surface flies in waters where few anglers have ever cast.

The Trombetas offers the complete package: trophy peacock bass that rival the legendary Rio Negro, arapaima encounters in their natural habitat, goliath catfish that test the limits of heavy tackle, and countless aggressive species providing nonstop action. Whether you're a fly angler seeking the ultimate topwater rush or a conventional angler hunting true freshwater giants, the Trombetas delivers.

Located in Pará state in the Lower Amazon Basin, accessible via Santarém, this blackwater tributary system flows through 100km of roadless wilderness above Cachoeira Porteira. Multiple comfortable jungle lodges provide the base for daily expeditions into pristine waters where the sight-fishing opportunities, explosive strikes, and raw power of Amazon predators create fishing memories that last a lifetime.

Add in spectacular scenery, incredible biodiversity (endemic species found nowhere else), authentic Amazon culture, and some of Brazil's best-preserved rainforest, and the Rio Trombetas becomes more than a fishing trip — it's a genuine expedition into one of Earth's last wild places.

Location: Pará State, Brazil — Lower Amazon Basin
Access: Santarém (STM) → Boat transfer OR Manaus (MAO) → Charter flight
Main Hub: Cachoeira Porteira village
Fishing Season: July-January (peak), Year-round possible
Main Species: Peacock Bass (multiple species), Arapaima, Piraíba, Redtail Catfish, Payara
Best Methods: Fly fishing (topwater & streamers), Spinning/Baitcasting (topwater & jigs), Live bait (catfish)
Water Type: Blackwater river, lagoons, flooded forest, rapids
Regulations: Brazilian fishing license required, Protected reserves, Guided access only
Special Features: Low angler pressure, Endemic species, Trophy peacocks 20+ lbs, Wild arapaima, Remote jungle lodges, Multi-species paradise