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Holly and I bought the Peacock Bass fishing trip that was donated to our Chapter Fundraiser earlier this year by Amazon Tours.  I was especially interested in this trip because I spent years living and working in Brazil and speak Portuguese fluently.  Holly had never visited Brazil and I was anxious to show her Manaus and the Amazon region.

We flew from Savannah to Atlanta to Miami to Manaus, Brazil where we were met by Amazon Tours representatives and whisked off to the luxurious Hotel Tropical for a buffet breakfast.  After breakfast we were taken back to the airport for our charter flight up the Rio Negro River to the small town of Barcelos, Brazil.

Upon arrival in Barcelos we were transported from the small airport to the riverfront where we were met by a flotilla of Nitro Bass boats from the Rio Negro Lodge.  Three guests and their luggage were loaded into each boat for the run upriver to the Lodge.  It had been a stormy day in the region and the Rio Negro was very rough, making the typically uneventful 2-hour trip upriver quite an adventure!

We were all happy to arrive at the Lodge and settle into our comfortable bungalows. 

The bungalows are nestled in the jungle at intervals along the river and feature all the comforts of home.

Generators provide 24 hour electricity, air-conditioning and hot water.

All meals are served in the spacious dining room.  The Lodge has all the amenities that quests might require: an open bar, a satellite internet connection to stay in touch with your family or business, a satellite telephone, 2 pool tables, a huge aquarium full of Peacock Bass and other Rio Negro marine life, comfortable leather chairs and couches and a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and patio area.

A Caipirinha is the Brazilian national cocktail.  It is made from fresh limes, sugar and a distilled sugar cane liquor known as Cachaca or Pinga.  It really packs a punch.  Once the guests developed a taste for them, the bartender couldn't make them fast enough!

The day begins with a polite knock on your bungalow door at 5:30AM.  After a hot, buffet breakfast we would pack a lunch and head down to the river where the guides were waiting in the Nitro bass boats.  We fished from 7AM until 5 PM for 6 1/2 days.

"Cacao" the spider monkey was a frequent guest at the Lodge.  He always enjoyed a piece of fruit in the morning and was very fond of sharing our cocktails at the end of the day.

My 23 1/2 pound trophy male Peacock bass!  It was the largest fish caught among all of the 45 anglers staying at the Lodge and aboard the Amazon Queen.  The current World Record Peacock bass weighed 27 pounds and was caught by a client at the Rio Negro Lodge several years ago.

The Amazon Queen at the Rio Negro Lodge dock, ready to head up river for the week.	Holly with a beautiful 10 pound Peacock.	Another nice fish for Holly.	An average sized Peacock bass. We caught lots of fish under 10 pounds each day.
Holly watches in amazement as our guide chops our way into a hidden lagoon.	Edvan balances on the wet branch while he chops away with his machete.	A rain shower falling in the distance.	Glass smooth water and a dramatic sky.
The Amazon is "Big Sky" country.	Holly with Bruce Preston and Dave Scroppo after dinner.	Downloading and sharing the day's photos.	A fine spotted Peacock.
Holly enjoying the scenery at 50mph.	A Rainbow Bass.	A Butterfly Peacock, called "Boboleta" in Portuguese.	"Cacao" enjoying a morning snack.
Showing off!	"Cacao" loved fruit, grape soda and beer!	A Priarao.	The Priarao's formidible teeth.
Holly with another nice Peacock.	There were lots of Piranha around and if you let your bait sink to the bottom they would destroy it immediately.	Piranhas have some serious choppers!	Fine barred and spotted Peacock.
Holly with another good Peacock.	Our guide, Edvan, and his son.	Trophy barred Peacock, referred to as "Paca" by the locals.	The dramatic Amazon sky reflected in the placid Rio Negro.
Breath deeply, it's the cleanest air on the planet!	Another spectacular cloud formation.	Endless vistas of sky, water and jungle.	Filming Edvan as he unhooks another trophy Peacock.
Pool, patio and stage area outside the Lodge.	Fighting another ferocious Peacock.	Huge trophy "Paca" Peacock.	Another tame Spider monkey with her toy monkey doll.
Holly makes new friends everywhere she goes!	A tame Blue Macaw at the Rio Negro Foundation school.	One night the guides took some guest on a Caiman spotting trip and they decided to capture one.	Wrestling with the Caiman.
Hog-tied and headed back to the Lodge.	This was a pretty big lizard! We saw them every day while we were fishing.	Colorful barred Peacock.	Gorgeous spotted Peacock.
12 pound barred Peacock.	15 pound Peacock.	21 pound Peacock.	Another 21 pound Peacock.
My 23 1/2 pound trophy male Peacock.	The Amazon Queen II. Clients can choose to fish from the "Queen," the Rio Negro Lodge or the Rio Araca Lodge.	Sunset on the Rio Negro.	The Rio Negro Lodge's flotilla of Nitro bass boats and float planes.
Scarlet and blue Macaws and a wide variety of parrot species were seen flying overhead every day.	Airborne view of the Rio Negro showing the underwater sand bars that attract Peacock bass.	A tired warrior ready to be released.	Nothing beats the thrill of a big Peacock smashing your fly.

Click the Amazon Tours logo below to visit their very informative website. 

If you want to catch big, hard-fighting fish in an exotic setting, this is the trip for you!

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Amazon Tours' website

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Last modified: 02/15/11