2026 WINTER/SPRING PEACOCK BASS UPDATE

[Editor: this article first appeared on www.ronsfishingblog and may only be used by permission of Ron Speed Jr.]

THE PEACOCK BASS AND AMAZON RAINFOREST…NOTHING COMPARES IN THE OUTDOORS!!!

That’s right, folks. This trip is without question, the greatest fishing adventure in all of the outdoors! I know, I know, different strokes for different folks. That said, the Good Lord has blessed me to have been a son of a man that helped pioneer the bass fishing lodge operations in Mexico and had other fishing operations in Canada, Cuba, Venezuela and the Yucatan. I was blessed to be able to fish at all of those operations as a kid and young adult prior to getting into this business in 1987. So I can honestly speak from experience that NOTHING compares to fishing for Peacock Bass in Brazil’s mystical Amazon Rainforest. NOTHING. I’ve told people for years that this is one of those fishing adventures that you do not have to be a good fisherman to have success catching fish. Furthermore, you don’t even have to like fishing to enjoy this trip! Our trip is filled with HIGH ADVENTURE! Our manager, Franz is top notch, speaks several different languages FLUENTLY, and is willing to please and meet your expectations. Franz and staff are always willing to spend a morning or afternoon taking you into the jungle to meet and trade with the natives of the Rainforest.

During your 6 full days of guided fishing, you may encounter various species of wildlife in the jungle. Franz and staff of the mothership Amazon Otter, specialize in Eco/Nature tours all across the Amazon Basin. Simply put, THEY’RE EXPERTS! That’s a bonus for those who place SAFETY FIRST as well as wanting to get the FULL experience of what the Amazon Rainforest has to offer. The Amazon Otter will cover anywhere from 40 – 80 miles of river and tributaries in a week with water levels dictating locations. Yes, seeking the best water conditions for FISHING is a priority. In other words, if fishing conditions and water levels are not ideal for “catching peacock bass”, the Otter houseboat will be on the move searching for conditions more compatible for great fishing! Due to the constant fluctuation of water levels throughout the Amazon is why I have never used a “fix based facility” in my 34 years of offering fishing in Brazil. It is imperative to always be MOBILE so if water begins to rise, we can move in a moment’s notice. The bonus of covering so much water is being able to experience as many areas of the remote jungle as possible…and adding to the ADVENTURE! This is why I stated that you don’t even have to like fishing to enjoy this trip! You’re getting a major TWO-FOR-ONE…fishing for the most exciting and powerful fish that swims, the mighty Peacock Bass, and a first class Eco/Nature trip in the process! Again, nothing in the outdoors compares to this trip!

THE PEACOCK BASS…POUND FOR POUND THE MOST POWERFUL FISH THAT SWIMS!!!

I’ve been fishing for Peacock Bass since 1988 when I first began offering fishing trips to Lake Guri, Venezuela. I was not only amazed at their power during that first trip but just as amazed at how MEAN this fish can be! They are extremely territorial and nothing is allowed to trespass into their territory without paying a severe price! I’ve told folks for years and years that I have come to the conclusion that almost half of your strikes from the peacock bass are territorial and not necessarily “feeding strikes”…which means unlike largemouth bass and other species where the full moon or barometric pressure plays a significant role in the amount of strikes you experience each day, NOT WITH THE PEACOCK BASS! When you start ripping these giant 7” long propeller topwater lures in their territory, it triggers them in a way you cannot imagine. In fact, they get downright ornery!

The destruction to lures and line…and even fishing equipment, will blow your mind. I’ve had 100lbs test spectra braid line snapped like it was sewing thread. I’ve had 4.0 saltwater treble hooks straightened out like toothpicks! Most of the time I will fish with my reel drag tightened all the way down, only to watch a big powerful Peacock Bass strip off 20 – 30 yards of line AT EASE! This is no fish story, no fabrication…IT’S A FACT! Most folks (if not all) who have experienced hooking up with a peacock bass in excess of 13 lbs will tell you the same thing! Their power is unmatched by any fish that swims.

The topwater explosions cannot be described in words! When these big powerful Peacock Bass explode on your lure, it’s heartstopping! One time I was fishing in the Amazon and at noon of the first day of fishing, we all met back at the Otter houseboat for lunch and a siesta. One of my customers from Tyler, TX said to me while eating lunch, “Ron, I thought you were exaggerating about the topwater explosions when you sold me this trip. This morning I found out you were telling the truth! I had a Peacock blow up on my big topwater lure and it was like someone dropped a refrigerator 30 feet from the tree on top of my lure! That fish moved some serious water!” I just grinned and said, “Well, glad the fish didn’t make a liar out of me”

I have literally hundreds if not thousands of stories to tell about the extreme power of these fish but you might be reading a while if I told all of them BUT, here’s one that’s memorable I’d love to share…
It was a “few” years ago, actually in the early 90’s after we moved from Venezuela to Brazil to chase these big peacock bass. After my 2nd trip to Brazil, I realized we were no longer dealing with “lake peacocks” as we did at Lake Guri in Venezuela but rather dealing with an even more powerful peacock that swims in the strong current of the rivers in the Amazon. Yes, the peacock bass was super strong in the lake in Venezuela but in the Amazon, they are SUPER STRONG ON STEROIDS!!! Anyway, on those first couple of trips to the Amazon, I was fishing with the same lures and line I had fished with in Venezuela. The line was 30lbs Trilene Big Game. No doubt that was a strong line but it was no match for the mighty Peacock Bass of the Amazon! I was getting that Trilene Big Game snapped on Peacocks that were only 10 lbs in the Amazon but had caught a 16 lbs bass on Lake Guri with no problems.

So going into my 3rd trip to the Amazon in 1994, I decided to go better equipped. I stepped up to the Big Game Woodchooper topwater instead of the smaller Bass Agitator lure I used in Venezuela. The Big Game Woodchooper was longer, bigger and had much bigger hooks. I also stepped up to 80lbs braided line instead of the Trilene Big Game monofilament. So I was READY! So I thought…ugh. The first day while fishing a lagoon off the Araca tributary (of the Rio Negro), I got absolutely BLASTED by big mean Peacock Bass! My drag was tightened down as tight as I could get it with my hands. The monster Peacock exploded on my big topwater about 10 feet from the boat and immediately headed back to the line of trees we were casting towards…about 40 – 50 feet away. That monster started taking drag so hard and fast I thought the gears in my reel were going to burn up! I mean he SMOKED IT! Within less than .5 seconds, that big monster made it to a tree. For a few seconds I could feel he was still hooked but wrapped around that tree. Then by the time we arrived at the tree, the movement stopped. My guide was able to retrieve the lure from the tree and when we first got our eyes on the lure, I literally sat down in disbelief! These big Woodchoppers are equipped with THREE BIG TREBLE HOOKS. The first two set hooks near the head of the lure had at least one of the hooks completely straightened out. Like “most” fish, they attack near the head of their prey. That wasn’t all…the split rings that attach the hooks to the lure were almost completely opened up! These were big SALTWATER split rings! That was a powerful, powerful fish to be able to do THAT. I never got a look at the fish so I can’t tell you how big it was (?)…but up until that time, that was the most powerful fish I’ve ever had on the end of my rod…well, with the exception of an 80lbs Tarpon in the 70’s at my Dad’s Isla Aguad tarpon operation. Nevertheless, I realized I still wasn’t properly equipped for these big powerful Amazon BEASTS!

It didn’t take us long to realize we needed to step up to heavier hardware on our lures. Now we provide the lures for all of our customers and have them CUSTOM MADE by our good friend Jim Kempfer! Jim is the best in the business at building lures for these powerful Peacock Bass.All of our lures are equipped with the strongest 4.0 / 4x strong Gamakatsu saltwater treble hooks and strongest split rings. Years back we decided to offer our customers lures in the package so they have the best chance at landing these beasts. That and we wanted to make it easier for our customers to have to travel with a lot of fishing gear. Which is why we also offer our customers Lew’s Rods that are custom made strictly for the mighty Peacock Bass. So nobody has to lug those big rod cases through airports. Again, we seek to make this trip as easy and fun for our clientele. We offer the heavy braided line as well. The only thing you need to bring for fishing is your fishing reels. Since those don’t take up much space in your bag and many have different preferences between baitcaster, spincast or even fly rods, we just decided to let our customers bring what they desire to fish with during the trip. I will say that you will not find a better brand of reel on the market than Lew’s Reels. I own over two dozen now and use them in Brazil, Mexico and here at home. Lew’s is truly THE BEST in the business for top of the line rods and reels. Visit Lew’s online: www.lews.com

THE AMAZON OTTER MOTHERSHIP…A 5-STAR FLOATING HOTEL!!!

I’m sure most have either been on The Otter Houseboat OR read my past newsletter talking about the big beautiful Amazon Otter. If you have never experienced our fishing adventures in the Amazon and particularly this 5-star mothership, you owe it to yourself to try at least one time! The Otter offers 8 spacious air conditioned cabins with two twin beds (NO BUNK BEDS!), private bath/shower and closet space for clothes. The Otter also offers a nice closed-in air conditioned restaurant, two front back lounge decks with jacuzzi and bar. This boat also offers internet, sat tv. so you don’t miss your favorite sports contest, along with wifi to use for calling home on WhatsApp. As mentioned earlier in this update, the Otter is constantly moving and searching for water levels compatible for good fishing. If we hit on a “hot spot” with great fishing results, naturally the Otter will stay there as long as customers are happy with great fishing. The guides know where the Otter is located or moving at all times and generally fish lagoons and areas within 20 minutes of the Otter. That way if you get tired or have too much sun Or just want to go in and lounge and get in the “hot tub”, the Otter isn’t far away. This houseboat and crew is SECOND TO NONE! Your home away from home while battling the mighty peacock bass and enjoying the sites and sounds of the awesome Amazon Rainforest! Come experience it for yourself!

RSJA…NOBODY HAS MORE YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE AMAZON FOR PEACOCK BASS!!!

RSJA has been sending Americans and customers to Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest since 1992. At that time there were two operations getting started but those operations “closed shop” years ago. Nobody in Amazon has more years of experience than RSJA. Others have come, some have gone but we’ve operated there going on 34 years now. Prior to that, we operated in Venezuela for 3 1/2 years but decided to explore Brazil as the fishing declined on Lake Guri in Venezuela. Our fishing guides are second to none in the Amazon and “most” have been with us for at least 20 years with a couple that have been with us for 30+ years. They’re still going strong and do an outstanding job of trying to get you on those BIG PEACOCK BASS! Also, when visiting a third world country, I know many that call and inquire about our trips and ask about “Safety”…and I don’t blame them. This is another reason to choose RSJA as I’ve been at this going on 40 years in Mexico for the black bass and 38 years in South America for the Peacock Bass. One doesn’t last that long by putting SAFETY FIRST. Our track record speaks for itself. While our fishing and service is a distant second to SAFETY, they speak for themselves as well.

CALL US TODAY TO PLAN YOUR AMAZON FISHING ADVENTURE AND TRIP OF A LIFETIME! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!

Good fishing and God Bless.
RON SPEED, JR