Pirarucu
Monster Arapaima in Brazil
Since travelling to the Amazon is very laborious, Helmut Zaderer (https://flyfish-adventures.com/) combined two destinations in one trip. After a week fishing the Rio Marié, we flew on to Tefe. After spending the night there, we travelled by boat to the Pirarucu Lodge where our guides awaited us. (https://www.pirarucuflyfishing.com/).
The lodge is comfortable and built of wood in the Caboclos style. At other times of the year, it is used as an eco-tourism lodge and run by the indigenous community with the support of their local authorities.
Our target fish was the arapaima. Arapaima are one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. They can grow up to 3 meters in length and weigh over 400 pounds which makes the arapaima the ultimate challenge for those fly-fishing in the jungle.
Arapaima bear a strong resemblance to the freshwater equivalent of the salt water tarpon. Its growth rate is incredibly fast and the size they can achieve is impressive. In their first year, arapaima will typically weigh about 20 pounds and after four years some 90 pounds when they reach sexual maturity.
The fishing season starts in September and continues until the end of November. In addition to several arowana and tambaqui our group managed to catch 39 arapaima over four days of fishing, with specimens up to 220 cm in length.
Climate change has become noticeable here as well. The entire Amazon region is currently suffering from high temperatures and a severe drought. Temperatures reached up to 43° Celsius and many of the rivers in this region are considerably shallower than the average water levels of recent years.
Many thanks to Helmut Zaderer (https://flyfish-adventures.com/) for his perfect organization – an adventure that we will remember for years to come.
Tight lines
Stephan Kreupl, October 2023