Arapaima’s mouths are almost all bone , which makes it difficult to set a hook . You need to master the “Jiu Jitsu” hook set – which uses both hands and you must try not lettings any line slip 😉
I fished with Jose “Ciru” Dumas on our first afternoon. I had met Ciru while fly fishing for golden dorado with Juramento Fly Fishing in Argentina back in 2017. Ciru is a highly experienced fly angler and guide who is always sharing and is just great company. That first afternoon was a surprise as I did not expect to see as many fish as we did and I hooked three small arapaima – unfortunately pulled the hook on all of them. But having a goal of landing one for the week – this was a great start !
The next morning we fished the top of the main lake for no bites. We then fished the main river arm that afternoon where I finally managed to stay connected and landed my first arapaima with Ciru – but we straightened the hook trying to drag it onto the bank and the Go-pro wasn’t running – so I didn’t capture it on film – it was a proper one which Ciru called it for 1.8 metres !
Day two I fished with Guilherme Manzione known as “Grandpa” who has fished Pirarucu since 2016. Each day is broken into two sessions – typically the mornings start around 7am after a quick breakfast fishing through to around 11- 11.30 am. You then return to the lodge for lunch and a siesta as the midday heat is hard to fish through with the days averaging 40C + during my visit. You then head back out around 2 – 2.30 pm and fish through to around 5 – 5.30 pm. We didn’t get a bump for the morning session , but that is not to say your not seeing fish. The volume of arapaima in this system has to be seen to be believed – it is the largest natural arapaima reserve in the world. You have up to a dozen fish breathing and slapping their tails on the surface at most times around you – You need to stay mentally focused at all time as every bite will surprise you.
That afternoon I finally stayed connected and landed my second arapaima and captured it all on film and got photos. It measured 110cm and ate a curly tail flashy profile pattern.
Day three I fished with Guilherme again , starting in the main lake. Plenty of arapaima rolling – but I couldn’t get a bite ! We came across a big patch of tambaqui or black pacu which are a fruit eating critter with human like teeth. Due to the record low water levels they where schooled up in area s of the main lake as opposed to being up under the undergrowth around the margins. You use a sinking rubber fruit fly – with the technique being to slap the fly down hard on the surface three of four times to gain their attention and then let it sink. They eat it on the drop – so you need to watch your line for the bite – almost like nymphing and they pull like trains ! It was great fun and felt good to get something to eat the fly for a change !
Another cool species you will experience at Pirarucu is the arowana – which look a lot like our saratoga – with the exception of the whiskers and tail being more eel like. They are also quite pelagic in their feeding – I witnessed schools of them herding up bait fish in the main lake and feeding like tuna !
Day four I fished with Head guide and manager Rafael Costa – “Rafa” who has pioneered numerous explorations throughout the Amazon and worked with Untamed Angling and Pirarucu since 2015. He is the one sporting the AC/DC cap in all the films 😉
Our morning session was hectic – lots of fish moving. Fishing a Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Big Water Taper Max Sink WF – 500-S with a 100LB core , 80lb fluorocarbon leader and bulky 6″ black and orange streamer patterns I hooked five fish – only to have all of them pull the hook at various stages of the fights. It was both frustrating and devastating with a couple of them feeling like BIG fish – one even pulled the boat around !
That afternoon the first bite was solid and everything held together all the way to the bank were we wrestled this beast get get a photo and measurement at 195cm and Est 100kgs !
I then backed it up with this feisty 155cm fish which really put up an explosives short range show
Day five I dedicated to ticking off the “Jungle Grand Slam” which consists of an arapaima , arowana and tambaqui – all to be landed on the same day. I fished with Ciru again and after missing a few solid bites I managed to get this 110cm arapaima to hand. We switched to tambaqui after that and missed a couple of bites to finish off our morning session.
In order of difficulty – next up was the tambaqui 😉
After being accused of “having to much fun” which resulted in my dropping a couple of arowana – we managed to get this one to hand to complete the “Jungle Slam” 🙂
With the pressure off we went back to see if we could get an arapaima upgrade – and this happened !
185cm and check out the colours in this fish – that’s why the locals call them “red fish ” 😉
To say I was STOKED is an understatement and I would not have achieved my slam without the assistance of Ciru and Rafa – Thanks Dudes and the Bohemia goes alright as well 😉
Day 6 – Last day – The goal now shifted to landing an arapaima over 2 metres. We focused on the main lake as that is where all the largest fish had come from during our week. The largest arapaima landed to date on fly from this reserve is 246cm – which is a HUGE fish !
The morning session was tough – I had one solid bite – but it didn’t stick…. Then we had a huge storm roll in at midday with lots of lightning and thunder. It really isn’t safe being out in these storms and locals die each years from lightning strikes throughout the Amazon.
Ciru offered to take us out for one last short session once the storm had passed – which proved to be a great decision. My first cast came up tight only to have the fly line break on the strike – which we suspect may have been a piranha. Switching to my intermediate combo the very next cast came up tight on this beast !
At just over 2 metres in length – this fish was a dream come true !
What a way to fish the trip – STOKED !
This really was another “trip of a lifetime” with a great group of anglers from across the globe and I now have an appreciation for the national Brazilian drink the ” caipirinha ” 🙂
From Left – Pete Finnis from Somerset UK and Dave Felce Scotland
William Yassumoto from Brazil and Steve and his father Terry Tatarchuk from the States
I even got to meet Rodrigo Salles of Untamed Angling – without him and the Untamed Angling team we would not have access to this phenomenal fishery !
