How to catch Peacock Bass?

Tips for catching the Peacock Bass

The Peacock Bass (or Tucunaré) is the most desired sport fish in the world. The pinnacle of peacock bass fishing is the dreamed-of Amazonian Açú, the largest and most powerful peacock bass in the world and it is found only in the vast Rio Negro basin.  This is the home of the giant peacock bass.  The Negro and its tributaries offer hundreds of miles of untrammeled fishing waters.  Some cities in the basin have become famous for sport fishing, such as Barcelos and Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, in the state of Amazonas. Undoubtedly, the Negro is the dream of all those seeking Tucunaré.

The most important thing is to be where they are. Every inch of Amazon water looks like it should hold fish, but constantly changing conditions, such as water level, temperature, oxygen, food availability and spawning cycles all affect where peacock bass can actually be caught. Too much water ... peacocks go into the jungle ... Too little water ... they go to the river channel ... What we seek are  water levels dropping just below the river's banks, That’s when peacocks become concentrated in flood-pulse remnants, back waters, lagoons and riverbank structure ... To be in the right place at the right time is why you need a guide and that’s our single most important function; We know where peacocks can be found and in water where they can be caught.  We’re here to take you there.

We’ll put you on them, but you still have to put them on a hook. There are two main ways to do that ... get them to eat your bait ... or get them to kill your bait.

Presenting a bait that a peacock will eat

In Lagoons - Most peacocks are caught in flood-pulse remnant lagoons. Lagoons provide sheltered feeding and spawning areas for peacocks and a bit like largemouth bass, peacocks like to stay near 'structure' and shorelines.

Woody Structure - As a result of the yearly flood pulse cycle, lagoon banks are generally lined with fallen, dead trees, and dense heavy structure along the shorelines. Look for the fallen logs, points and sand bars where many peacocks lurk. Much of your time will be spent fishing this type of structure. Both propeller type surface lures and walking sticks are very effective here and when placed close against structure they often elicit immediate strikes. Fish will also follow them out from cover and strike them in open water. In the same vein, jigs and spoons are very effective when cast into the base of standing timber or near fallen trees.  Retrieve them parallel to trunks and branches. Peacocks will often follow these lures right up to the boat, sometimes striking as the angler begins to lift the lure out of the water.

Points - Peacocks love points that create an underwater ridge, with deeper water on either side. Cast ten feet or so past and perpendicular to the point and en work the surface lure over the top of the ridge it forms. If a surface lure doesn't produce, use a subsurface bait like a swimming jig and probe the deeper water on the sides of the point, casting parallel to the ridge.

Feeding peacocks – Fishermen will often see feeding peacocks moving into open water in behind baitfish. These provide great chances for big fish. Cast a lure to feeders in the middle of or right in front of the baitfish. If you place it well, it may be taken immediately. Feeding peacocks are highly competitive in these situations. Another peacock is usually close by, attracted by the commotion. Take advantage of this behavior and cast behind a hooked fish.

Peacocks may drive baitfish onto banks and then attack them off as they fall back into the water. If you see this imitate the baitfish and drop a lure into the water’s edge.

When feeding fish are in shallow water, they may be skittish, but a well placed lure can produce. Cast just ahead and beyond the fish and perpendicular to their line of travel and retrieve quickly to pass their line of sight a bit in front of them. When the lure is attacked and the line goes tight, lean back and set the hook.

In the River - During periods of hot, dry weather and low water, peacocks will move into cooler, more oxygenated water. In these conditions, fish in and around lagoon mouths, rock piles, bushes, sand bars, points, and log jams. Logs, deadfall, and cuts often hold fish, especially in quiet sections. Fish this type of structure like you would a lagoon. The outer points at the mouths of lagoons very attractive to fish because of mix the flowing water of the river with the still waters of the lagoon.

Although not common in Amazon lowland rivers, rocks or compressed clay are peacock bass magnets. Peacocks love to hold tight to this type of structure. Surface lures should be retrieved parallel to, or maneuvered through, openings between rocks. Subsurface lures can be run deep near the base of rocks. Jigs are the bait of choice here and can be bounced off a rock, dropped in, and then ripped back. Probe crevices and overhangs.

Beaches — Sandy beaches occur in the main Rion Negro and on the outside bank of curves and along the edges of shallow stretches of tributary rivers. Moving waters cut scalloped ribs into the white sand. Use the steep edges between these ribs of sand. Subsurface lures produce well or cast a "Woodchopper" perpendicular to the ribs and sometimes get a violent strike.

Creek mouths – These are water sources entering the river, no matter how insignificant. Casting into the mouths of entering streams will often produce strikes. These features often hold fish right at the river shoreline.

Presenting a killable bait

There is just nothing more exciting than to catch a peacock that wants to kill your bait. The strike is the most violent in the sport of fishing.  This is best done just before and just after they spawn. Peacocks are very difficult to catch while on the nests, however, just before this happens is when an angler's wildest fishing fantasies can come true. Peacocks are violently protective of their pairing and nesting site before they spawn. They are staking out their territory and will attack anything that interferes.

Cast a big propeller lure onto them and they will try to destroy it with a powerful, explosive strike. Anglers experience this violence again after the spawn when peacocks are protecting their babies. They stop hunting for food during this period when they guard their babies against predators. Casting a lure into a school of peacock babies will immediately generate a violent strike that you will never forget. This strike demonstrates wild aggression that no other fish displays.

The Strike – You can’t exaggerate the peacock’s powerful strikes. Surface strikes can sound like a car falling into the water and subsurface strikes feel as though your arm may be torn off. These powerful strikes often result in an instant hookup. But, what if they miss the lure or blast it six feet into the air? What do you when they strike short or swirl at a lure? You keep fishing! When they miss, give them another chance. Keep the lure moving properly all the way to the boat then cast it back and try again or switch to a subsurface lure. Speed up the lure, slow it down or move it more erratically. Work harder to entice them and they will often strike again, harder. Keep your eyes on the lure and pay attention during the strike.

The Hookset - Peacocks have powerful, bony jaws lined with rows of small raspy teeth. It takes a hard, solid hookset to drive a hook into their mouth. When you feel the line go tight, put your back into the hookset. Single hooks such as jigs penetrate more easily than trebles, and usually set solidly with the first effort. Lures with treble hooks are harder to set securely. Constantly sharpen your hooks with a small file or hook sharpener.

The First Run - The key to surviving the violent first run is to have a properly set drag. A ten pound peacock will easily break 30 pound test if the drag is set too tight. You should be able to strip line off your reel by hand. Keep your rod tip low and try to sweep the fish toward open water by using your body and the arc of the rod to give the fish a direction toward which it can move more easily (peacocks often reach cover in spite of an anglers best efforts.) Once you have a solid hook-up and a fish in open water, let him run. Keep your line tight and use the rod to tire the fish. Keep the rod tip down to avoid jumps that can throw the hook. Stay calm to get through the wild antics that peacocks perform.

The Rest of the Fight - When slow down after their first run, you can begin to bring the fish closer. Guide the fish away from structure and keep it in open water. Be prepared for the next run. Peacocks will almost always run again once they see the boat. Don't get careless. They can still straighten hooks and snap the line. Don't force them, let them get tired using  your rod and working against the drag. Keep the line tight and work them back toward the boat. Your guide, do the netting for you. You can help him. Let your tired fish lie on the surface and float it toward the net using your rod. Make sure to leave six feet or so of line – don’t reel up to the rod tip. The guide will dip the net below the fish, sweeping it up to secure it for you.