Brazil – Home of the Monster Peacock Bass
Welcome to one of the most exciting fishing adventures anywhere – a week exploring the fabled waters of the Amazon basin for MONSTER peacock bass with Ron Speed Jr’s Adventures, America’s leading international outfitter!
Ron Speed Jr’s Adventures offers you the finest peacock bass fishing experience of a lifetime aboard the fantastic Otter houseboat. Your week on the Amazon will be aboard the Amazon’s newest, largest and finest houseboat. There is approximately 7,750 sq.ft. for the clients to relax in and enjoy. The Otter is a four deck, twin diesel, spacious, floating hotel that can fish anywhere in the Amazon basin – even in 2 ft. of water.
Brazil peacock bass fishingYour quarry is the awesome peacock bass, not only one of the most beautiful of all freshwater fish, but also one of the strongest and most acrobatic in the world. You should expect to do battle with fish in the 10-20 pound class and possibly a few much larger!
Ron Speed Jr’s Adventures offers you the best rivers in South America for giant trophy peacock bass. The rivers we fish produce more peacock bass in excess of 20 lbs. than any other rivers in South America. Natives of this region frequently report catching monster peacocks in excess of 14 kilos (30 lbs.) on hand lines, and we certainly believe them. One of the rivers we fish, the mighty Rio Negro, is home to the IGFA all tackle record (27.5 lbs.) caught in 1994. The rivers we fish are all “black water”, which is the color of dark tea, caused by tannic acids. Due to the acid content, mosquitos are unable to breed, thus eliminating these feisty pests.
Fishing the Brazil Peacock Bass
The fishing experience of a lifetime is how most visiting anglers describe their peacock bass fishing trip to the Amazon with Ron Speed Jr’s Adventures aboard their new vessel the Otter.
Visiting anglers have always had the privilege of fishing from fully equipped bass boats, boarded from a moving houseboat, but now they return to the style and luxury of a floating hotel. The Otter is designed for all types of river conditions, including the low water level times. Where water levels once plagued traveling fishing boats, it is no longer a threat to the Otter, which has gained a quick reputation of being able to fish on the world’s second longest river and her tributaries at any time of the year.
Since we were the pioneers of houseboat Peacock bass fishing in the Amazon our guides have years of experience. Most have been with us since the first trip. Guides like Amarol, Harold, Leno, Samuel, Adalberto, Joe and Aligator have become famous guides over the years.
For years anglers venturing to the Amazon have continually threatened the world Peacock bass record of 27.5 lbs. Most groups fishing the Amazon aboard the Otter will have opportunities to catch several fish over 20 lbs. and some that will even challenge that record. This is made possible by utilizing the Otter’s flexibility in reaching the big fish producing areas of the different rivers. While some camps are land-locked and some boats lack both the capacity and design to reach these areas, not so with the Otter and her crew and guides. Aboard the Otter, no longer do anglers fear a week of limited fish catching, as the Otter mobility has all but made this a distant memory.
Accommodations
We used a great fishing boat for 14 years called the Amazon Clipper. It was not large or fancy but it would sail in to shallow water.
Gilberto Castro served as the fishing manager of the Clipper for years. Gil made notes of things that needed improvements, then he started building his own boat.
In 2005 the wonderful Otter, a luxury floating hotel was completed and put in service. The Otter, with four decks, is the largest houseboat in the Amazon. The Otter has 8 huge staterooms with the only side-by-side beds and large private bathrooms.
The Otter is propelled by two 120 hp 6-cylinder diesel engines, and has two 40 KWA power generators driven by two 72 hp 4 cylinder diesel engines, generating 110 volts for the outlets (220 V in special outlets). The Otter is 88 feet long and 25 feet wide, has four decks, 8 double cabins (10×10 feet) with large twin beds that can be joined as a double bed. There are individual air conditioning units in each cabin, all with private bath, and hot water showers. On the first deck we have the command, four passenger cabins, crew quarters, kitchen and service areas. On the second deck we have four passenger cabins, a 350 sq.ft. enclosed dining room, a small open veranda, and service areas. On the third deck we have two covered verandas, one in the front and one in the back, one sun deck area with an outdoor Jacuzzi, a bar, a toilet, and a nice 250 sq.ft. enclosed living room. The bar is stocked with beer, wine, rum and vodka. The fourth deck is a 360 degree panoramic sun deck. The thing that is most important is the Otter’s ability to go into very shallow water. In the winter season one of the fancy yachts tried to follow the Otter up a remote shallow river. The yacht had to turn around as it bottomed out after about 8 miles. Our group went on up the river and caught over 800 Peacocks plus 150 other exotics.
The fancy yachts of Brazil were not built for fishing trips. When you put guides, clients, and all staff on a yacht it becomes very crowded. RSA runs a second, smaller houseboat along with the Otter that provides a home for our guides and carries all the extra fuel, batteries, and boat parts. This allows for greater comfort and safety for our clients. The Otter is never crowded and its experienced staff is fantastic.
Come live your dreams on the fantastic Otter.
Comfort and Safety
The Otter provides the ultimate in comfort and safety for our clients.
Aboard the Otter safety of its guests is a top priority. It is and always has been a certainty with all of Ron Speed Jr’s clientele, that safety is an absolute given both on and off the Otter. Many high profile guests have put their trust in Ron Speed Jr’s Adventures, and will continue to do so because 2 facts are clear; you will catch fish and you will have a safe and luxurious trip aboard the Amazon’s newest attraction, the Otter.
The custom with fishing operations in the Amazon is to carry clients, guides, crew, etc. on one yacht or houseboat. This also includes about 1,500 gallons of gasoline or ethanol in the hold. Wow! Kinda Scary! Well, to set your mind at ease, all our gasoline/ethanol is carried on a 2nd houseboat called the Du Du Rae. All guides and crew sleep aboard the Du Du Rae, which makes the Otter twice as roomy and very safe. We go the extra mile for our clients’ comfort and safety.
Peacock Bass Fishing Tackle
Peacock bass inhabit the warm waters of South America, Central America and Southern Florida. However, for some reason yet to be explained, they grow to world record size in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil. These particular Peacocks are the strangest, most acrobatic, and the most fierce fighters of all Peacocks anywhere else in the Peacock world. These fantastic fighters are simply unbelievable and require special tough tackle to successfully boat these incredible fish.
In an effort to save our clients hundreds of dollars and hours of shopping time we provide all your rods and lures for your trip totally free! This insures that you have all the right lures and correct rods to do battle with these “terrors of the jungle.’” Our equipment is top of the line equipment especially designed for this one tough fish.
Rods – our rods are all medium/heavy to heavy action with some spinning rods for the light tackle enthusiast. All rods are 6’9” to 7’ in length with long handles to put lots of pressure on the Peacock bass.
Lures – The Otter has one of the largest collections of Peacock bass fishing lures you could find anywhere. We have over 40 tackle boxes full of every kind of lure, in any color imaginable. In prop baits our favorite is the Kaempfer “Peacock Special” which is a custom bait, designed by RSA, made for our clients. However, we do have hundreds of Big Game Woodchoppers in all colors, Amazon Rippers, and the small Peacock specials.
Other Baits – During times of stress for the fish which include low water conditions and high water conditions the Peacock simply don’t want to bite the big topwaters. However, experienced guides know the fish will still bite but on different lures. So, we have a wide variety of jerk baits such as red-fins, Magnum Rattletraps, and our favorite which is the Kaempfer Speed Minnow.
During the winter season of 2006 the Amazon basin suffered the worst flooding in 30 years. All of the Peacock bass fishing outfitters canceled their entire season. All but one outfitter and that was RSA and the Otter. We never missed a week or a trip and averaged 600 to 1,000 fish per week. Our secret was our guides and their fantastic knowledge of the Rio Negro and the many tributaries. Our guides also changed tactics and lures to fit the flooding conditions. Experience pays off!
Most fishing camps and fishing operators around the world rent fishing equipment by the week. It usually costs you $150-$200 for the week. However, our equipment is first class and is totally free for our clients.
Schedule and Airlines
Since we pioneered these trips 19 years ago we have used 4 different airlines from the USA to Brazil. We started out with Varig Airlines who had flights 2 times a week. Then we used Lloyd Aereo Boliviano for a few years, who had 1 flight a week. Both these airlines were unsatisfactory so went to T.A.M. airlines. When 9/11 happened T.A.M. quit flying a lot of their destinations so we went back to Lloyd Aereo Boliviano. We next used Delta airlines, but they have discontinued their direct flights to Manaus. We are now currently using TAM airline once again as it is the only airline with direct flights from the US (Miami) to Manaus.
Our fishing schedule is always based upon the airline schedule. Flights leave every Friday morning from Miami and return the following Sunday afternoon on our September and October trips. Flights leave every Friday from Miami and return the following Sunday on our January and February trips. This allows 6 days of fishing for our clients’ enjoyment.
The majority of our fishermen prefer to arrive Manaus, Brazil and go directly to the jungle rivers and start fishing ASAP. Then after 6 days of fighting the wonderful peacocks almost everyone is ready to come back home. Brazil peacock bass fishingIf you desire to stay an extra day or two in Manaus, we can arrange your hotel and airline for you. There are a few interesting things to do, including shopping, tour of the opera house, a trip to the Buffalo Restaurant, the Fish Market, boat tours to the famous “Meeting of the Waters” and many eco-tours. The Park Suites Hotel always has some activities such as native dancers in tropical costumes such as the ones pictured here. The hotel also has one of the most unbelievable buffet breakfasts in the whole world and it’s included in the room rate. If you wish to stay over, just let us know and we will make the arrangements for you.
Rates
Our September and October 2023 and January and February 2024 trip package prices (per client), excluding round trip air from home to Manaus, are $5750.00*
Price includes:
September and October Trips:
1. Transportation to meet the Otter
2. 6 days of fantastic fishing.
3. 3 full, sit-down meals per day while on the Otter – no cold sandwiches.
4. Bar on Otter – beer, gin, rum, vodka and wine.
5. All drinks in the fishing boat.
6. Fishing tackle including rods and lures (not reels).
7. Catfishing and fishing for other exotic species.
8. All transfers to and from airport.
9. Fishing license.
10. Departure tax.
11. Satellite phone use.
January and February Trips:
1. One night’s stay in the Park Suites Hotel located inside the Tropical Resort grounds in Manaus.
2. Round trip twin engine charter 300 miles into remote fishing areas.
3. 6 days of fantastic fishing.
4. 3 full, sit-down meals per day while on the Otter – no cold sandwiches.
5. Bar on Otter – beer, gin, rum, vodka and wine.
6. All drinks in the fishing boat.
7. Fishing tackle including rods and lures (not reels).
8. Catfishing and fishing for other exotic species at night.
9. All transfers from airport to hotel and back to airport.
10. Fishing license.
11. Departure tax.
12. Satellite phone use.
Not included in Packages:
1. Round trip air from home city to Manaus. We will assist you with getting your air.
2. Extra nights and activities in Manaus.
3. Tipping – $200 per person per week for the staff and $20 per day per person for the guides paid daily.
4. Items of a personal nature.
5. US passport and Brazilian visa. We will assist you with your visa application.
*If the price of oil increases to the point where our Brazilian partners must increase their charge per client to us, then we may have to pass this extra amount on to our clients. We will have no choice but to raise our package prices.