LUNKER PEACOCK BASS FROM THE ITAPARA RIVER

Ezequiel Theodoro da Silva

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There is a moment in the life of all fisherman when he mainly wants quality. I believe that my hour - the quality hour -, in my well-lived 54 years  of age -  has reached its definitive terms. It is not any fishing trip that satisfies myself, it is not any infrastructure that serves me, it is not any food that fills my belly and it not any fish that stimulates my adrenaline. As a matter of fact, this means refinement of taste towards outdoors, especially towards game fishing.  

In that phase of the life of fishermen, the need for excellence makes we select more strictly where and with whom we will fish, nor the cost of some extra bucks or a longer trip, however we are guided by certain comfort parameters, serenity and certainty of good fights with big sport fish.   

Based on those criteria I began to flirt Rio Itapara, located 15 kilometers above Ecuador, imbedded in the middle of the Amazon forest, to the south of the State of Roraima (north Brazil).   

THE TRIP, THE GROUP AND THE LODGING    

From Campinas (State of Sao Paulo) to Manaus (State of Amazonas). From Manaus, in an airplane “Bandeirantes” until the track that is beside the lodging Itapará Sport Fishing Lodge, managed by Milton Cardille. A calm transfer, done by experienced pilots and worthy of our trust. 

When the airplane turns off the motors and the exit door is opened, there they are – all the guides, uniformed and smiling, waiting for the welcome and making the transportation of our suitcases, answering questions about the best ways of fishing and other curiosities that we always have in the beginning of a fishing adventure.  

Afterwards, we enter the the hotel and we find marvels like: tasty meals at any time of the day, apartments - very clean and comfortable - with air-conditioners,  washed clothes and towels changed everyday. Bathroom with hot water, and the like. The hotel is made of wood at margin of the  Itapará River. When you open the door of your apartment in the morning, from the balcony, you see the green tonality of the river - a scene that is kept in one'sthe mind for ever. 

The group had the ideal size: 5 fishermen. Gathered for the first time, but the friendship and the affection would be quickly develope. That really happened, allowing, much integration along the days. 

FIRST SURPRISES: ONLY THE SMALL ONES 

When beginning the ritual of the fishing of the peacock bass, testing the artificial baits to find the favorite ones, I thought that in those waters there were only the small peacock butterflies – they attacked all the time, especially near the big bays formed by the big lakes. As a matter of fact, our feeling after one day of fishing was the one of deep frustration.  

More to the bottom of the bays, replete of a local tree called " molongó", in shallow waters, the attacks of voracious “trairas” ( a fish that looks like the pike) were a constant. Once in a while, a “jacunda” (also known by the name of “soap”) appeared to cheer the battles, but the big ones seemed not to want none of the attractive lures of our fishing boxes.   

Until the fishing guide entered in scene and asked if I were not interested in “fishing with a bottle ". I sincerely thought that Raimundo (the guide of that day) was trying some trick on us. However, soon I noticed that was not a trick or game: the fishery with a bottle was the best method of catching lunker ones of that region.   

BIG FISH EVERYWHERE: MY TROPHY OF 21 POUNDS   

I admit that, at the beginning, I refused the local technique (to fish with a plastic bottle) and I let my friend try it first. Moreover, when guide Raimundo saw my rod "Compre, by Shimano” loaded with 40 mm line, he laughed at me and said "Ezequiel, with that thin rod you shall never see the face of the peacock bass that live in these lakes”!   

In fact, when I saw the first sizes of the fish coming, I noticed the truth of the statement of the guide. It was an enormous monster, weighing more than 8 kilos. A fighter, a jumper and other qualities of a sport fish.   

I am not embarrassed to say that I took borrowed my friend's rod, much better than mine on that boat, and I managed to fish the largest peacock bass of the whole trip: 21 pounds. The fish almost broke my hand with the blow that gave in the line and with the Olympic jump it gave there in front of the boat, confirming that live bait was its favorite meal. Our hypothesis: the fish might be tired of the ordinary artificial baits that the fishermen used all the time.  

I am not ashamed to tell that, to fight with the fish of Itapará in the fashion of the bottle, I used a rod that I had taken to fish catfish: a reel PENN loaded with line 60 mm. Many friends tried to fish with lighter equipment, but failed because the peacock bass are really strong and wild in that region of Brazil.  

I WANT MORE: I WANT TO RETURN!   

I tried to catch some catfish (pirararas), but I was not very happy. Not even the night fishing guaranteed that species. Besides, the navigation in the thin passages, necessary to reach the deepest structures, it is quite demanding and dangerous, cooling a little the will for those fish.   

But the immense peacock bass were worthwhile - it was a real party. Fish in the river, right stabbing, perfect service of guidance and a tourist infrastructure of the high excellence. I want to go back to see those big fish again and, most probably, have those big fights we never forget about.