In order to check Formoso do Araguaia's fishing potential I visited the place for the first time in June of 2004. I had been invited to deliver a lecture to students of  letters from Ulbra University in Palmas, the capital of the State of Tocantins-Brazil. So, I decided to travell from Palmas to Formoso by car; about 100 miles on good roads. In Formoso, I was going to meet the main fishing guide in that State, the famous Alexandre Roberto.

Obviously, my main objective was to try out the lakes of that region in order to fight the famous blue peacock bass - this species is very popular in Formoso surroundings and has been advertised in all adventures written by Alexandre.

ONLY TWO DAYS OF FISHING

Having to see many people, visit hotels and restaurants, check the prices, visit the City Administration and talk with the owners of "Mais Turismo" Tour Agency in Gurupi (a town near Formoso), I had only two days to go fishing.

I must be reminded that the short fishing trips tend to be more intense and cheerful. All our wishes, generated by the distance of the rivers, will come out like a tsunami and be transformed into many casts to find and to catch the fish. Very frequently, such type of fishing (short fishing) generates different pleasures, especially when the fish help us out in our hurry and eagerness.

LAKES AND BATTLES

Formoso do Araguaia is surrounded by excellent lakes: Lagoa Formosa, Calumbi I and II, Lago do Saliverio, Sorocao, Ariguari, Fazenda Recanto do Lago, etc. According to Alexandre Roberto, all of them with great surprises from under the water.

Because of the rush, we chose the nearest lake, Lago da Taboca, to be fished. We took a ride with a couple of friends that, like myself, wanted to know - and meet - the famous blue peacock bass. So, besides the guide (Alexandre), we had three fishermen on the same boat, casting and trying different baits.

We tried hard to find the favorite baits for the local fish. We kept doing so until the moment a bait called Viper, silver and green colours, coming on the surface, got the first attack by a big blue one. As soon as we got to the right bait, we went through a great festival of bites. The peacock bass, blue and yellow ones, came to the surface, especially near the branches of dead trees in the water.

The blue peacock did not show up very easily; we had to hunt them around the lake. There were many schools, but we did not find or catch big ones, they varied from 1 to 3 kilos. Even so, Alexandre told us that the blue peacock reach 7 kilos in Formoso's lakes, but they have to be searched in every structure around the margins or in the center parts of the lakes.

AT FORMOSO FARM

On the second - and last - day of fishing, after visiting some nice spots, we went fishing on the big lake at Formoso Farm. According to some fishermen, the lake had a lot of the blue peacock bass and the biggest alligators of that region. The owner of the farm came along in order to watch a free show of two skillful casters.

The lake was not that big, but very beautiful. As we got near the margin of the lake, I clearly saw big predators running after the small fish. "I will be a real feast", I thought. As a matter of fact, the small fish jumped out of the water all the time, trying to escape from the teeth of the big fish. I got really impressed!

It started well: the first castings, that began at 2 p.m. on Sunday, found the wildest ones. But suddenly the fish stopped to bite - it seemed some witch started flying around the lake and ordered the fish to stop attacking our lines. Our baits formed a complete menu of colours, sizes and noises.

The owner of the farm decided to stop fishing because very little fish was coming out of the water, but Alex and I kept on casting around the lake. The sun was coming down and at 5 o'clock sharp the schools came out just like bees from a beehive - we saw peacock bass attacking our baits from everywhere.

During the festival of bites and strikes, we also had a free show of the alligators jumping into the water in order to swim to the center of the lake. Those alligators were really big - I had never seen such enormous species in all my life. They stared at us from a certain distance, maybe waiting for some dizzy fish that we caught and released.

BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT

Formoso do Araguaia has the largest area of natural irrigation in the world. I visited a watermelon field in one of the irrigated areas. Soybean and rice are also planted in that region. As a matter of fact, it is an enormous area crossed by channels all over.

The channels for irrigation seem to be small rivers. Because the area is protected and closed, the channels are full of fish, including the famous pirarucu. Alexandre told me that the channels are very much proper for fly fishing from the margins.

I also visited the Casa de Pedra (Stone House). It is a big black block of stone that comes out of the earth in a plain. There are many strange writings on the black stones. We wondered how that stone came to a place like that. It is somewhat mystic and astonishing - a place to be visited for relaxation and pictures.

The Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon), another place I visited, is extremely attractive - on one side of the lagoon the water comes up from large hole. It is just like a big swimming-pool of clear and clean water. Big blue peacock bass swim by, hiding inside the vegetation when we walk towards them.

Unfortunately I did not have the chance to visit the indian tribes near Bananal Island. But they are another great attraction, especially because some tribes let the visitors fish in their lakes. It should also be said that in the direction of Bananal Island, one of the biggest pluvial islands all over the world, the fisherman can also fish the huge catfish like pirarara, piraiba and jau.

ALEXANDRE ROBERTO - A RESPECTFUL FISHING GUIDE

Alexandre Roberto is very much familiar with all fishing points and structures in Formoso do Araguaia. He works professionally and does want to give his contribution for the development of tourism in that Brazilian region.

Due to different reasons, Alexandre does not have all the support that is needed in order to divulge the fishing potential of Formoso do Araguaia. But he is a persistent person, overcoming many barriers and looking for partners in order to make his dreams come true.

Alexandre and I quickly developed a great friendship and that is why Pescarte decided to organize fishing trips to those wonderful waters. We are sure that other fishermen from Brazil or from abroad, after fishing there for the first time, will return there many times during the year. The blue big-mouth peacock is the best bait to make us reach that objective.

MORE INFORMATION

ALEXANDRE ROBERTO