BOOK YOUR BUCKET LIST

WHERE EPIC AWAITS

BOOK YOUR

BUCKET LIST

WHERE EPIC AWAITS

As Featured By

Forbes
Cabela's
Bass Pros Shop
Chasing Monsters
Stoked on Fishing logo

As Featured By

Forbes
Cabela's
Bass Pro Shops
Chasing Monsters
Stoked On Fishing

EXPLORE THE EXPERIENCES

Floating Bungalows

Great chance at a large peacock bass true trophy peacock in an intimate jungle setting. These floating bungalows can take you to the most inaccessible headwaters regions.

Peacock Bass Fishing

If you're hunting for a real shot at a world-record peacock bass, then this is the place for you. This trip delivers more 20+ lb. fish/week than any other Amazon fishery.

Arapaima Fishing

This one-day trip is available as an add-on to an Acute Angling trip. A chain of 5 isolated lakes independent of the floodplain; fishable during the season!

Payara Fishing

Take your own River Monsters fishing trip! Preserved in a remote area, this unique fishery provides anglers with a wide variety in fish species.

Curicuriari

This premium accommodation accesses some of the complex shallow backwaters and less accessible fish-laden regions. This barge flagship lets you go anywhere!

Peacock Bass fishing

The most consistent fishing trip in the Amazon! This beautiful yacht roams the enormous Rio Negro basin, concentrating on accessing productive waters.

Payara fishing

If you’re looking to catch a variety of fish species, then this is the trip for you. Enjoy the diversity of sport fish and the various fishing techniques used to catch them.

Golden Dorado fishing

The lower Paraná River is generally known as an area that delivers a high quantity of fish. When conditions are good anglers typically catch 10-30 dorados a day!

WHAT OUR ANGLERS HAVE TO SAY

EXPLORE THE EXPERIENCES

Floating bungalows

Great chance at a large peacock bass true trophy peacock in an intimate jungle setting. These floating bungalows can take you to the most inaccessible headwaters regions.

Peacock bass fishing

If you're hunting for a real shot at a world-record peacock bass, then this is the place for you. This trip delivers more 20+ lb. fish/week than any other Amazon fishery.

Arapaima fishing

This one-day trip is available as an add-on to an Acute Angling trip. A chain of 5 isolated lakes independent of the floodplain; fishable during the season!

Payara fishing

Take your own River Monsters fishing trip! Preserved in a remote area, this unique fishery provides anglers with a wide variety in fish species.

Cricuriari

This premium accommodation accesses some of the complex shallow backwaters and less accessible fish-laden regions. This barge flagship lets you go anywhere!

Peacock ass fishing

The most consistent fishing trip in the Amazon! This beautiful yacht roams the enormous Rio Negro basin, concentrating on accessing productive waters.

Payara ishing

If you’re looking to catch a variety of fish species, then this is the trip for you. Enjoy the diversity of sport fish and the various fishing techniques used to catch them.

Golden Dorado fishing

The lower Paraná River is generally known as an area that delivers a high quantity of fish. When conditions are good anglers typically catch 10-30 dorados a day!

TESTIMONIALS

WHAT OUR ANGLERS HAVE TO SAY

“This was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on!...The management made the whole process very easy and provided a ton of info for us leading up to the trip. I honestly can’t rave enough about it. My dad already has another trip booked with them and I will definitely be booking with them in the future on one of their other trips as well. 10/10 experience.” - Bannon G.

“The trip was amazing from the time we arrived to when we left…I highly recommend this outfitter and all the guides worked their tails off to make it an incredible experience. We were so impressed that we booked two more trips with them before we finished the first one.” - Scott R.

“Having been to Brazil, Peacock Bass fishing for over 25 years (19 trips), I have used many different outfitters …Acute Angling is BY FAR the BEST…They are an Outfitter who understands what a Fisherman wants and gives that to them. I am convinced that they are the BEST.” - Jason B.

“I've fished with Acute twice in less than a year. It's a first class operation and we got first class fish to go with it! This may become an annual trip for me!” - Rob O.

Trips For All Groups & Occasions

We Have a Trip For Everyone

Corporate Trips

Reward and incentivize your team with something truly unforgettable.

Groups & Families

Create experiences and make memories with loved ones that last a lifetime.

Individuals & Couples

Engage in the ultimate couples or solo adventure.

Trips For All Groups & Occasions

We Have a Trip For Everyone

Corporate Trips

Reward and incentivize your team with something truly unforgettable.

Groups & Families

Create experiences and make memories with loved ones that last a lifetime.

Individuals & Couples

Engage in the ultimate couples or solo adventure.

25+ Years of Amazon Fishing

Facilitating Bucket List Experiences

25

Years in the Amazon

Thousands

Trips Facilitated

#1

Facilitating Trips

50+

Species to Fish

25+ Years of Amazon Fishing

Facilitating Bucket List Experiences

25

Years in the Amazon

Thousands

Trips Facilitated

#1

Facilitating Trips

50+

Species to Fish

Join Us: Get monthly newsletters, discount offers and new content notifications exclusively for our members. Join for FREE below with your name and email.

Read Our Newest Blogs

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam

Amazon Peacock Bass Fishing

Lures for Amazon Peacock Bass Fishing

July 02, 20255 min read

What Kind of Crazy Fish Hits These Lures?

Lures for Amazon Peacock Bass Fishing

Peacock bass are not your average gamefish. These apex predators explode on lures with incredible aggression and power—especially when in full feeding mode. That’s why some of the top-producing lures for these fish are oversized, noisy, and downright wild-looking. When you see the size of some prop baits, you may wonder, “What kind of crazy fish attacks that?” The answer: the giant peacock bass of the Amazon.

When peacocks are crashing bait in a feeding frenzy, you could probably throw a sandal and get a strike. But when conditions are less than perfect—and they often are—lure selection becomes critical. The following guidelines cover the most productive options and when to use them.

If you're fishing with Acute Angling, we provide all lures as part of your all-inclusive trip. Your fishing guide will ensure you're using the right lure at the right time and in the right way. If you're fishing with another company, you’ll need to bring your own tackle—so focus on the proven winners listed below.

Top 4 Lure Categories for Peacock Bass

Amazon Peacock Bass Fishing

1. Choppers and Poppers

These are the most iconic lures in peacock bass fishing—big, loud, and responsible for some of the most explosive topwater strikes you’ll ever experience.

We recommend bringing at least six prop baits in a variety of colors and sizes, focusing on models in the 1-2 oz range. Smaller prop baits can be used but strong/saltwater grade hooks and splits rings are needed for trophy-class fish. If you have standard freshwater hooks and rings you will need to swap them out.

Our top picks include:

RipRoller and Hydro Popper Lures

These baits shine in slightly choppy or stained water, when their vibration helps fish locate the target. Few things match the adrenaline rush of a giant Amazonian peacock bass fish crushing a prop bait.

peacock bass jig

2. Jigs

If there’s one lure you can’t afford to be without, it’s a properly tied ½ oz. peacock bass jig. Strip it in like a streamer fly pattern by reeling after each jig. Don’t jig it slowly like a largemouth bass lure. Peacocks hit moving lures. They rarely take a lure on a slow drop.

No lure catches more peacock bass under varied conditions. We provide all jigs on our trips, but if you’re tying your own or shopping ahead, go for Sidewinder's Peacock Bass Rattle Jig. Use wide-gap 6/0 extra-strong hooks and tie in vibrant colors like yellow/red or red/white.

Plan to bring at least 12–24 jigs, especially if fishing in piranha-laden waters. For tying tips and materials, check out our dedicated Peacock Bass Jig Guide.

peacock bass subsurface lures

3. Subsurface Lures

Swimming plugs are versatile, easy to use, and effective across a range of Amazon conditions. They perform well in clear or stained water and are a great option when fish are holding subsurface. Bring at least six, and vary the action and speed until the fish show a preference.

Top options include:

subsurface lures for peacock bass fishing

4. Walking Stickbaits

Sometimes, surface action is the ticket. Walking baits create a side-to-side "sashaying" motion (also known as “walk the dog” retrieve) that can trigger brutal strikes, especially in calm water or when fish are wary. Three to four of these should be enough for the trip, especially if you mix in a few quiet topwaters for flat water conditions.

Top options:

walking stickbait lures

soft plastic lures

Soft Plastics: Effective but Vulnerable

Soft plastic baits can be very effective for catching peacock bass, especially in calm water or when fish are finicky. Paddle tails, swimbaits, and flukes rigged on jig heads or weighted hooks often produce solid strikes, particularly when fish are holding deeper or avoiding topwater.

Peacock Bass Soft Plastic Lures

But there’s a tradeoff—durability. Peacock bass are aggressive and known for tearing up soft plastics quickly, even on a single fish. And there’s a bigger issue lurking in the water: piranhas. These toothy nuisances are notorious for shredding soft plastic baits.They can be a good option when the situation calls for a subtle presentation, but be prepared to lose several of them a day.

Additional Lures to Consider

While most of your success will come from the four categories above, a few specialty baits can fill in the gaps when conditions get tough.

Chatterbait and Silver Minnow Lures

peacock bass lures

Matching Lures to Water Conditions

Here's a quick guide for choosing the right lure based on water clarity, surface conditions, and light level:

  • Choppy or stained water: Go loud—use a prop bait or rattle jig.

  • Calm, clear water: Try a quiet topwater like a Zara Spook or a silent swimmer like the Red Fin.

  • Bright light or hot weather: Consider a deeper-running lure or jig.

  • When fish won’t commit on top: Switch to a swimming plug or jig and work it patiently.

  • When there is high water: Loud noisy lures like a prop bait.

Don’t be afraid to change lures or vary your retrieve. Often, just one small adjustment can trigger a bite.

Upgrade Your Hooks: Amazon Demands Tough Gear

One of the most common mistakes anglers make is bringing lures straight out of a U.S. tackle box without checking their hardware. Standard freshwater hooks may be fine for largemouth or smallmouth bass—but they simply won’t hold up against the brutal strength of an Amazon peacock bass.

These fish strike violently, shake aggressively, and will test your gear on every hookset. To avoid heartbreak, swap out standard hooks and split rings for saltwater-grade replacements. You need heavy-duty, extra-strong components built to withstand the pressure and power of the Amazon's top predators.

peacock bass lures

Final Thoughts

Whether you're chasing a new peacock bass world record or just looking to land the next big fish of your dreams, it all starts with using the right tools. Every trip presents new challenges—changing water conditions, light levels, and fish behavior. The anglers who adapt and choose wisely tend to land the biggest and most memorable fish.

If you're fishing with Acute Angling, you're in good hands. Our guides are professionals and have years of experience helping anglers land giant peacock bass. And we handle all of the gear for you, from lures to rods and reels, we have you covered! Some anglers bring “lucky” lures or favorites from home. That’s fine—just don’t overpack. Stick to what works and remember that all tackle must meet airline weight restrictions and lures are not allowed in carry-on luggage.

But wherever you go, come prepared, pack smart, and match your tackle to the fishery. The Amazon rainforest fishing experience is one of the wildest and most rewarding in the world—and the right gear makes all the difference.

Now check out our incredible Amazon peacock bass trips!

amazon peacock basspeacock bass fishing
Acute Angling is a premier fishing company dedicated to providing unforgettable angling experiences in the Amazon. Specializing in peacock bass and other exotic species, they offer expert-guided trips in pristine waters.

Acute Angling

Acute Angling is a premier fishing company dedicated to providing unforgettable angling experiences in the Amazon. Specializing in peacock bass and other exotic species, they offer expert-guided trips in pristine waters.

Back to Blog

(866) 832-2987

(866) 832-2987