Multi-Species Amazon Fishing Adventures
Not all Amazon fishing trips are about peacock bass. Some are about something broader—something wilder. Acute Angling’s multi-species expeditions open the door to a different kind of Amazon experience: one that blends intense fishing action with a deep immersion into the jungle itself. These trips focus on a variety of powerful predators, including the fierce payara, massive Amazon catfish, sharp-toothed black piranha, and other exciting species like wolfish, bicuda, and matrinxã. It’s fishing at its most unpredictable—and most exciting.
At the center of it all is the payara, a razor-fanged predator that strikes with shocking speed and puts up aerial battles that test even the most experienced anglers. Beneath the surface, enormous redtail catfish, jau, and elusive piraíba haunt the river bottom, offering deep, grinding fights that demand strength, patience, and endurance. Between these giants, the river remains alive with aggressive secondary species, providing action from the first cast to the last.
Payara & Multi-Species Focused Trips
Rio Aripuana
Variety, Action, and Jungle Beauty
This remote river delivers a high-action mix of payara, giant catfish, bicuda, Pinima peacock bass, and other species, in a setting that's both pristine and productive. Anglers stay in a comfortable jungle lodge with air-conditioned cabanas and enjoy six full days of non-stop fishing in rich, protected waters.
XINGU RIVER
Remote Fishing with Cultural Connection
Set in the Kayapo indigenous reserve, the Xingu trip blends great multi-species fishing with a chance to engage with one of the Amazon’s native communities. You'll catch payara, giant catfish, Melaniae peacock bass, and more while experiencing an unforgettable cultural exchange in one of the most remote places we go.
What truly sets these trips apart is the setting. You’ll fish in some of the Amazon’s most untouched and remote regions—where the jungle hums with life and every day brings incredible encounters. Monkeys call from the treetops, giant river otters slide along the banks, and macaws, toucans, and capybaras are common sights. Lucky anglers might even spot a tapir crossing a sandbar—or catch a glimpse of a jaguar in the early morning light. These trips don’t just feel like the Amazon—they are the Amazon, in all its raw beauty and intensity.
Our multi-species trips are timed to maximize the opportunities of catching the biggest variety in fish species. With expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and seamless logistics, you’ll be in the right place at the right time—ready to experience the jungle’s fiercest fishing in an atmosphere that’s both wild and welcoming.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
“This experience was way beyond my expectations! I would recommend it to everyone that likes fishing. All of the staff were just incredible and took excellent care of us.”
- Mark S.
“Great trip! Fun atmosphere, wonderful food, and very comfortable accommodations. We caught 15 different types of fish and had a blast.”
- Travis W.
“Multi-species trip was extraordinary.”
- Dawn S.
“My father and I caught over 13 different species of fish! Total slam dunk”
- James S.
“Trip of a lifetime! Don't hesitate!”
- Bret A.
“Peacock Bass has been #1 on my bucket list for a very very long time. It was a trip of a lifetime. The bonus was catching all the other species. Giant Piraiba, Redtails, Piranha, Payara, and Jundia just to name a few. If anyone is thinking about a trip like this you need to look up Acute Angling. You won't be disappointed.”
- Laura S.
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The Redtail Catfish: A Quick Overview
The Redtail Catfish (know as Pirarara in Brazil) can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. Its distinctive reddish-orange tail and large, paddle-like fins set it apart from other catfish. Found primarily in the Amazon Basin, these fish thrive in slow-moving rivers and floodplains.
Grady Field with a Rio Aripuanã Red Tail
The Current IGFA was caught in 2010 in the Rio Amazonas, Brazil. It weighed 123 pounds (1).
Best Times to Fish
It really depends on the location. Smaller tributary rivers often fish better when water rises whereas lower elevation/flood pulse rivers fish better when the water is at its lowest and the redtails are more concentrated (and not in the flooded forest. More on that later).
Many anglers claim that early morning and late afternoon are the best times to target Redtails. However, I have seen them landed during the day as well.
Gear and Tactics
When it comes to gear, a sturdy rod paired with a high-capacity reel filled with 100 lb braided line is needed. These catfish often lurk near boulders, fallen trees, and other underwater obstructions so a heavy braided line is a must. The line is run through an egg sinker and then attached to a swivel, cable, circle hook combo.
If water levels and clarity allow, Red Tails can also be caught on lures (2). If you spot one in a clear or blackwater river, try running a sinking minnow or jig a few feet away from the Red Tails head.
Unique from other Giant Catfish
According to book Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco and Guianas Redtail catfish belong to the family Pimelodidae-Long Whiskered Catfish. Many of the popular large catfish species the Amazon is famous for also belong to this family such as the: Piraiba, Jau, and Surubim. (3)
While many of these larger catfish are carnivorous the diet of a Redtail also includes fruits. An educated guess leads me to believe that falling fruits coincide with their movements into flooded forest habitat per page 305, “One of the few species of giant catfishes frequently found in flooded forest. Consumes a large variety of food types, including fish, crabs, and fruits.” (3)
Josh Wilhelmsen with a Rio Aripuanã Red Tail
Catch One Yourself
If you want to catch a Redtail we recommend a Multi-Species destination such as the Rio Aripuanã. These giants are powerful and a fun challenge for anglers. They are beautiful fish and holding one while releasing it back to its native waters is a thrill for all anglers.
Resources
2024 IGFA World Record Game Fishes. Print Edition. Page 155.
CATFISHNOW. https://catfishnow.com/pluggin-the-amazons-redtail-catfish/
Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, & Guiana. Sleen, Peter & Albert, James. Pages 299 & 305.
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