The Amazon River according to many earned its name from the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana in 1541 which was taken in honor of the female warriors he encountered on his voyage through the territory which was earlier called Maranon. The Amazon River basin is about 4,195 miles long covering 2,720,000 square miles in area including its 15,000 tributaries and subtributaries. In short, it is obviously the largest river basin in the world with its source  from Lake Lauricocha, in the Peruvian Andes  and ends at its mouth at the Atlantic ocean in Brazil with its tributaries extending through Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Records tell that 3000 species of freshwater fish could be found in this area, or maybe more. This fact has started a profitable touring business aimed at anglers who would dare the dense forest of the Amazon just to get to these prized catch which would otherwise be unavailable at other fishing destinations in the planet.  

Image Source

 Payara/Pirandira (Hydrolicus armatus ) are fresh water fishes from the family  Cynodontidae. They are characterized with a ferocious migratory nature quite similar in structure to the Atlantic salmon and share a similar metallic silver skin. The payara’s mouth differentiates it from other fishes owing to a set of razor sharp fangs protruding from the lower jaw. These fishes prefer extremely fast water where it could brave the currents and jump like a salmon. Growing 5-6 feet long, average type could weigh as much as 40 lbs and they are usually fished out in the Urariquera river in Brazil, Uraima Falls, the Caura River and several sections of the Orinoco and Ventuari Rivers (all in Venezuela). 

Image Source

Peacock Bass are types of fishes which belong to the genus Cichla within the Cichlidae family and includes 5 species, C. temensis, C. ocellaris, C. monoculus, C. orinocensis and C. intermedia.  Highly regarded eversince anglers discovered the abundant source of gamefish  in the Amazon, their  reproductive behavior is among the most complex and diverse of all fishes, and their specialization into extremely varied feeding niches is remarkable. But anglers know where they are really extraordinary … and that’s on the end of a fishing line. Like no other freshwater fish in the world, peacocks are the ultimate in violent strikes and sheer fighting power. With a recent redescription of the peacock bass, an additional 10 species was added and they are scattered all around the Amazon basin.

                                          Image Source

Amazon Giant Catfish belong to the order Siluriformes which is the second most diverse and most spectacular of the Amazon fish species. This order has 14 families which includes 1000 species, this makes Amazon account for almost half of all the catfish species in  the world.  Anglers prefer to pursue giant species of the family  Pimelodidae. Mostly caught like the monstrous piraiba (Brachyplatystoma filament-tosum) could average 8-10 feet long and weigh as much as 350 lbs.

  Image Source

Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) belongs to the order Osteoglossiformes which refers to an extremely ancient order of prehistoric freshwater fishes. The arapaima, paiche or pirarucú, as it is known in Brazil, is the largest, scaled, wholly freshwater fish in the world.  Fish over 3 meters (almost 10 feet) and up to 275 kg (600 lbs) have been recorded. 

 Image Source

 The Sardinata (Pellona castelnaeana) belong to the family Clupeidae which includes the herring, sardines and shad. Although mostly a marine family, the Amazon has more than ten species of these freshwater adapted schooling fishes.   Sardinata are the largest and are entirely predatory. These surface-oriented piscivores have a mouth structure, reminiscent of the tarpon, designed perfectly for attacking small insectivorous fishes. Sardinata grows to 3-4 feet and weighs at an average of 10 pounds.

  Image Source

The Dorado (Salminus brasilensis) belong to a group of distinct migratory gamefish not to be confused with the saltwater dolphin fish or mahi mahi (which is also called ‘el dorado’ in many Spanish-speaking countries).  Physically, the freshwater dorado is best described as a prehistoric golden trout or salmon with the jaws of a pit bull terrier.  Characterized as a hard-hitting, incredibly-strong, acrobatic fighters that attain weights in excess of 30-pounds they attain lengths as long as 4 feet. They are, in short, South America’s hyped-up version of a ‘tropical trout.’ Dorado are commonly found throughout a massive watershed between southern Brazil/Bolivia and Northern Argentina. 

Image Source

Piranha having been made famous in early horror-suspense movies (Piranha,1978) just after killer sharks (Jaws, 1975) made their screen debut, were among the most feared species of the Amazon fishes before anglers have charted through the Amazon and verified the characteristics of the fish themselves. Piranha belongs to a sub family Serrasalminae, within which are also included the pacu. They are, of course, distinguished by their very different teeth.  The Piranha’s dentition has made them the Hollywood horror stars of the fish world.  In spite of their vicious reputation, most species feed on fish, some specializing in hit and run scale eating.  The greatest danger they present to the angler is the safe removal of hooks from their horrid little snapping jaws. There are at least twenty species of  piranha (Serrasalmus sp.) swimming the rivers throughout the Amazon basin.  Some grow larger than 8-pounds and can be excellent light tackle adversaries.

Image Source

Tambaqui (Colossoma macroponum) belongs to a sub-family Colossoma.  An omnivorous characid relative of the piranha, tambaqui have dazzling teeth that look eerily like a set of human dentures. They have a golden to olive green back and an inky purple to black ventral area. These fish have amazing jaw strength as they often feed on rock hard jungle seeds.  They can crush a 4/0 saltwater hook as if it were made of baling wire.  These fish are so strong that the locals fish for them with stout green saplings secured to 120-pound monofilament, heavy cable and 6/0 tuna hooks!   Tambaqui can get huge.  Specimens of 3 feet in length and weighing in at over 70 pounds are not exceptional.

Image Source

Pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus) are among the less desirable fish taken out for food and as such not heavily harvested in the Amazon basin. Also a migratory species, these broad shouldered and brawny fish often reside near fast current and are perfectly fit for such an environment. Caught fishes of this type weighs between 10-25 pounds and grow as long as 3 feet.

  Image Source

Trairao (Hoplias lacerdae) attains weights in excess of 40-pounds and eats anything it darn well pleases.  The best place to catch these fish is in Northern Brazilian shield rivers such as the upper Jatapo or the aptly named Rio Trairao.  Uraima Falls and the tributaries feeding into Venezuela’s Guri Lake hold a big population of these outsized beasts.