Keep an eye on this page for the Xingu River 2026 season fishing reports which include highlights and statistics from the season. The Xingu River is the best payara destination on the planet and an amazing environment with lots of runs, rapids and pools with very consistent fishing. As well as payara there are more than ten other species anglers can target on the fly such as peacock bass, wolfish, matrincha, pacu, bicuda, and surubí.
Xingu – Week 1: 23 to 29 May
The first week of the season at Xingu Lodge opened with strong fishing, great moments on the water, and the unmistakable atmosphere that makes this river so different from anywhere else in the Amazon.
We welcomed a group of six American anglers, including some familiar friends returning to these waters. From the start, the river delivered the kind of variety that defines this destination: clear action, powerful fish, and a rhythm that kept every day on the water exciting.
The week brought together multiple species, great moments with the group, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a river surrounded by forest, wildlife, and ancient knowledge from the indigenous partners. It was a complete Xingu experience, shaped not only by the fishing, but by everything that happens around it.
Fishing Highlights
Fishing remained productive throughout the week, with consistent action in different environments and several species responding well.
Peacock bass were present in strong numbers, bringing explosive strikes and memorable fights. Bicudas added speed and aggression to the week, while matrinxã kept the action dynamic in the clearer waters. The group also landed beautiful catfish species, including jaú and pirarara (red tail catfish), bringing even more diversity to an already remarkable opening week.
But the true highlight was the payara activity. Seeing these fish feeding on the surface is not an everyday event, and this week gave every angler in the group the chance to experience it firsthand.
Fishing Stats
Total fish landed: 183
Payara: 25
Peacock Bass: 80
Bicuda: 35
Matrinxã: 30
Pacu: 14
Jaú: 8
Pirarara: 5
Beyond the Fishing
Guests experienced the remarkable diversity of the Xingu ecosystem through guided jungle walks and cultural exchanges with the Kayapó people. Accompanied by local Indigenous leaders, they explored the forest, learned about traditional uses of native plants, and gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between the Kayapó and their territory. Encounters with wildlife throughout the week added another dimension to the journey, reinforcing that Xingu is as much about immersion in one of the world’s most intact wilderness areas as it is about the fishing itself.
If you have found these Xingu River Lodge 2026 fishing reports interesting and would like more information then please do not hesitate to contact us by EMAIL or call our office on +44(0)1980 847 389
