Kendjam is a stunning spot where anglers can target a variety of species in the remote crystal clear waters of the Amazon basin. Along with fishing, visitors will enjoy fascinating indigenous culture, fabulous wildlife, birdlife, and scenery. All told, a fly fishing holiday in Brazil is a truly memorable experience and so much more than just an angling expedition. You’ll find the week-by-week season reports here while this Kendjam 2026 season end report sums up the action from another unforgettable year.
Ten weeks, one remarkable season
A season on the Iriri is never just one story.
It is shaped by changing water, precise casts, explosive takes, returning friends, first-time anglers, and moments that happen when nobody is looking at a fly. Over ten weeks, the 2026 season moved through all of them.
Some days were defined by numbers. Others by a single fish, a family sharing the river, or an unexpected encounter with the wild. Together, they created a season that could only have happened here.
Here are some stories that defined Kendjam 2026
More than 3,500 fish and extraordinary diversity
Across ten weeks, anglers landed a total of 3,674 fish, reflecting the extraordinary diversity that continues to define the Iriri.
Peacock bass remained a constant presence throughout the season, while matrinxã, bicuda, wolf fish, payara, rubber pacu, silver pacu, redtail catfish, jaú, and other species continuously changed the pace and approach of each day.
The numbers were impressive. The variety behind them was even more important.
The Fish that set the benchmarks
Several catches became reference points for the season. Matt landed the largest peacock bass of 2026 at 66cm, with the help of Rafael Costa during one of his returns to the guiding boat. Wolf fish reached 88cm, while an 86cm payara and an 83cm bicuda added even more weight to an already memorable season.
The lighter side of the spectrum delivered its own standout fish. A 54cm matrinxã became one of the largest seen at Kendjam, while several rubber pacu surpassed 50cm and rewarded some of the most precise presentations of the year.
Different species, different approaches, and a collection of fish that showed just how varied a season on the Iriri can be.
The Iriri kept changing
The season began with exceptional clarity and strong opportunities for sight fishing. Stable levels during the opening weeks allowed anglers to see fish before making their presentations and, in many cases, watch the entire encounter unfold.
As levels gradually dropped, new opportunities appeared. Rocky structure became increasingly important, faster moving water demanded more accurate presentations, and by the final weeks, low water had opened excellent opportunities for wading.
Then the rain arrived.
The final weeks became another reminder that the Iriri never stays the same for long, and that adapting to the river is always part of fishing it.
From explosive strikes to delicate takes
One of the defining characteristics of the season was contrast.
Peacock bass, bicuda, wolf fish, and payara brought speed, aggression, and explosive encounters. At other moments, rubber pacu and matrinxã required a completely different approach, responding to dry flies, nymphs, and subtle presentations.
Week Eight captured that contrast particularly well, with anglers moving between powerful surface action and far more delicate fishing within the same days.
The diversity of Kendjam is not simply about how many species live in the Iriri. It is also about how differently those species ask to be caught.
The moments beyond fishing
Not every defining moment happened at the end of a fly line.
A rare tapir sighting marked week two. Week five brought two jaguar sightings, turning an already strong fishing week into something impossible to plan.
As the season moved toward its final weeks, another natural cycle became visible along the riverbanks with the end of the tracajá turtle egg season, connecting wildlife, the river, and the Kayapó people in a rhythm that extends far beyond fishing.
These encounters are part of what makes every week different. The fish may bring anglers to the Iriri, but the surrounding territory constantly reminds them where they are.
If you would you have enjoyed reading this Kendjam 2026 season end report and would like more information on fishing in Brazil please do not hesitate to contact Olly Thompson or call our office on +44(0)1980 847 389.
Learn more about fishing at Kendjam in the video below:
