Pirarucu Lodge is a haven for passionate fly fishing enthusiasts seeking the ultimate challenge: chasing the giant arapaima on a fly rod. This unparalleled journey into the heart of Brazil’s Amazon basin promises not only an angler’s dream but also an encounter with one of the world’s most remarkable and prehistoric aquatic giants. The pursuit of the arapaima at Pirarucu Lodge is a testament to the intersection of nature, sport, and adrenaline, set against the backdrop of a pristine paradise that few have the privilege to explore. This video gives a taste of what the fishing is like in this extraordinary setting.
Keep an eye on this page for the Pirarucu Lodge 2026 season fishing reports which include highlights and statistics from the season. Pirarucú is an extraordinary jungle lodge set in the largest arapaima reserve in the world. It’s the perfect spot from which to target these ancient fish which can grow to over 400lb and most closely resemble a freshwater tarpon. We will update the page with all the weekly news from the guides on the ground.
Pirarucu Lodge 2026 – week 5, three anglers, three boats
Some weeks are defined by a single giant fish. This one was defined by the way the water could be approached. With three anglers and three boats, each guest had a guide and boat dedicated entirely to their fishing, creating a highly focused setup with the freedom to adjust locations, pace, and presentations throughout the day.
That flexibility became especially valuable as falling water continued to reshape the fishery. Arapaima, tambaqui, and arowana were increasingly concentrated in different areas, making guide decisions and daily adaptation an important part of the experience. The result was a varied week across all three species, with 79 fish landed and each boat able to follow the opportunities developing in front of it.
River Conditions
Water levels continued to fall, concentrating different species in more defined areas. These changes created new sight fishing opportunities and allowed guides to focus more precisely on the zones holding fish as conditions evolved.
Fishing Stats
Total fish landed: 79
Arapaima: 12
Tambaqui: 25
Arowana: 42
Highlights of the Week
One angler per boat gave Week 5 a different rhythm.
Each guide could dedicate full attention to a single angler, adjusting the day around the conditions and the opportunities in each area. The setup offered more flexibility in how the water was approached and allowed every boat to develop its own fishing strategy throughout the day.
The week delivered strong variety across the fishery.
Arowana accounted for much of the action, tambaqui brought their characteristic strength, and arapaima delivered the powerful encounters that remain at the center of Pirarucú. With all three species responding differently to the falling water, each required its own approach and kept the fishing dynamic from one area to the next.
As the river continues to fall, fish are becoming increasingly concentrated and the fishery is entering another phase of the season. These changes are creating more defined sight fishing opportunities and allowing guides to refine where they focus their efforts each day.
Pirarucu Lodge 2026 – week 4, giants throughout the week
Six anglers took to the water at Pirarucú for a week defined by consistent encounters with giant arapaima. Some of the group arrived as part of a combo journey with Rio Marié, bringing together two very different Amazon fisheries within the same trip. At Pirarucú, the focus quickly shifted to the scale and power of arapaima, with exceptional fish appearing throughout the week.
Ross and his fishing partner Jim delivered one of the standout performances, landing 19 arapaima between them, including six fish measuring over two meters. The defining encounter came when Ross connected with a remarkable 2.27m arapaima, a fish that captured exactly what makes this fishery so distinctive on fly tackle: immense size, raw power, and the prehistoric presence of one of the Amazon’s most extraordinary freshwater species.
River Conditions
Water levels continued to fall throughout the week, gradually concentrating fish in more specific areas. This shift created new sight fishing opportunities and allowed guides to focus on the zones where conditions were most favorable.
Fishing Stats
Total fish landed: 129
Arapaima: 43
Arowana: 62
Tambaqui: 24
Highlights of the Week
Large arapaima were a consistent presence, with memorable encounters developing across multiple days of fishing.
Ross and Jim landed 19 arapaima between them, including six measuring over two meters. That consistency with truly large fish became one of the week’s defining stories.
Among all those encounters, Ross’s 2.27m arapaima stood apart.
A fish of this scale on fly tackle demands precise execution from the presentation through the final stages of the fight. Its size, strength, and presence at close range made it one of the most significant catches of the 2026 season so far.
The six anglers finished the week with 129 fish across arapaima, arowana, and tambaqui.
While the giant arapaima defined many of the biggest moments, arowana and tambaqui added another dimension to the fishing, bringing visual action, technical variety, and a completely different kind of challenge throughout the week.
The river continues to fall, and with each change in water level, the fishery enters a new phase. Fish are becoming increasingly concentrated in specific areas, creating new sight-fishing opportunities and allowing guides to refine where and how they focus their efforts.
With giant arapaima continuing to appear and the river still evolving, the coming weeks should reveal another chapter of the 2026 season.
Pirarucu Lodge 2026 – week 3, a new lodge record
A group of six anglers arrived at Pirarucú as part of a combo journey with Rio Marié, bringing four men and two women together for two focused days on the water. From the start, the group found strong action across arapaima, tambaqui, and arowana, quickly settling into the rhythm of a fishery that continued to evolve with falling water levels.
The defining moment came on the very first fishing day, when both women in the group completed a Jungle Slam. Each landed an arapaima, an arowana, and a tambaqui in the same day, combining three very different species and three distinct fly fishing challenges in one remarkable achievement. Across the two fishing days, the Tailwaters group landed 45 fish, creating another memorable chapter in the 2026 season.
Weather Conditions
Warm Amazonian temperatures, bright sunshine, and typical tropical conditions accompanied the group throughout their stay. The weather allowed for full days on the water and consistent opportunities across the fishery.
River Conditions
Water levels continued to gradually fall, opening new areas and creating changing sight fishing opportunities. As visibility evolved, anglers and guides adjusted presentations throughout the day, with accuracy and quick adaptation remaining essential.
Fishing Stats
Total fish landed: 45
Arapaima: 13
Tambaqui: 9
Arowana: 23
Highlights of the Week
The first fishing day delivered the defining achievement of the week, when our two lady anglers completed their own Jungle Slam, each landing an arapaima, an arowana, and a tambaqui in the same day.
Three species, three very different behaviors, and three distinct challenges on fly tackle. Completing one Jungle Slam is already a significant achievement. Seeing two happen on the same day made this one of the standout moments of the 2026 season so far.
Across the two fishing days, the group experienced the full contrast of the Pirarucú fishery.
Arowana brought fast, visual action. Tambaqui delivered their unmistakable strength. Arapaima added the scale, power, and prehistoric presence that make this fishery so distinctive.
With 45 fish landed across the three species, the group experienced just how varied Amazon fly fishing can be from one encounter to the next.
Pirarucu Lodge 2026 – week 2, a new lodge record
During the second week of the 2026 season, seven anglers continued their Rio Marié journey with a dedicated three-day extension at Pirarucú. The group quickly found a remarkably productive rhythm on the water, with memorable encounters involving arapaima, powerful tambaqui, and active arowana—one of those chapters that immediately earns its place in Pirarucú history.
Weather Conditions
Warm Amazonian temperatures and strong sunshine marked the three fishing days, accompanied by typical tropical conditions. With a shorter schedule than usual, guides and anglers made every hour on the water count.
River Conditions
Water levels continued to gradually drop throughout the week. As visibility improved, new areas and sight fishing opportunities emerged, requiring anglers to stay attentive and adjust their presentations as conditions evolved.
Fishing Stats
Total fish landed: 82
Arapaima: 17
Tambaqui: 22
Arowana: 43
Biggest arapaima: 277cm
Highlights of the Week
For nearly a decade, 249cm had remained the benchmark at Pirarucú. Established in 2016, that record stood untouched until this week.
Andy changed that with an extraordinary 277cm arapaima.
Landing a fish of this scale on fly tackle requires far more than strength. From the presentation to the final stages of the fight, every decision matters when an arapaima of this size is on the line.
The result is a new lodge record and a moment that will remain part of Pirarucú history for years to come.
Over three days, the group landed 82 fish across three distinctly different species.
Arowana delivered visual, explosive action; tambaqui brought their characteristic power; and arapaima produced the encounters that define this fishery. The variety kept each day dynamic, with one opportunity following another.
Pirarucu Lodge 2026 – week 1, the first giant of 2026
Nine anglers opened the 2026 season surrounded by the flooded forests of the Mamirauá Reserve, where changing conditions immediately demanded careful reading of the water. Long casts, accurate presentations, and sight-fishing opportunities shaped the first days as guides and anglers adapted to a river that was steadily transforming. As levels fell and clarity improved, the fishery gradually revealed new areas and new opportunities.
Arapaima remained at the centre of the experience, producing powerful encounters that showed exactly why targeting these prehistoric Amazon giants with fly tackle is unlike almost anything else in freshwater fishing. Tambaqui brought their characteristic strength and demanding fights, while arowana added visual surface action throughout the week. Together, the three species created a dynamic start to the season and an early glimpse of the diversity that defines Pirarucú.
Weather Conditions
Warm temperatures, strong periods of sunshine, and occasional tropical showers marked the opening days of the season. Typical Amazon conditions accompanied the group throughout long days on the water without disrupting the fishing rhythm.
River Conditions
The season began with high water, but levels gradually dropped throughout the week. As the river receded, visibility improved, and new fishing areas began to emerge, creating better opportunities to locate arapaima and make precise presentations.
Fishing Stats
Total number of Arapaima: 27
Biggest fish landed: 208cm (6.8 feet)
Other species:
52 Tambaqui
57 Arowana
Highlights of the week
The defining fish of the opening week was a magnificent 208cm arapaima. Its immense size and explosive strength created the kind of demanding battle that captures exactly what makes pursuing these prehistoric giants on fly tackle so distinctive.
Pirarucú Lodge also welcomed the Head Guide from Marié Lodge, who joined the guiding team during the opening week. Sharing boats, techniques, observations, and time on the water brought together two experienced Amazon fishing teams and added another special element to the start of the season.
If you have found these Pirarucu Lodge 2025 fishing reports interesting and would like more information then please do not hesitate to contact Peter by EMAIL or call our office on +44(0)1980 847 389
