As an expat living in Peru, who’s a very keen angler, sport fishing in Tambopata is one of those things that makes me glad that I chose Peru as my new home. The rivers around Puerto Maldonado are brimming with everything from huge catfish to monster arapaima (paiche).
It doesn’t matter what type of fishing you’re into, there’s something for you to catch in Tambopata. Though, admittedly the locals would look at you like you’re a little strange, if you were fly fishing. Not least because what you’d be used to catching, would be the bait in Tambopata.
Now, if you landed on this page looking for a touristy lake cruise in a canoe with a cane rod, to go dipping for silver piranha, you’re in the wrong place. If instead you want to go sport fishing for something that can put up a serious fight, read on!
Fishing in the Peruvian Amazon Tambopata
What fish species can you catch in Tambopata?
There’s over 200 species of fish found in Tambopata and the Madre de Dios river. Yet, of these there’s really only 8-10 target species that you’ll want to catch. They’re the fish species that you can gloat about with your friends, when you get back home.
The fish species that I personally target in Tambopata and that I’m systematically checking off my own list of dream catches in Peru, are as follows:
- Paiche (Arapaima)
- Payara
- Arowana
- Pacú (Paco or Giant Piranha)
- Tambaqui
- Tucunaré (Peacock bass)
- Piraiba (Lau or Goliath Catfish)
- Zungaro (Gilded catfish)
- Piro (Ripsaw catfish)
- Surubim (Tiger catfish)
There’s still a lot of other species that do appear as bycatch when fishing in the Peruvian amazon. And we’ve caught everything from freshwater stingrays and electric eels, through to freshwater barracuda (acestrorhynchus) and Piranha.
Some of these non-target species get absolutely huge and are also heaps of fun to catch. You see, that’s part of the fun when fishing in Tambopata. You never know what the next fish will be.
As long as it’s not a dreaded cañero, an ugly cousin of the candiru fish that swims up your ‘ding-dong’ when you pee in the river, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear. Yet, if you do get a cañero, I’d suggest you throw it to one of the many caiman!
Why do we go sport fishing in Tambopata?
In Peru, Tambopata is the perfect sport fishing destination for those of us who want to catch something big. You see, when I go fishing I want to catch something that can put up a fight.
I’m not interested in eating anything I catch. And I’m not particularly fond of the tase of freshwater river fish. Instead, we release almost everything unharmed. Though there are some species like the paco and peacock bass that I don’t mind eating. But the rest, to me at least, aren’t particularly appetizing.
Instead, when we go fishing we’re after bucket list fish that are big enough to put up a serious fight. As a sport fishing fanatic, I want to hear the drag on my reel absolutely screaming, as a manage to hook into something big.
On the Madre de Dios river, with its many tributaries and oxbow lakes, Tambopata really comes into it’s own. You never know what you might catch in any given spot. And that’s what makes it so much fun.
Basically, you rig up your line, cast and hope that you have the right bait and that your gear is heavy enough to handle whatever might be lurking about below the surface.
Fishing tip: Quite a few of the target species for anglers are rare or endnagered and should always be released. Particularly the paiche (arapaima) and larger varieties of catfish.
What fishing gear do you need?
I have three rods now and I’m about to add another rod and reel combo to my collection. I have one medium-heavy action rod and two longer medium action rods. The medium-heavy action rod is 7′ (213.36cm) long. The medium action rods are 9’2″ (279.4cm).
On all three rods I use spinner reels. I have two MGX titanium 4.0 reels with 20lbs (9kg) drag. And one MGX Paracas 6.0 reel with 26.5lbs (12kg) drag. The larger Paracas reel is rigged with 656 foot (200m) of 82.5lb (37.5kg) braid. And the other smaller titanium reels have 656 foot (200m) of 50lb (22.5kg) braid.
Now, the fourth rod and reel that I’ll be adding to my collection when I go fishing again in January, will be a shorter medium to medium-heay action baitcaster. And it to will be rigged with 50lb (22.5kg) braid.
As for tackle in Tambopata, basically anything goes. With the only rule being that you’ll need to use a nylon leader and steel trace. With heavy sinkers in the main river.
But for lures, you want surface poppers and other topwater formats. You also want to stay closer to natural colors. Like greens and silvers. Though most fish species in Tambopata will hit just about any lure that they see. And that too is part of the fun.
When I go fishing in Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata, I pack a huge selection of lures as you can see in the picture below. That’s just a small cross section of some of the gear that I personally took with me on my last trip.
Fishing tip: If you’re going to be using a reel that’s supplied by your fishing guide in Peru, and you’re right handed, be sure to let them know ahead of time. Most reels in Peru are sold in a left handed format and aren’t converted. Peruvian’s typically use their left hand to wind their reel. So, if you’re accustomed to operating a fishing reel with your right hand, you need to specify this to your fishing guide or ideally, bring your own fishing gear.
What is the best way to get to Puerto Maldonado?
You can fly directly to Puerto Maldonado from either Lima or Cusco. But because there’s very few airlines flying into Puerto Maldonado, prices are often much higher than alternate routes.
Now, I live in Lima and I balk at the idea of paying $200 USD or more each way to fly between Lima and Puerto Maldonado. So, I choose to instead fly from Lima to Cusco and then I go by road from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado.
Driving between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado is an experience in and of itself. The road from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado goes by way of Ausangate. And you need to drive from Cusco at 3400m (11,150ft) over Ausangate at 4900m (16,075ft) in order to go back down to Puerto Maldonado at sea level.
The scenery along the road between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado is visually stunning. And the road is lined with scenic lookouts, archaeological sites, streams, rivers and even waterfalls. Watching as the scenery changes from rolling grass covered hills to high peaks and then to dense rainforest, is an experience of a lifetime.
You see, if I was making a travel recommendation for a friend or family member, I’d tell them they need to take a road-trip between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado at least once on their fishing trip. And probably, at least once in their lifetime.
The scenery is just that spectacular. And the road trip itself, is only about 8 hours.
Where to find a fishing guide in Puerto Maldonado
There’s a lot of different guides to choose from in Puerto Maldonado. Yet, the prices can range from modest to absolutely ludicrous. And their ability to actually put you onto the fish or to find your target species, varies greatly.
So, I’ve created a both a website forum and a facebook group dedicated to the subject of fishing in Tambopata. I’d suggest you start planning your fishing adventure in Peru by joining the fishing in Peru facebook group. In the facebook group, you can ask me and my friends about our own experiences fishing in Peru and we can help you find the right fishing guide for you!
Fishing tip: Tambopata is significantly cheaper than Iquitos or fishing destinations in Colombia. If you’re wanting to go fishing in the Amazon, with the right guide, Tambopata in Peru can save you quite a bit of cash!
When is the best time to go fishing in Tambopata?
The best times to go fishing in the Amazon coincidentally coincide with the best times to visit Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Andean regions. The winter dry season is the best time to go fishing. And it runs from May to October. With the absolute peak season running from late June to early August.
During June through to August, you will find an abundance of fish species to target, including large numbers of very large paco (pacú). It’s also the time of year when the waters are lower, more of the oxbow lakes are accessible, beach camping is easier with the sandbars exposed and everything is all around better in the peruvian amazon.
Now, during the peak fishing season in Tambopata (June to August), you’ll find that the prices to go fishing are higher. It’s a trade-off of sorts. There’s more fishing to be done and more species available, the weather is better and there’s more to see and do. But it does come at a premium.
Personally, I’m more patient than the average angler and living here in Peru, I can stay longer and fish more. So, I go in the shoulder seasons when there’s less tourists and the prices are lower. I don’t mind the rain and I would rather pay less for my time fishing in the amazon.
So, I typically go fishing in Tambopata in early November through to March. At this time of year it is much hotter, it rains a lot more and the fish are harder to find. But for the cost difference, I don’t mind.
Be sure to join the fishing in Peru facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fishingperu
Safe travels and tight lines!
