A group of us are going to Brazil in about 6 weeks to chase Peacocks on the Amazon. It will be the first time for most of us… any tips or pointers?

Also, I’m needing a high speed bait caster RH reel with a decent size spool for large braid if anyone happens to have one for sale.

Thanks!

shimano tranx 400 hg 7.6 : 1 I dont have one for sale but use it for tarpon, snook, and throwing 5 and 6 inch swimbaits for bass... should work great for the biggest peacocks they have down there... have caught a lot of the peacocks in florida but havent fished the Amazon... saltwater rapala x rap, long cast.. runs to 5 feet depths

I've been 3x, so not an expert, but have some thoughts. I'd stay with a 200-sized spool. Yes, they pull drag but they're not going to go on 200 yard run so you don't need massive line capacity. At the same time, they like every presentation super-fast, and in my experience they eat best midday when it's HOT, so a heavier reel is going to tire you out.

The Chopper is the most exciting way to catch them, but don't sleep on the heavy duty hair jig. Produces numbers and big fish and not quite as hard to work.

Sounds good! Our outfitter provides our lures but I’ve heard they can be pretty beat up at times. I’ve got a few new choppers and some big jigs as well. I plan to get a couple larger X-raps too before leaving.

Take some Emergen-C or other electrolyte power and drink one every morning with breakfast. Then drink a water (or electrolyte drink) every time you move the boat. We found that if we didn't do that our hands would cramp up while sleeping that evening.

Also, bring extra 3x and 4x trebles.
And if you have time in Manaus, go to Sucuri Pesca. It's an amazing little tackle store with hundreds of lures you've never seen before.

went 2 years ago with ron speed…..great experience…suggest kast king 10-1 ratio reel …they furnish rods & tackle …I bought kast king 7-1 ratio reel …great reel but need higher ratio for ripping topwaters….carry good light weight rsinsuit….65 lb braid….

Sun screen and several pairs of gloves. Big floppy hat wouldn't hurt either

We are going with Ron Speed as well. I’ve fished with his a few times in Mexico. Always top notch experiences!

tackle and rod selection was good for us…..food excellent and living on houseboat for a week was neat experience…

Drink lots of water.
Apply plenty of powerful bug spray.
Check your line and retie often.

A lot of what you are asking really depends on who you are going with.

I am a tackle snob as much as anyone but no way would I mess with taking my stuff down there unless I was fishing with a lower tier guide service where I was worried about gear. Our group had all Shimano gear rigged perfectly for what we did.

This the list of important things for me:
*Hydration packs - my favorites at GoHydrate
*whatever you like to use for sun protection - it needs to be good - you will get hot
*Water shoes of some type in case you leave the boat to find a lagoon back in the forest
*Some ziploc bags - these are for taking snacks or small supplies out on the boat without having to take a backpack that you don't want to get wet
*Specific booze if preferred - I am a Crown Royal drinker and it doesn't exist down there so I took my own in plastic bottles
*LESS clothes than you think - most of the better places wash your clothes DAILY
*Light rain jacket

I went with Speed.

Fast reels. I brought a Shimano Mentanium 8:1 with a couple of backup 7:1 Curados. 200 series reel is fine. Metanium was perfect. Threw it 90% of the time. I could cast as far as anyone. You can throw 65# braid. They use 80#. Get a big spool of Suffix 832 65#.

Plenty of sun protection. Big floppy hat. It gets hot and you are close to the equator. Sun can be intense. You don’t need a lot on the boat when out. They have a jug of water and cups. That’s what I used. Got to be sure to stay hydrated. Day is 6am to 6 pm. Back at the boat at 11 or so for lunch. Back out about 2pm. Bring some energy snacks. You also need super comfortable shoes to stay all day a fling the chopper. You will move around some but lots of standing up and casting.

Speed has plenty of good rods and Woodchoppers. No need to take them.

Bring fishing gloves and tape for your hands. You are throwing a big Woodchopper and repeatedly ripping it back in. No telling how many casts per day but it’s a lot. Big fish seem prefer the chopper. All our larger fish were on them except maybe one or two which were on a big jerk bait.

No mosquitoes to worry about. None. Zero.

The Caipirinha drink was good after a hot day. We went with them every evening. Give them a try. Food is decent. Nothing spectacular. If you don’t eat it at one meal you will see it again repurposed in some way.

Otter is a great home base boat. Not much late night, It wears you out. Most were out by 9pm.

Great trip. You should have a super time. Boats were Bass Tracker types. They get the job done. They rotate guides daily. Some speak better English than others.

Went a couple of years ago, with a group of guys that go twice a year. Had a great time this was their first trip on Captain Peacocks floating hotel. They were blown away by the main boat, their fishing boats and guides. I’ve been to Mexico 6 times with Ron Speed and this trip was far and way better.
I always take my own gear, for this trip I took two heavy action loomis rods and one medium heavy action rod all 7 foot w Shimano mg 50 reel and 50 # braid.
There are no mosquitos when you are on the river, but if you go to the shore for lunch or “relief “ they will eat you up.

I took a few choppers, a few Zara spooks, a few hard jerk baits and few seible Magic Shad’s. Found out quickly that you can’t fish a chopper properly on a 7 foot rod. 6 foot rod max to rip the chopper with your wrists. Spook and magic Shad’s produced, after the second day I was using the guides Brazilian made x rap and feathered jigs. I caught our biggest fish 21.8 pounds on x rap, had a 17 pounder just before the big one, we had another 21 pounder that came on a feather jig.
Some of our boats were catching 40 to 50 - 4 to 8 pound peacocks on a 3 inch yozuri jerk baits.

Most of our fish were caught on sandy banks with brushy cover, open water in front of trees were a waste of time. Make sure you ask to catch some piranha to eat they are fantastic.
Going back with my son for his college graduation gift in 2 years

Good luck and have fun

Thank you all for the great advice. Did anyone get any shots or take malaria meds at all as a preventative?

I took Maladrone antimalarial on the first trip. Gave me absolutely crazy dreams. Did not take it on subsequent trips, mostly because we didn't see/experience mosquitos.
Still worth seeing your MD or a travel doctor, as everyone's medical needs differ.