amazon river and cochas — iquitos
The capital of the Peruvian Amazon, with no road to the rest of the country. Peacock bass and arowana in the cochas; paiche with a season and minimum size.
Iquitos sits on the bank of the Amazon, near the mouths of the Nanay and Itaya, and can only be reached by plane or boat. Around it are blackwater and whitewater rivers and hundreds of floodplain lakes, the cochas. Peacock bass (Cichla monoculus) is the target of casting in the cochas and at igarapé (creek) mouths. Arowana (arahuana) strikes on the surface along the edges, and paco (pirapitinga) and gamitana (tambaqui) feed on fruit in the flooded forest. Paiche is the region's symbol fish, but it has a season and a minimum size. Trips leave by boat: day trips from town or as part of jungle lodge packages.
best season
Falling water and low water, July to November, when the cochas drop and peacock bass concentrate. Paiche can only be fished from March to September.
Local rules: Paiche: only from March to September (closed Oct 1 to Feb 28) and at least 160 cm; better to release it. Individual sport fishing does not require a fishing permit in the Peruvian Amazon; on a sport fishing boat, an access fee of 0.005 UIT per person per day is paid, covering catches up to 10 kg (DS 015-2009-PRODUCE). In a protected area, such as Pacaya-Samiria, only with an operator authorized by SERNANP. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Flights from Lima and other Peruvian cities; there is no road linking Iquitos to the rest of the country. The Iquitos–Nauta road leads to the Marañón River. Passenger boats run up and down the Amazon.
- facilities
- Hotels in town, jungle lodges on nearby rivers, boats and fishing guides.
- country
- Loreto, Peru
tip
In the cochas, go in by paddle and fish early: lake peacock bass are wary. For arowana, use a small surface lure and a very sharp hook, since the mouth is hard.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Peru
In the Amazon, the Fisheries Management Regulation (DS 015-2009-PRODUCE) says individual sport fishing does not require a fishing permit; anyone fishing from a sport fishing vessel pays an access fee of 0.005 UIT per person per day, for total catch of up to 10 kg. At sea, individual sport fishing is treated as non-commercial and there is no specific license. In a natural protected area, enter with an operator authorized by SERNANP and pay the entry fee.
- Blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin and sailfish: commercial fishing and sale prohibited; in sport fishing, catch and release only (DS 009-2008-PRODUCE).
- Paiche (arapaima): season from March to September; fishing, holding, transporting and selling prohibited from October 1 to February 28 in public waters, except in the Putumayo basin (RM 215-2001-PE, amended by RM 320-2020-PRODUCE).
- Paiche: minimum catch size of 160 cm total length (RM 147-2001-PE, section 4.3, kept by DS 015-2009-PRODUCE).
- In natural protected areas of the Amazon, fishing follows the area's master plan and the fisheries management programs approved with SERNANP.
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official PRODUCE — Decreto Supremo 015-2009-PRODUCE (Reglamento de Ordenamiento Pesquero de la Amazonía Peruana)Text on FAOLEX (FAO); sport fishing in art. 8
- official El Peruano — Resolución Ministerial 00320-2020-PRODUCE (temporada de pesca del paiche)Season March to September; closed Oct 1 to Feb 28, except in the Putumayo basin
- official Ministerio de Pesquería — Resolución Ministerial 147-2001-PE (tallas mínimas en la Amazonía)Text on FAOLEX (FAO); paiche 160 cm