rupununi and rewa — rewa eco-lodge
Arapaima (paiche) on fly, catch and release only, at a lodge built and run by the Rewa indigenous village.
Rewa is a village of the Macushi, Patamona, Wapishana and Wai-Wai peoples at the confluence of the Rewa and Rupununi rivers, in the North Rupununi. The Rewa Eco-Lodge, opened in 2005, was built and is run by the community itself. Arapaima (paiche) is fished only on fly and always released: guides measure and tag each fish to track the population, in partnership with researchers. Community management of arapaima in the North Rupununi helped recover the population after years of overfishing. Near the lodge, on spinning gear, you can catch peacock bass, piranha, haimara (trairão) and surubim. There are 8- to 12-day expeditions up the Rewa River to the Corona Falls, with camping.
best season
October to April, catch-and-release season set by the lodge. From mid-May to mid-August the flood closes operations.
Local rules: Arapaima: catch and release only, and fly only in Rewa's operations. In the North Rupununi, community management by the NRDDB applies, which banned arapaima fishing by outsiders. The national catch-and-release regulation was drafted in 2016 and, as of 2017, there was no specific license yet: confirm with the Fisheries Department whether it has been adopted. Indigenous land: follow the community's rules. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Flight from Georgetown to Lethem or the Georgetown–Lethem road; then car to Kwatamang Landing and boat to Rewa. There is also a chartered flight to Apoteri and a boat.
- facilities
- Small community lodge, with solar power, meals and village guides. It fills up fast: book in advance.
- country
- Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Região 9), Guyana
tip
Arapaima fishing is a game of patience: it surfaces to breathe and shows where it is. Bring DEET repellent and a long-sleeved shirt.
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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 Guyana
We did not confirm a national sport fishing license for tourists in inland waters. In Rupununi, fishing is done through community lodges, which follow the rules of the communities and the Ministry of Agriculture. Confirm with the Fisheries Department before traveling.
- Arapaima (pirarucu): in North Rupununi, the NRDDB community management plan applies, with a local ban on arapaima fishing. Sport fishing is catch and release only, at the community lodges.
- The national catch-and-release regulation for arapaima was drafted in 2016; in 2017 the government reported there was still no specific license for this fishing. Confirm whether it has been adopted.
- In protected areas (Kanuku Mountains, Iwokrama, Kaieteur and others), follow the rules of the Protected Areas Commission or of Iwokrama.
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 Department of Public Information (GINA) — Arapaima legislation being finalised (2/3/2017)NRDDB, 2012–2013 overfishing and lack of a catch-and-release license
- market Rewa Eco-Lodge — Arapaima (fly fishing e pesquisa)Catch and release, fish tagging and partnership with researchers
- market Rewa Eco-Lodge — ActivitiesArapaima on fly only; species and expedition to the Corona Falls
- market Rewa Eco-Lodge — FAQFishing season, closure in flood season, and access