madeira river — borba
River of giant catfish. Piraíba, dourada and pirarara in the main channel; peacock bass and tambaqui in the lakes and tributaries.
The Madeira is a muddy, wide river with strong current. Here the game is big catfish: piraíba, dourada, pirarara and jaú, fished on the bottom, in pools and at sandbar points, with natural bait and heavy tackle. Borba is the base, with access to the várzea lakes and to the region's blackwater and clearwater tributaries, where peacock bass and tambaqui come in. It is fishing of patience and strength. In low water the river exposes huge beaches and fish concentrate in the deep channels.
best season
Low water on the Madeira, August to November. Low water makes the pools defined and the lakes isolated.
Local rules: The várzea lakes may have community fishing agreements, and there are Amazonian closed seasons by species (tambaqui, arapaima and others). The region's tributaries cross indigenous lands. Check local rules.
- getting there
- From Manaus, by scheduled boat or launch on the Amazon and the Madeira. Borba has an airstrip for regional and charter flights.
- facilities
- Simple hotels and inns in town, local boatmen and guides. Live-aboard boats operate on the region's tributaries.
- basin
- Amazon
tip
For piraíba, 100 lb line or heavier, a heavy sinker and a whole fish bait. The bite is light: wait for the fish to run.
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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
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Ibama — Defesos continentaisAmazon basin closed seasons: tambaqui and arapaima
- official Imprensa Nacional (DOU) — Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666, de 27 de abril de 2026Measures for threatened species, such as tambaqui
- official Assembleia Legislativa do Amazonas — Lei estadual nº 7.208/2024 (altera a Lei 6.647/2023, pesca do tucunaré)Açu peacock bass, pinima and speckled pavon catch and release only in AM