ventuari river — venezuelan amazon
Tributary of the upper Orinoco known for giant peacock bass. A remote destination in an area of Indigenous peoples.
The Ventuari flows down from the Guiana Shield and empties into the upper Orinoco, in Amazonas state, southern Venezuela. It is a river of rapids, rocky ledges, beaches and side lagoons, far from any town. Peacock bass (Cichla temensis, tucunaré-açu) is the target: the species exceeds 90 cm, and the Ventuari has a reputation for big peacock bass. Butterfly peacock bass adds numbers, and payara (cachorra) and bicuda fight in the rapids. Fishing is by casting with large surface and mid-water lures. The operation depends on a chartered flight and on seasonal camps or lodges with local guides.
best season
Upper Orinoco dry season, December to March, when the river drops and peacock bass concentrate in the lagoons and along the edges.
Local rules: INSOPESCA sport fishing permit; fish caught in sport fishing cannot be sold (Fisheries and Aquaculture Law). Remote area, indigenous peoples: enter only with an established operator and with community authorization, and check your country's travel advisory before going. Release large peacock bass. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Flight to Puerto Ayacucho, capital of Amazonas state, and chartered flight to dirt airstrips in the region. After that, by boat only.
- facilities
- Limited infrastructure: seasonal camps and lodges, when they operate, with local guides. Check the operator's current status before booking your trip.
- country
- Amazonas, Venezuela
tip
Bring large propeller lures, reinforced treble hooks and heavy braided line: large peacock bass break light gear on the first snag.
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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 Venezuela
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Law (Decree-Law 1,408/2014) allows sport and recreational fishing to Venezuelans and foreigners, resident or not in the country, with prior authorization. The permit is issued by INSOPESCA, is valid for up to one year and is renewable. The law (art. 29) sets the fee in tax units (U.T.): 3 U.T. for an individual and 10 U.T. for a non-resident foreigner. In a national park, the Inparques rules also apply.
- Fish from sport and recreational fishing may not be sold (Decree-Law 1,408/2014, art. 16).
- The sport fishing permit covers only permitted species and areas and may not interfere with other fisheries (Decree-Law 1,408/2014, art. 26).
- National parks (Inparques) have their own use rules and zoning: check which zones allow fishing before you go.
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 INSOPESCA — Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decreto 1.408, de 13/11/2014)Authorization for sport and recreational fishing
- scientific FishBase — Cichla temensisDistribution in tributaries of the Orinoco in Venezuela and Colombia; maximum length 99 cm