CASIQUIARE RIVER, VENEZUELA FOR MONSTER PEACOCK BASS

The Casiquiare River is located at the extreme southern tip of Venezuelas near the bordres of Brazil and Columbia. It connects the huge Orinoco River to Brazil's massive Amazon River by way of the Rio Negro. Here, monster peacock bass swim and have virtually been unfished for over a decade. Back in the early 1990s, the Casiquiare and its tributaries, the Pasiba and Pasimoni were known for monster peacocks in the mid 20 pound range. This watershed is located in the land of the legendary Yanomami Indians, supposingly the fiercest, most primitive tribe in the South American jungles. Back in the 90s only a remote "basic creature comfort" campsite exsisted which had a thatched roof shelter, propane-fired stove, and mosquito netting cots. To wash you had to bathe in the river hoping the fearsome candiru does not enter the orifice and it has been known to be attracted by urine. However, peacock bass fishing was addictive and fishermen would take life threatening changes at a shot for a monster fish!

A few years into the 90s, the dictator government in Venezuela placed this watershed off limits for Americans making it accessible only to residents of Venezulela and protecte the watershed in a National Park. With a possible change of government upcoming in Venezuela it will be interesting if the Casiquiare Watershed will once again be opened to fishermen of the North Americas? I know I will definately be on the list to get in!!!

For lots of great infomation on the history of how peacock bass fishing evolved over the years, Larry Larsen of www.peacockbassassociation.com has a complete line of peacock bass books which begin in the Casiquiare and Lake Guri of Venezuela to the current hot spots of the Brazilian Amazon ! I have all of the books and have read them over and over, learn something new each time!

If your interested in booking a peacock bass trip or talking about the possibility of the Casiquiare opening or the possiblity of the Brazilian Rio Unini opening again, contact Steve Yatomi at

www.adventuretravelalliance.com as Steve runs trips into the Brazilian Amazon each year and has numerous contacts in these areas for updates!