Amazon, Brazil

For the adventurous angler who enjoys getting off the beaten path to fish and explore unpressured waters, our two year old operation on the Unini River offers an ideal peacock bass fishing experience. Visiting anglers will be fishing some of the most pristine and untouched watersheds in the Amazon. Unini River Fishing Adventures allows you to pursue record-class peacock bass on the Unini River and within lagoons hidden in the vast watershed. There are two camps, one on the upper end of the river and the other on the lower end. These camps are mobile and, depending on fishing conditions, the owners of this operation strive to constantly keep our clients on fish. The Unini River is a tributary of the Rio Negro located approximately 210 miles northwest of Manaus. The river is roughly 200 miles long with at least 250 connecting lakes and lagoons throughout its course. Its location is such that it can only be reached by private charter plane. The lower camp is located about 165 miles from where the Unini River empties into the Rio Negro. About 20 miles up river from the mouth, there are three sets of rapids and falls which prohibit navigation further up river except during the period of highest water levels in the summer months. The upper camp is approximately 50 miles upriver, or more, from the lower camp. There are small villages near the area of the falls, but only a few scattered locals live further upriver and the fishing pressure and commercial is virtually nonexistent. The catch rates at this operation during the 2006-07 season for both numbers and trophy fish (those over 14 lbs) was as good or better than any operation in Brazil.

Unini River Fishing Adventures

10 days (including travel days), 9 nights, 7 days (partial and full) of fishing.

Unini River Package Pricing 2007-2008 Season

October-March $3850

Unini River Deposit Requirement

The Unini River Fishing Adventures package requires a $1000.00 (US) per angler deposit. Bookings are not confirmed until deposits are received. Deposits are due within 10 days of making a tentative reservation. Final payments are due 60 days prior to your departure.

Included in the Unini River Fishing Package

• Airport greeting and transfer to charter flight
• Round-trip charter flight to camp
• 6 plus days of guided fishing
• Fishing license
• Accommodations at camp
• All meals, soft drinks, bottled water and beer
• Laundry service
• Room the final day in Manaus
• Use of rods and reels

Not Included in the Unini River Fishing Package

Airfare to Manaus, Brazil; gratuities to lodge staff and hotel porters, over weight luggage, international departure tax.

Unini River Fishing Adventures Fishing Season

October through March

Unini River Fishing Adventures Capacity

10 anglers per week.

Travel Logistics to Unini River

Friday day one: Anglers fly from Miami to Manaus, (Brazil tourist visa must be obtained in advance) via TAM airlines. After clearing customs and immigration, you'll be met by our representatives and taken to a hotel and overnight. The next morning you will be then taken to a charter flight directly to the camp. SaturdayDay two: Fishing will begin after meeting your camp host and settling in to your room. Saturday day 9 depart the Unini, over night in Manaus. Sunday day ten, depart Manaus 12:00 arive Miami 17:00

Availability at Unini River Fishing Adventures

As the booking calendar changes on almost a daily basis, please contact our office for current availability on your specific travel dates.

Predominant Language Spoken at Unini River

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Some of the guides can converse in Spanish and know a few basic English words, especially as they pertain to fishing. It is wise to learn a few Portuguese or Spanish phrases before undertaking a trip of this nature. If you are fairly fluent in Spanish, you will have no difficulty communicating with your guide. Anglers booking this trip will be sent a 56-page Complete Peacock Bass Angler text, which will contain a basic English-Spanish translator. An English-speaking host will always be on the premises at Unini River Fishing Adventures. The guides are all willing to please and the language barrier is quickly overcome.

The Fishing at Unini River Fishing Adventures

You will be fishing the main river structure, as well as a multitude of lakes, backwater bays and hidden lagoons off the Unini River (lower camp), Rio Preto (upper camp) and their tributaries. The typical fishing day runs from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Anglers are paired two to a boat with an experienced Brazilian guide. The boats are 17-1/2 feet long, have swivel seats, 50-HP outboards and electric trolling motors. These boats can cruise over shallow sandbars and flats and get you into places that other, heavier, fiberglass boats cannot reach. One of the most appealing and exciting aspects of fishing for peacock bass is their propensity for attacking surface lures and flies. The strike is so dramatic that you will be startled when the first few occur. Peacock bass fishing is very similar to largemouth bass fishing in the states. Both species ambush prey from cover and structure. Cast topwater plugs, jerkbaits, spoons or jigs to stumps, shoreline blowdowns, rockpiles, creek mouths and sandbars. If you desire to fly fish, the most successful flies are larger profiled patterns - all tied on 2-0 to 4-0 quality saltwater hooks - such as Dahlberg-style divers, large profiles baitfish patterns, High-Tie or variations of Lefty's Deceivers & Clouser Minnows. These should be tied in a diversity of colors. This region is most productive following the rainy season, as the rivers, creeks and lagoons recede and the fish are drawn out of the maze of trees, root systems and lush vegetation. Keep in mind that the productiveness of your peacock bass adventure is largely dictated by the water levels, and occasionally the rainy season fails to abide by schedules and may add mid-season downpours. The fishing boats are fully equipped aluminum boats with outboard engines, swivel seats, life jackets, first-aid kits, and an icebox for cold drinks.

Unini River Accommodations

Lower Camp:The accommodations for this camp include an all aluminum stationary barge with five staterooms, each with air conditioning, bunkbeds and its own private bathroom. There is a complete restaurant service and free laundry service. The upper camp is new and anglers will have separate twin beds and more spacious accommodations. Although the barges typically remain stationary during your stay, they are moveable in the event of deteriorating water conditions. There is a 24 hour radio-phone connection with Manaus and a Globalstar satellite telephone system at each camp.

Meals at Unini River Fishing Adventures

You will be treated to a buffet breakfast each morning at 5:30 - 6:00 AM, featuring fresh fruit, juice, pancakes, eggs, bacon, fresh backed breads and pastries. Anglers will make sandwiches for themselves at breakfast and lunch will be taken under the shade of a tree. Dinner is more of an elaborate affair with a variety of meats, fish and chicken dishes.

Non-Angler Activities at Unini River

This operation is considered primarily a fishing facility, catering to anglers from throughout the world.

Weather at Unini River Fishing Adventures

The Unini River Fishing Adventures operation is located in the Amazonas region of Brazil and the weather at each is typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 75 degrees overnight and in the early morning hours to the mid-nineties during the day. It is advised that visiting anglers consider long sleeve tropical weight shirts and long tropical weight pants to keep you protected from the equatorial sun’s powerful rays. A wide brim hat is also recommended, as is a quality sunscreen and lip balm in the 30 to 45 SPF range. Even though we schedule your trip during the Brazilian dry season, showers and storms can occur, so please pack a rainsuit as the temperatures drop during these periods of rain.

Packing for Unini River Fishing Adventures

Upon receipt of deposits, you will be sent a detailed packing list, as well as other literature pertaining to medical precautions and other information regarding your trip. You will also receive a 56-page Complete Peacock Bass Angler text.

Unini River Fishing Adventures Travel Itinerary

Thursday- International flight to Manaus, Brazil, overnight.

Friday - Board charter flight to camp. Fishing begins.

Saturday-Thursday: Six days of fishing.

Friday- Charter back to Manaus. Relax in Manaus.

Saturday - 11:50 departure to Miami. Arrive in Miami at approximately 17:00 AM. Connection to your home city.

Staff Notes: In early December of 2003 I took seven people down to the Unini River lodge lower camp. Right off the bat things went as planned and the twin-engine turbine powered Bonderoni was waiting for us and not the other way around. A one-hour flight ended with a dirt strip and a short walk to the camp.

The Unini Explorer is actually a barge with 5 rooms, each with a set of bunk beds and it’s own shower. The entire barge was air-conditioned the whole time while we were on it. The lounge/dinning room in the front was adequate. The one thing that got annoying was the sound and spell of the generator just up the hill from the floating barge. Oh what a difference moving it a few hundred feet away would have been. The owner says it is in the works.

The upper camp locateed about one hour up river, is the next generation camp with all of the errors of the lower camp corrected. The rooms are just about perfect, no bunk beds, not to small, not to big but the generator is still close by. The upper camp is highly mobile while the lower camp is there to stay.

Without a doubt the fishing on the Unini is about as good as it gets, if not the best, WHEN WATER CONDITIONS ARE OPTIMAL !!!!!!! No one knows just exactly why, but the fish on the Unini run consistently larger than just about anywhere else. Part of the reason may be that other locations, that once used to have a large number of fish 10 pounds or larger, have been hammered to death and their best days are behind them. (The Rio Negro Lodge is a classic example of this.) The Unini only has space for 8 to a camp so the chance of it being ruined is greatly lessoned if proper management continues.

In all we had over 200 fish caught, in the boat, that weighed 10 pounds or more with quite a few over 20 pounds. We gave up counting the overall quantity as more and more anglers went big fish hunting in leui of catching numbers. Everybody on the trip caught a new personal record for Peacock Bass! A first for any trip.

The food was more than adequate and the laundry service and other amenities were as good as we have seen in the Amazon Jungle. The only two major draw backs were the close proximity of the generator and the configuration of the fishing boats. The fishing boats were adequate for the person up front but the second angler was tightly confined in the middle. With all of that said, both of these have been, or are going to be, corrected in the very near future for the 2003/2004 season.

One thing in all fairness to this camp and some others is the issue of air condition. In order to attract American clientele, most operators bend over back wards to provide air condition. I have yet to see an operation where the air condition was worth the effort to turn it on. On the barge it is good for freezing the guy on the bottom bunk while the guy on the top is just about perfect. Truth is, just turn the thing off after the sun goes down and open the door. Most camps are like this, they have AC, but it is in name only for the most part, as long as adequate ventilation is provided.

Worldwide Angling is planning on going back in November 2004 when the water levels should be just about perfect. If we thought that the Unini was not worth the effort we would not bother but we do feel that it is worth the effort and will return.

Dave Caywood 2004

Trip Cancellation and Travel Insurance Recommendation

Travel, especially foreign travel, unfortunately has some unusual aspects that need to be addressed. Issues such as lost baggage, missed flights and medical concerns are often over looked until an untimely event happens. You or your traveling partner may need protection from trip cancellation due to events at home such as illness of you or your travel companion, illness while away from home, as well as a host of other travel nightmares. Worldwide Angling strongly recommends all parties obtain trip insurance right after booking a trip abroad. We obtain our own travel insurance with Travelex, a well established, highly recommended, travel insurance company and we recommend it to all of our clients. Travelex specializes in insuring the foreign traveler to far away and remote places. Once a trip is booked with Worldwide Angling, you will receive from us an application for Travelex travel insurance. The cost is quite reasonable, less than $60 per $1000 in most cases. Please review your insurance needs to see if Travelex is for you.