Welcome to the latest edition of The Acute Angler! 🎣 This month, we discuss one of the most sought-after freshwater giants: the Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus).

Known for its stunning coloration and impressive size, this fish is a must for any serious angler’s bucket list.

And yes - we are giving away $1,000 towards your next Acute Angling experience!

Let’s dive in! ⬇️

Zach & The Acute Angling Team

How’s the fishing?

The Rio Negro has been fishing very well the past few weeks. Our best week in September on Black Water Explorer tallied up 8 anglers catching 3,100 fish.

If you are interested in peacock bass fishing now would be a good time to give Acute Angling a call and buy a plane ticket to Brazil. 

The Silver Lining on a So-so Trip

I was invited to do some fishing and due diligence in an area where we currently do not offer fishing trips. While we had a fun time, we felt it wasn’t a destination we wanted to continue investigating for now. The fishing wasn’t spectacular, and the logistics and accommodations were not what we were looking for. However, we did catch some interesting fish. One being the Granulated Catfish (Armau).

This bizarre fish also taught me a valuable lesson in internet marketing. People really want to see freaky looking stuff on social media. 😊 

For example, this video has over 3 million views across our social channels. So, to celebrate our most viral video we ever are giving away one $1,000 gift card! All you have to do is leave a comment on one of these posts letting us know which Amazon sport fish you’d like to catch!

Enter On Facebook | Enter On Instagram

When will the winner be selected? We feel this freaky fish should be celebrated on October 31st when all other kinds of interesting, spooky creatures are celebrated.  

Trip must be booked before December 2026. No purchase necessary to enter. Entry limit one per person. Winner will be announced via our social media channels.

If you haven’t subscribed or followed us on our social networks, please click on the links below:

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The Redtail Catfish: A Quick Overview

The Redtail Catfish (know as Pirarara in Brazil) can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. Its distinctive reddish-orange tail and large, paddle-like fins set it apart from other catfish. Found primarily in the Amazon Basin, these fish thrive in slow-moving rivers and floodplains.

The Current IGFA was caught in 2010 in the Rio Amazonas, Brazil. It weighed 123 pounds¹ .

Best Times to Fish

It really depends on the location. Smaller tributary rivers often fish better when water rises whereas lower elevation/flood pulse rivers fish better when the water is at its lowest and the redtails are more concentrated (and not in the flooded forest. More on that later).

Many anglers claim that early morning and late afternoon are the best times to target Redtails. However, I have seen them landed during the day as well.  

Gear and Tactics

When it comes to gear, a sturdy rod paired with a high-capacity reel filled with 100 lb braided line is needed. These catfish often lurk near boulders, fallen trees, and other underwater obstructions so a heavy braided line is a must. The line is run through an egg sinker and then attached to a swivel, cable, circle hook combo.

If water levels and clarity allow, Red Tails can also be caught on lures² . If you spot one in a clear or blackwater river, try running a sinking minnow or jig a few feet away from the Red Tails head.

Unique from other Giant Catfish

According to book Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco and Guianas Redtail catfish belong to the family Pimelodidae-Long Whiskered Catfish. Many of the popular large catfish species the Amazon is famous for also belong to this family such as the: Piraiba, Jau, and Surubim.³

While many of these larger catfish are carnivorous the diet of a Redtail also includes fruits. An educated guess leads me to believe that falling fruits coincide with their movements into flooded forest habitat per page 305, “One of the few species of giant catfishes frequently found in flooded forest. Consumes a large variety of food types, including fish, crabs, and fruits.”³

Catch One Yourself

If you want to catch a Redtail we recommend a Multi-Species destination such as the Rio Aripuanã. These giants are powerful and a fun challenge for anglers. They are beautiful fish and holding one while releasing it back to its native waters is a thrill for all anglers.

Resources

1. 2024 IGFA World Record Game Fishes. Print Edition. Page 155.
2. CATFISHNOW. https://catfishnow.com/pluggin-the-amazons-redtail-catfish/
3. Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, & Guiana. Sleen, Peter & Albert, James. Pages 299 & 305.

Congratulations to Frank!

We would like to congratulate Frank on winning the Orvis Waterproof Backpack giveaway. We used a random number generator to select an Acute Angling email subscriber and Frank was the winner.

We would also like to thank all of you for being on our email list as we share information about sportfishing in South America.🎣

That’s a wrap for this edition of The Acute Angler!

Don’t let the excitement end here - stay connected with us on social media for more fishing adventures, tips, and updates.

We can’t wait to see you on our next fishing expedition!