Not All Peacock Bass Are Created Equal...

Welcome to the latest edition of The Acute Angler! 🎣 In this month's issue, we're diving into the nuances of peacock bass fishing, exploring the differences between the Amazon and Florida species.

Plus, we're excited to share our most recent vlog packed with casting tips and tricks to help you hone your skills on the water.

Stay tuned for another important visa update, and don't miss out on the thrilling highlights from the Matupiri experience. Let's get into it!

Zach & The Acute Angling Team

“Can’t I Catch Peacock Bass In Southern Florida?!”

This is the most common question I get asked at trade shows. My answer? Yes and no.

While the peacock bass in Florida and the peacock bass found in the Amazon are both part of the Cichlid family, they are very different sportfish.

The species of peacock bass in Florida is the Cichla, Ocellaris¹ . In the United States, it is often referred to as the Butterfly Peacock. However, it is not the same species nor grows anywhere near the size of the Cichla, Temensis species found in the Amazon Basin.

In Ken Schultz’s book Essentials of Fishing, he gives a brief history on how the Ocellaris got to Florida:

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the Florida state record is 9.11 pounds.³  The IGFA all tackle World Record for the largest species of peacock bass the Cichla, Temensis is 13.19 kg (29 lb 1 oz)⁴ .

Largemouth bass and bluegill are all in the sunfish family⁵ , but I don’t believe anglers would say that fishing for largemouth bass is the same experience as fishing for bluegill. In a similar fashion fishing for the Ocellaris is fun, but it can’t be compared to the larger, stronger, and predatory aggression of the Cichlid, Temensis.

If you need additional proof, call me, book a trip, and find out for yourself. 😊

_{1. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Ecological Risk Screening Summary-Butterfly Peacock Bass. Web version 6/14/2018.}

_{2. Schultz’s, Ken. Essentials of Fishing. (See page 15)}

_{3. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/butterfly-peacock/}

_{4. IGFA.org https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/butterfly-peacock/}

_{5. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Sunfish Family Tree}

ALL ABOUT CASTING | TIPS & POINTERS

From mastering the art of accurate casts to navigating tricky structure, this vlog is your ultimate guide to casting success in the Amazonian waters. Dive in now!

AN UPDATE ON TRAVEL VISAS

I wrote about this in the last newsletter, but because there are several older news articles on the internet it is still causing confusion. For clarification please see the Gov.br publication here:

As the AFAR article explains (linked below), the tourist Visa has already been postponed several times. If you are planning on fishing with us in the 2025-2026 season, we do not believe you should be concerned about it because either it will be postponed again, go away, or it will be required (and it is not a difficult application process).

When Brazil originally tried to implement the Visa in October of 2023 the application process did have some hiccups. However, it appears the application process has improved.

I recently applied for a visa three weeks ago. I used the link on Gov.br and followed the steps in the application process. I ignored most of the non-required questions and just filled in the required ones with the * next to them. They wanted some general information that was on my passport, my flight details, and a picture of me with a white background.

I took the picture with my cell phone following the example photos they provided. It was basic stuff. If you can take a picture with a phone, then you can do it. I paid the fee with a credit card and in four business days I got an email with my visa. It took about 10-15 minutes to complete.

Please note: if the tourism Visa is implemented on April 10th of 2025, then our customer service team at Acute will be happy to help you with the application. We can even send you a Zoom or Google Meet link which allows you to share your computer screen and we can walk you through the application.  

THE MATUPIRI RESERVE

If you're looking for constant action and incredible productivity on any tackle type, then this is the trip for you. Extremely high daily catch averages (from 30 - 100 or more a day!).

Incomparable productivity on the fly in the Amazon's premiere fly fishing destination. Large fish in the teens are common, but fish over 20 lbs. are rare here.

UPCOMING AVAILABILITY

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

Don’t let the excitement end her - 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!