The Payara: "Hydroclycus Scomberoides"

CYNODONTIDAE FAMILY; also called peixe cachorro, dog fish, saber toothed dogfish, tiger fish, guapeta or vampire Fish

Payara inhabit freshwater rivers and lakes in South America from the Orinoco to Paraguay River basins. The distribution of large payara is limited to a few places in Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Peru and probably Ecuador. They prefer fast moving water, but are found in still waters of lakes and rivers as well.

The outstanding characteristic of this fish is the pair of enormous saber like teeth protruding from the lower jaw of the broad upturned mouth. The upper jaw contains two corresponding holes to accommodate the four to six inch teeth when the mouth is closed. The payaras elongated, compressed body and enlarged pectoral fins are ideal for the violently turbulent water that these topendpredators seem to prefer. Payara are generally dark blue to olivaceous dorsally, blending to silver along the sides and belly

Payara are among the gamest of South Americas freshwater fishes, leaping when hooked and making long fast runs. They are picivorous predators that attack upward, stabbing prey with the large canine teeth and then swallowing them whole and head first.

WHERE WE FIND THE PAYARA IN PERU

In Peru we find this amazing fish only a few minutes by plane from Cuzco! in the beatifull department of Madre de Dios, one of the most pristine and unspoiled areas in the Amazon rainforest, housing more species of animals than any other place on earth. Officially created in 1990, the Tambopata - Candamo Reserved Zone is located east and south of Puerto Maldonado. It comprises 1.5 million hectares (3.5 millions acres) of the Madre de Dios and Puno regions and protects a diversity of landscapes and wildlife, including pristine oxbow lakes with herons, kingfishers, caimans and giant otters, amazing clay licks ("collpas") visited by hundreds of macaws, monkeys and tapirs .
Like all the animals in this National  Reserve, fishes are wild and ferocious, big and strong. Payara is one of them. Though plentiful now, the distribution of payara is limited, and anglers must be cautious to preserve this fantastic fishery, taking care to releasefish in good conditions.

Do you want to know more about the fishing area?

The River:  Puerto Maldonado, the Capital of the Madre de Dios Department is located in the confluence of Madre de Dios River and Tambopata River. Waters of Tambopata River born in Puno and receive a lot of tributaries rivers.  The water is clear brown and warm in the dry season and muddy in the rainy season.

The Weather: Dry and sunny climate from June to October and extremely humid during the rainy season from November to May.

The Fishing: Waters of Tambopata River offer us a variety of fishes such as Payaras, Tambaqui (Giant Piranha), Catfish (Zungaros, Piros, Surubim, etc.) We usually fish for Payara with spinning, casting and fly fishing tackle. There's a lot of black volcanic rocks in the river, the Payara hunt sardines very close to the bottom of this rocks. Technique is easy and consists in cast lures or flies from the rocks and retrieves very close to shore. The fish will appear from the bottom to take the lures and run fast to the middle of the rivers current.

A different technique is used for Tambaqui fishing, they takes only fruits and fish meat, so we use sardines for bait and hooks and weights with multifilament lines on the reels. A reel with bait-runner system is recommended. This fish is very strong and the fight is so hard! Same techniques we use on all the catfishes.

Season: The fishing season starts mid July and finish the lasts days of October. Full moon is not recommended.

Sample of the Trip (5 Days, 4 Nights, 3 fishing Days)

Arriving into Lima, your Sportfishing Peru Controller will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to the Hotel. Your guide will return to give a small evening tour of the area around the park and to recommend a good restaurant if your arrival time is before late afternoon. Depending on the International flight arrival time we can suggest if the group can stay in Lima the first night or take the connections to Puerto Maldonado directly.

Day 1 (Arriving to the Lodge):

Our Guide in Puerto Maldonado will meet you and transfer you by road to the Puerto Maldonado hotel on the banks of the Madre De Dios River.  Here you will prepare to board your boat for the four hour transfer into the forest. Lunch box is provided during the trip.  On arrival you will settle into your comfortable room and have time to explore.  We also take time for rest and preparation of the tackle for the next fishing days. Lunch and dinner included.

Day 2 (Fishing)

Breakfast at the Lodge and then departure to the first of our fishing spots. Here we have the day to fish. A box lunch is provided along with hot coffee and drinks.  We return to the lodge before the light fades and have a typical jungle fish dinner.  The evening can be spent relaxing and prepare the tackle for the next fishing day. 

Day 3 (Fishing)

Breakfast at the Lodge and then departure to the best fishing spots. Today you have another chance to catch the big one at the Baltimore Rapids. Again a packed lunch is provided and refreshments for the day. We return to the lodge to take the dinner.  The evening can be spent relaxing and prepare the tackle for the next fishing day.  

Day 4 (Fishing)

Breakfast at the Lodge and departure to the Collpa area. A combination of lure and bait fishing day. Again a packed lunch is provided and refreshments for the day. We return to the lodge to take the dinner.  The evening can be spent relaxing and prepare the tackle for the next fishing day. 

Day 5 (Return to Lima)

After breakfast we load our boat for the return to Puerto Maldonado where you are received and will be transferred to the airport in Puerto Maldonado to return to Lima . Afternoon arrival to Lima, transfer to the airport to take your international flight.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PAYARA FISHING

If you want to bring your own tackle, please take a moment to read and consider our recommendations. Payara are a strong fish, very fast, with a big tail and a couple of big canines in the lower jaw and two holes in the upper to receive them. They lives in extremely fast water and take both lures and flies with a savage force.

RODS

Our suggest is at least 2 rods of medium-heavy to heavy action, from 7½ to 9 foot, bait casting or spinning. For Fly fishermen a slightly heavier 9-10 weight fly rod is our suggest.

REELS

As the same of the rods, at least 2 reels with a capacity for 200 yards of a 20 pounds line, similar like a Shimano Bait runner 4500 or 6500, Fin Nor 12 or the Penn 6500. If you are fly fishermen, a reel with good capacity of line like all the large arbors 7/8 or 9/10.

FISHING LINE

All kind of lines from 20 pounds to 65 pounds, we prefer the multifilament like Spider Wire, Power Pro or a simple Dacron. Good leaders and swivels are highly suggested, bring plenty of them. Fly fishing line must be a sinker tip tappered line to present the flies more closer to the bottom.

LURES AND FLIES

All kind of lures like Rapala Magnum, Rapala Countdown, Rebel Fast Track, Spoonbill and bigs windcheater, and all types of lures that swim on fast waters and dives quickly. Because of the dark color of the water, lure's colors like fire tigers, oranges, red heads and chartreuse are the favorites. Plastic lures will be punctured by the teeth of the payara and will lose their action, wood lures work better. Don't worry about the size of the lure, from 4½ inches and up is ok. Take a special look on the hooks; they have to be extra strong (4x).

FLY FISHING TACKLE (more info at www.flyfishingperu.com)

Our suggestion for fly fishing rod and reels is a slightly heavier 9-10 weight fly rod combined with any strong reel with a 200 yds capacity of 20 pounds baking line. A multi-tip fly line will be great but prefer sinking lines.  The Payara take a variety of large streamers, but prefer heavily dressed on a 4/0 heavy saltwater tarpon hook. Payara will most often be close to the bottom, but can be enticed to strike dry flies. Handle with care, for these fish have two long saber teeth that protrude from the lower jaw upward through sockets in the upper jaw. To deal with those teeth, a wire shock tippet is required. Expect fish up to 15 lbs, much bigger fish are a possibility.
Flies: Clouser Minnows, Jigs, Lefty's Deceivers, Poppers, Streamers.

CLOTHES, GEAR AND OTHER THINGS TO BRING WITH YOU

• Long Pants for fishing (3)
• Long Sleeved shirts for fishing (3)
• Short sleeved shirts for camp or fishing (2)   
• Short pants for camp or fishing (2)
• T Shirts (2)
• Caps (2)
• Sun Screen Lotion
• Tennis or deck shoes (2)
• Camera & or camcorder
• Films
• Pen Light
• Medications & medicines
• Good repellent
• Toilet articles

What Sportfishing Provides:

Professional guides and mates, professional spinning fishing tackle, boat for moving between the fishing spots, fast boat from Puerto Maldonado to the Lodge in Tambopata River, the accommodations in Tambopata River and Puerto Maldonado, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), soft drinks during the fishing, all the baits, fishing license at the National Reserve, all ground and fluvial transfers.

We invite you to enjoy with us the exciting bites, hard fighting & high jumping of this ferocious gamefish in one of the biggest rainforest of the world. 

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