The Pursuit of the Peacock Bass in the Amazon

You are an absolute fishing buff. You are the kind of person that people on the highway gape at as they drive past a running river on a freezing winter day--because you are out there, standing in the middle of that river, casting away, indifferent to the icy wind on your face. You are the kind of person that, instead of having pictures of your wife and children marching across your mantelpiece, proudly displays a photograph of your biggest catch to date.

So, what is an individual such as yourself to do when you seem to have exhausted all of the prime fishing spots in your area (and maybe even explored other areas as well), so it has just become a routine rather than a new adventure every time?

Well, here's one exciting option: you can take a peacock bass fishing expedition on the Amazon River in Brazil.

The first questions you might be asking are, "What is a peacock bass and why would I travel so far just to fish for one (or several)?" Peacock bass are not technically considered bass; instead, they are a type of cichlid. There are six different species currently documented, the most recently discovered in 2006, but some researchers suggest there may be up to twelve types lurking in the freshwater zones of South America.

Regardless of how many species there are, the speckled peacock bass is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, with some growing over three feet long. If you are looking for a particularly challenging adventure, peacock bass are becoming increasingly popular because of the ferocious fight they put up. They have even been known to destroy some fishing gear if it is flimsy or worn out! So be warned.

The peacock bass is not only recognized for the tremendous challenge is presents in the catching process; it is also known for its delicious flavor once it has been reeled in and put to good use. The meat on it is significantly less oily than other types of fish--and the oil is what makes fish taste "fishy," so the lower content tends to be appealing--and its meat is known to be white and sweet once it has been prepared.

But if you are more interested in creating trophies than consuming your triumph, peacock bass are also noted for their atypical beauty. They exist in a broad range of bright colors and feature markings which resemble the "eye," on a peacock feather--hence the English name "peacock bass."

Another secondary advantage which comes from pursuing peacock bass in the Amazon or other areas of South America is that there are a number of other challenges which lurk beneath the surface, like the renowned Giant Catfish, which can sometimes require three strong men just to hold them up.

If you are tired of your standard fishing routine and are looking for a new adventure, pursuing a peacock bass expedition in the Amazon may be just the adventure you have dreamed of.