Freshwater

Popoca peacock bass (tucunaré popoca)

Tucunaré popoca (pavón)

Cichla monoculus

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–5 lb.

Depth

2–12 ft.

Best time

Morning and late afternoon.

Found in

3 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Yellow-gold to greenish peacock bass with three short dark blotches or faint bars on the side, dark marks on the gill cover and a gold-ringed eyespot on the tail; the belly is often pale to orange.
Typical size: 1–5 lb.
Maximum size: About 2½ ft and close to 20 lb.
Diet: Fish and shrimp.
Behavior: The most common peacock bass in the main Amazon floodplain; hunts in lakes, lagoons and around wood cover.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Amazon & Pantanal, Bolivia & Peru Lakes & Rivers and Amazon Mouth (Belém, Marajó & Amapá). Floodplain lakes and slow white-water rivers along the Amazon (Solimões) and the lower parts of its tributaries in Brazil, Peru and Colombia.
Habitat: Floodplain lakes and slow white-water rivers along the Amazon (Solimões) and the lower parts of its tributaries in Brazil, Peru and Colombia.
Depth: 2–12 ft.
Fishing depth: 2–8 ft around wood and lake edges.
Best season: Falling and low water.
Best time: Morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Floodplain lakes and slow white-water rivers along the Amazon (Solimões) and the lower parts of its tributaries in Brazil, Peru and Colombia.
Rig up: Medium baitcasting or spinning rod; 7–8 weight fly rod. 30–50 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Small live fish where allowed. Lures: Topwaters, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and flies.
Fish it: Cast to fallen trees, grass edges and lake points; work topwaters early and jerkbaits later.
Time it: Morning and late afternoon. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Cast to fallen trees, grass edges and lake points; work topwaters early and jerkbaits later.
BigJoe's tip: Popoca often hold tight to wood — cast right into the branches.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: White, mild meat; one of the favorite eating fish of the Amazon.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Treble hooks and jumping fish; watch for stingrays when wading.
Regulations: Brazilian states and other countries set limits and closed seasons; check local rules. Every country requires a fishing license (in Brazil, the Licença de Pesca Amadora), each Argentine province and Brazilian state adds its own rules, and most rivers close during the spawning season. Indigenous lands and strict reserves are closed to outside anglers without permits.
Conservation: An important food fish for river communities.

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Sources & photo credits