Jaguar Explorer Camp

Jaguar Explorer - Guyana Adventure Fishing Vacations

Trip Summary

Destination Upper reaches of the Essequibo River
Country Guyana
Season mid-September to end-March
Trip Type Jungle Fishing Lodge in virgin rainforest
Species Arapaima, two species of Peacock Bass, Bicuda, Hymara / Wolf Fish, Payara , big Black Piranha, Pescada / Cobi, Couti, huge Red Pacu and Silver Pacu, MONSTER Lau / Piraiba Cats, Jau Cats, Redtail Cats, Tiger / Shovelnosed Cats, Leopard / Jandia Cats & many more species
Description Jungle Adventure Fishing Lodge trip - in search of River Monsters!
Cost $4250 per angler
Duration 11 Day Trip with 7 Days’ Fishing, 8 nights at Lodge/camp, 2 nights hotel

View The Jaguar Explorer Video

Trip Introduction

Amazon-Angler hosts groups of adventure-seeking anglers deep into totally un-spoilt rainforest on the Upper Essequibo River, in beautiful Guyana, aka 'The Land of Many Waters' .......

With over 80 miles of pristine river to explore, this wild watershed in the Upper reaches of the Essequibo River has areas that have rarely, if ever, seen a rod or line. This stunning river runs through 100% virgin rainforest, cascading over huge rocks and boulders, creating deep pools and runs.

We catch Giant Cats, Arapaima and lots more on cutbait/livebait, with many more multi-species to be caught on baits, lures and flies. This trip has so many different species of fish to target and we have something for everyone ........

Our season runs from mid September to end March. It is typically warm with temperature over 70º F at night and 80-90º F during the day, but it feels cooler most of the time with a nice breeze from the North.

The Fishing

PREDATORS GALORE… There is such a diversity of predatory species to be caught in these rivers. With lures, flies, jigs, spoons, cut baits and other baits, dozens of different fish will keep the avid angler busy the whole trip. *Our count to date is 47 species on rod and line!

Hard-fighting C. cataractae and C. ocellaris Peacock Bass are two of the toughest and meanest Cichla species found in the Amazon Rainforest. These amazing predators can be caught on medium-sized walk-the-dog lures like spooks and skitter walks, small poppers, propbaits and on jigs, flies and minnow baits. They will smash topwater lures with abandon and there is nothing like the strike of a Peacock exploding on a lure worked across the surface. The bigger C. cataractae can reach over 17lbs, with the C.ocellaris getting to 8lbs.

The slash-and-grab Payara/Vampire Fish and the Pike-like Bicuda visibly chase surface lures, minnowbaits, jigs and flies in the faster water. They are often seen crashing on baitfish on the surface. Payara will take cutbait/strips too.

Arowana/Monkey Fish grow huge here and also make a regular appearance. They will annihilate topwater lures, minnowbaits, jigs and flies. Giant Black Piranhas and Coby/Pescada can also be caught using cutbait, or small lures, spoons and deep-jigging lures in the deeper pools and runs.

And don’t forget the ever-present Piranhas here. While there are many species of Piranha, the largest is the S. rhombeus/Red Eye or Black Piranha. They can reach over 10lbs with the average fish weighing around 5-7lbs.

There are so many other species for the avid angler who is willing to go that extra mile. Anglers can catch nut, fruit and berry-eating fish like big Red, Black and Silver Pacu, Couti, Aracu and many more smaller scaled species all day long. All these smaller scaled species make for great fresh Catfish bait too! The weird and wonderful are also still to be discovered by many foreign fishermen and we have them all. Plenty of European anglers enjoy what is classified as ‘coarse fishing’, and an angler could easily ‘bag-up’ with sweetcorn, nuts, fruits, potato, fish strips or freshwater snails.

IN SEARCH OF RIVER MONSTERS …… We really do have some RIVER MONSTERS here, with massive Arapaima and huge Cats, from the unusual right up to big bruising bullies. All can be caught on cutbait, livebait or whole dead fish.

Arapaimas are old, ancient beasts that are very prehistoric-looking, with armored-plating over their entire bodies, yet they can be so delicate after being landed. They live in quiet backwater and bays, usually in low oxygenated water and grow to over 400lbs and 4m in length! We only use barbless circle hooks for these giants, to avoid any belly-hooked fish. Great care is needed to revive these Leviathans before returning them to the lagoon. Average weight for lagoon-caught Arapaimas is around 150-200lbs and they can sometimes be seen in the river itself. The males are more colorful than the females, with bright scarlet-red scales along their tails and bellies. *Arapaimas  can be caught on lures and flies also.

The Leopard or Jundia Cat is a dynamite of a fish for its size. Averaging 15lbs, they max out at about 25lbs and are one of the tastiest fish in the Amazon.

Flat-Whiskered Cats are always a joy to catch, with their alien-looking whiskers twitching like antennae. They can reach 30lbs but average around 10-15lbs.

The two species of Surubim or Shovelnosed ‘Tiger Cats’ here are both fast, sleek and strike hard. These hieroglyphic-marked predators can also be caught on lures. Growing to over 50lbs, they are powerful fish to catch.

The express train ‘Banana Fish’/Redtail Cats must be rated as the hardest-fighting Cats in the whole Amazon for their size. An 80lb Redtail will take you all over the river, through timber and rocks and strip line in reel-smoking, screaming runs. They can reach over 100lbs.

Jau Cats are the Sumo Wrestlers of the river and dwell in the rocks near or in fast water and will take you deep into their lairs! Brute force is needed to stop them getting into their holes in the rocks and to land these giants. Big fish can reach well over 100lbs, but they average around 50-80lbs here.

THE KING of all our Cats is the Giant Lau/Piraiba (aka Freshwater Shark), growing to over 400lbs. When hooked, it will roar off at 50 miles an hour and it may take you a couple of hours to land one of these huge fish. Average sized have been between 120-250lbs

Click here to see target species

The Accommodation

Our Jaguar Explorer Lodge trips are set in the Upper Essequibo River region between King William Falls and the local Amerindian village of Apoteri where our guides hail from. We have over 80 miles of river to explore as far as King William Falls and below, in and around our landlocked Arapaima lakes and the main river system. 

We offer so much to do and see for solo anglers, couples, fishing partners, families and small groups, with a maximum 12 anglers at one time.

Our lodge is set up under the trees in the shade with a great view of the river to wake up to. The kitchen at the lodge will supply our guests with wholesome cooking with three meals a day. The lodge offers 6 rooms for 12 anglers (two anglers per room).

Travel Plan

 

DAY 1: Arrival and transfer from Cheddi Jagan (GEO) International Airport (or Ogle) to Kanuku Suites and overnight

 

DAY 2: Morning flight to Apoteri Village jungle airstrip. Boat transfer from village to our Jaguar Explorer Lodge, arriving early afternoon. Set up gear ready for fishing the following morning.

 

DAYS 3 – 9: Seven full days fishing near and around the lodge and King William Falls for Cats and multi-species or below the lodge for Arapaima and more multi-species.

 

 

 

DAY 10: Boat down to Apoteri Village and flight back to OGLE Airport arriving approx. 12.00pm, transfer to Kanuku Suites and overnight. 

 

DAY 11: Transfer to CJIA or Ogle and onwards journey home.

 

What Does it Cost?

DURATION 11 Day Trip with 7 Days’ Fishing, 8 nights at Lodge/camp, 2 nights hotel
COST $4250 per angler
OCCUPANCY Single anglers, partners, families (with children 9yrs and above), small groups all welcome. Two anglers per room at the lodge, and each angler will have their own pup tent at the camp.
INCLUDED Transfers from CJIA or Ogle and two nights at Kanuku Suites with Continental breakfast (one night on arrival and one night at end of trip), return flights Ogle/airstrip/Ogle, eight nights at lodge/camp with seven full days guided fishing, daily laundry, all meals, water, soft drinks and beer at camp.
NOT INCLUDED International airfares, tipping (we insist on USD $200 per person to be divided between all guides and camp staff), Amerindian Community fees ($30 per person to be paid at end of trip to camp host), any meals and drinks other than in camp and liquor or other drinks other than above, any extra hotel stays other than stated above, costs associated with medical advice and medications for your trip, lures, fishing tackle etc.
TRIP NOTES
  • Costs are based on double occupancy at Kanuku Suites, sharing boat with fishing partner or other solo angler.
  • Prices are stated as a guide and may be subject to currency and seasonal variations.
  • Terms and conditions of payments: 50% as deposit on reservation, 50% due 90 days before arrival in GT.
  • A full tackle guide and gear list will be provided once a deposit payment has been received for reservation of trip.
  • Through our travel agent partners we are able to secure excellent rates for all your international and domestic flights and travel insurance that are not included in our packages. Please ask for Details.
  • Please inquire with your doctor for any other medications or vaccinations needed.

GALLERY

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