Rio Marié - 2016 Season Report and 2017 update

Rio Mari? - 2016 Season Report and 2017 Update

We ended our Rio Mari? season in Brazil and wanted to offer a report and update you on some significant changes Untamed Angling is making for the 2017 season.

So far for the 2016 Rio Mari? season, anglers have landed 65 fish that weighed more than 20 pounds and 135 between 15 and 20 pounds. If we count the total number of anglers for the season so far (85), we have an average of almost one 20+ pounder for each angler who fished Rio Mari?. That?s impressive considering the size of these fish. Many anglers spend their whole lives trying to put their hands on a 20+ pounder peacock bass.

Additionally, one angler this season caught the largest peacock bass ever recorded with a fly rod: a giant-sized Dino-Bass of 28,5 pounds that was measured and weighted in IGFA standards and certified scales. This was not only the largest peacock bass ever caught on a fly rod, but it also almost beat the all tackle IGFA world record. Impressive to say the least!

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And while trophy fish are certainly the prime draw to Mari? and one of the things that sets this destination apart from any other, anglers are also keeping busy with smaller yet beautiful and hard-fighting peacocks from 2-10 pounds; a total of 3,343 peacocks have been landed in the 11 weeks of the season. Overall, anglers are averaging 40 fish landed per week that range from 2-25 pounds.

Most significant of the 2016 season?s changes is that instead of using a fixed wheel-plane landing site in combination with a transfer boat, Untamed Angling chartered Cessna Caravans fitted with amphibious floats to directly transport guests from Manaus to the Untamed Amazon mothership. The turboprop aircraft are comfortable and deliver anglers directly to the mothership and the heart of the fishery, thereby avoiding the wheel-plane and boat transfer combination.

Our occupancy accommodates 12 anglers per week in our deluxe, double-occupancy staterooms onboard the Untamed Amazon. We have eight double-occupancy rooms with private bathrooms and two single/private rooms for those anglers that require their own private accommodations or for hosted groups.

With the addition of the two float planes, anglers are transported directly from Manaus to the mothership ? the new Untamed Amazon. This liveaboard vessel is much more than a houseboat or mere mothership operation ? it is a luxurious mobile floating lodge. Guests this year were astounded and amazed at the level of comfort they were able to enjoy in such a remote destination.

The first two seasons (2014 and 2015) were conducted under strict guidelines imposed by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), and they have now endorsed (allowed) an expanded?fishing zone for the 2016 season which includes the entire river and all of the Mari? tributaries. This actively-mobile fishing model, with the mothership positioned in the most productive areas of the reserve, allowed us to fish and explore the entire Rio Mari? Reserve ? more than 680 kilometers of the main river, its two major tributaries, and the dozens of lagoons and back bays. It also allows us to manage the fishery by rotating between six river sectors: Upper Turi, Lower Turi, Upper Mari?, Rubo River, the headwaters of Mari?, and Lower Mari? ? all within the protected 650 kilometers of the Rio Mari? Preserve.

The use of the float planes with direct access to the most productive fishing areas and the mobility of the shallow-draft Untamed Amazon will put anglers on some fantastic water that has only been explored in the past and has never been included in the itinerary.

The high mobility of the Untamed Amazon mothership makes ta critical difference and has played a crucial role in increased success with fishing for peacock bass and allowing a truly unique experience.

With our current arrangement, we never fish the same stretch of water in two consecutive weeks, and we have been able to access almost the entire area we have inside the reserve this season. While the Mari? was encountering high water in early October, we were able to go up to the far reaches of the headwaters and fish in areas that have been fished.

Average navigation per week was 130 miles, and there were some weeks we covered 200 miles in one week. This mobility is a key factor into getting success for peacock bass fishing, and this a vantage point the Rio Mari? operation has. No other outfitter has the same size and level of exclusivity in the Amazon.

This is the reason we got more giant peacock bass this season than any other destination in the Amazon.

This?success strategy with quick and easy access to the fishing grounds and utilization of the entire fishery is the name of the game for our upcoming 2017 season. Join us for the journey of a lifetime!

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