Fishing for Payara

You've got to love a face like this!

The fantastic dentures of the payara are a remarkable adaptation evolved to help it catch big, quick baitfish in fast-water jungle rivers. These powerful predators congregate in swirling eddies and rushing currents below waterfalls and rapids in South America's tropical, high-gradient rivers. Using their great hunting speed and power, payara strike a bait with amazing force and immediately take-off on line peeling, breathtaking runs punctuated by wild, acrobatic leaps. Explore this website and learn about this remarkable game fish's characteristics, taxonomy, fishing traits and how to catch them. And then call us. We know where to go and when to catch world-class payara. Contact us through this site to discuss or arrange the fishing trip of a lifetime.

Explore below to learn more about payara:

• The different species known as payara
• Their taxonomy and biology
• How to catch them
• And how to arrange the fishing trip of a lifetime!

Payara Classification Overview

Payara belong to the order Characiformes.

Together with the Catfishes (Order Siluriformes), the Characins account for almost 90% of the fish species diversity of the Amazon. And diverse is exactly what they are, both morphologically and ecologically. They range in size from minuscule 13mm long tetras to 90 pound plus tambaqui and meter long payara and trairao (wolfish). They range in shape from some of the roundest fish in the world to some of the most elongated. They include the curimatidae, bottom favoring detritus feeders with no teeth at all; to the piranhas, whose teeth we're all well aware of. They include a range of demeanors from some of the mildest mannered community dwellers and aquarium favorites to some of the fiercest and most exciting gamefish in the world.

Cynodontidae

Highlighted by the fantastic payara, this family is readily recognized by their oblique mouths, exaggerated canines and their well-developed pectoral fins. Several species are encountered by anglers. Within the genus Hydrolicus, anglers pursue the giant payara (H. armatus) primarily in fast-moving rivers. Anglers may also encounter the smaller H. scomberoides in lowlands rivers. Both are known as pirandira in Brazil. The more elongate and more widely distributed Rhaphiodon vulpinus is also sought by anglers. Called biara or chafalote, they provide excellent sport on light tackle.

Preserved specimens photographed at INPA (National Institute of Amazon Research), Manaus, Brazil

Hydrolycus armatus is the famed fanged monster of the Amazon, achieving sizes in excess of a meter (see the tape) and reaching almost 40 pounds. Although they may look like a nightmare come to life, they are really every fisherman's dream. They strike like a peacock bass, run like a tuna and cap it off with wild acrobatic leaps like a tarpon.

ID Key:

Silvery, elongate body. Huge size. Wicked dentary (lower jaw) canines.

Fishing Tactics

Payara / Pirandira (Hydrolicus armatus) are ferocious gamefish. They are built somewhat like a large Atlantic salmon and share a similar metallic silver sheen. The mouth of the payara is what sets them apart from all other gamefish, as they sport an intimidating set of razor sharp fangs which protrude from the lower jaw like two glistening ivory framing nails and settle into openings in the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. A spare set of canines lies folded back in the lower jaw, presumably ready to move into place when a large canine tooth is lost.

Payara typically reside in high gradient rivers and often feed in extremely fast water. They will take both lures and flies with such savage force that one can easily rip the rod from your grasp if you are not paying close attention. Once hooked, a large payara in fast current can effortlessly peel off 50-yards of line or backing despite a heavy leader, strong drag and stiff rod. Payara also make repeated salmon-style jumps, adding to the fish's sporting allure. Although payara receive much less press than peacock bass, there are anglers that feel they rate above peacocks in terms of both stamina and overall fighting ability (and that's saying something!)

Conventional gear for payara is virtually the same as that mentioned in the trophy peacock bass sections (but wire leader is essential). Payara are usually not surface oriented fish, so big Rapalas, 7-inch jerk baits, Rat-L-Trap type lures, spoons and jigs are most productive.

Payara are fly fished with a 9-10-weight fly rod and a sinking line from 300 to 500-grain, depending upon water conditions. They usually cannot be fished effectively with a floating line, as they tend to be accessible mostly in deep water, fast current or a combination of the two. A heavy mono leader tipped with stout steel tippet is essential. Payara take a variety of large streamers, but prefer heavily-dressed Cloussers and Muddlers tied on a 5/0 heavy saltwater tarpon hook.

Many smaller species of payara/peixe-cachorro (Hydrolicus and Rhaphiodon Sp.) are found throughout South America. Although all are fast, vicious predators, most rarely exceed 5-pounds. One of the best places to catch giant trophy payara is on the Rio Travessao in Brazil.

References

Hydrolycus scomberoides, is readily distinguished from its congeners by 3 features. It possesses serrations on the exposed portion of its scales; It has a small black spot on the base of the innermost pectoral fin ray; The base of the pelvic fin is dorsal of the ventral profile of the body.

ID Key:

Silvery, elongate body. Unique black spot on pectoral fin base.

Fishing Tactics

Hydrolicus scomberoides is a piscivorous predator occasionally present in waters where anglers pursue peacock bass.  Although not as large as its congener, H. armatus, they are similarly aggressive feeders and can be caught with a range of swimming plugs and peacock rattle jigs, in back and white.

As with all members of the genus, H. tatauaia has a laterally compressed body. The greatest body depth occurs between the pectoral and pelvic fins. It's slightly concave head profile and curved predorsal body gives it a humped appearance. In life, H. tatauaia has distinct reddish-orange coloration on its tail.

ID Key:

Silvery, elongate body.

Fishing Tactics

If you have fished for this species. please contact us to share your experience.

References

As with all members of the genus Hydrolycus, H. wallacei has a laterally compressed body. The greatest body depth occurs from the pectoral fin base and extends vertically. Body depth decreases posteriorly. Unlike other members of the genus, it has relatively smaller canines on the lower jaw and relatively larger scales along the lateral line.

ID Key:

Silvery, elongate body. Large pectoral fins, fleshy adipose fin and no scales on anal fin rays.

Fishing Tactics

If you have information. please contact us:

References

Rhapiodon is widely distributed throughout most of South America's major river basins. Looking like a stretch version of a payara (Hydrolycus spp.), the biara is a ready adversary for anglers, aggressively striking artificial lures often meant for other species. The specimen at right weighed 6 pounds and would have been a world record had we been able to access solid ground to weigh it on. We've seen them even larger, exceeding 8 pounds.

ID Key:

Silvery, elongate body. Fangs on lower jaw,

Fishing Tactics

We’ve caught these in extremely varied environments, ranging from the Pantanal to the upper reaches of the Solimoes, in low water conditions and in the midst of flooded forests, although we have not encountered them in our principal peacock bass waters. They are almost always caught while we are pursuing other species and prove difficult to directly target. They take jigs, spoons, spinners and swimming plugs. They are prodigious jumpers and very effectively throw lures.

The family consists of 5 genera, with only 13 species recognized. Hydrolycus armatus is prized by sports fishermen and grows the largest, over 1 meter and almost 40 pounds. Rhaphiodon can reach 650 mm but is lighter bodied, reaching about 8 pounds. Other genera rarely exceed 300 mm and include; Roestes, Cynodon and Gilbertolus.

ID Key:

All species are recognizable as Cynodontidae by their oversized pectoral fins, oblique jaws and well-developed canines.

Fishing Tactics

The only species generally targeted is Hydrolycus armatus. For information on catching them see our menu above for more information. Other Cynodontidae are generally encountered by anglers pursuing peacock bass, giant payara or other larger Amazon predators.

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