Mission Statement

Our Mission—Our primary goal is to provide the highest quality fishing experience possible in the safest, most comfortable manner. We will expend our efforts, first and foremost, to bring you to the most productive peacock bass fishing waters in the Amazon, at any time during our season, regardless of the effort and expense necessary to get you there. With this accomplished, our staff will ensure that your trip is the fishing trip of a lifetime, with unequaled comfort, luxury and service.

The Blackwater Explorer yacht operates in two different regions as it follows the Amazon’s moving dry season from South to North.

The Igapó Açu — In August, September and early October the yacht operates in a restricted Indian reservation, the Igapó Açu. This lagoon-studded region provides a fishing experience focused on high numbers.

Rio Negro Basin — From mid-October through March the yacht moves into this giant region, providing a trip focused on a mix of size and productivity.

· Beautiful, pristine surroundings
· Comfortable Accommodations
· Incredible Productivity
· Giant Amazon Peacock Bass

Your trip starts with a spectacular charter flight over the central Amazon jungle in an Embraer Bandeirante to meet the Explorer in the season's optimal fishing waters. Here you'll find more creature comforts than you can imagine in the middle of the world's largest wilderness. The spacious cabins boast private bathrooms, air-conditioning, 110V electricity and hot showers. This is definitely not roughing it!

Our Blackwater Explorer yacht trip is our most popular and most consistently productive trip. This extremely comfortable trip is especially recommended for anglers whose focus is constant action with Amazon peacock bass. Our beautiful, air-conditioned boat was built specifically for the purpose of accessing optimal peacock bass water. Gourmet food, fine wines and first-class service will make you forget you're in the middle of the world's largest wilderness. Living aboard this elegant yacht while fishing remote Amazon backwaters in nimble bass boats gives anglers the best of both worlds. The Blackwater Explorer’s great mobility ensures that we are always in optimal fishing conditions and allows us to follow the dry season as it moves through the major basins in the Amazon.

We find the trophies like no one else can!

With Unrestricted Access

A Unique Design

The Blackwater Explorer's unique design allows it to go where the others can't. An extremely shallow draft of 1.2 meters makes even small rivers, narrow channels and winding, headwaters tributaries accessible. Our unique displacement style hull turns sandbars into nothing more than a routine navigation event. We can go just about anywhere - and we do. Wherever the water levels are right, and wherever the fish are biting, we'll get you there!

Bathrooms

Showers

Bunks

Dining Room

Embarkation Deck

The Blackwater Explorer is built to be accessible for anglers of all ages and levels of physical condition. With no ladders and no steps, our water level embarkation deck allows anglers easy access to their fishing boats; just step right onto your stable fishing boat's casting platform - right at deck level. Rods, reels and fishing gear are ready and waiting for a quick departure.

Breakfast

Awaken to the aroma of potent Brazilian coffee and a delicious breakfast with eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, pastries and exotic fresh tropical fruit.

Lunch

Pack a hearty lunch to enjoy during your fishing day. Select from Brazilian specialty salgadas, fresh fish, hamburgers or just a simple ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

A selection of freshly baked breads and pastries cap off a hearty meal.

Dinner

After a long day of fishing, return to the welcoming Explorer and, before you know it, an ice cold "caipirinha" finds its way into your hand along with delicious appetizers. Relax and enjoy fishing tales in our open-air lounge during "Happy Hour" and then head to the Explorer's Brazilian hardwood dining room for a full course dinner.

Dinner always includes amazing soups, fresh salads and tasty desserts with a full range of beverages, from excellent wines, tropical juices to Coca Cola or hot tea. Wine, beer and liquors are always available at our well-stocked open bar. The Blackwater Explorer is a floating gourmet experience, in every sense of the phrase.

The Blackwater Explorer operates a fleet of shallow draft, 18 foot welded aluminum bass boats. Custom built to our specifications, these fast and efficient boats are designed to take hard use and keep anglers comfortable while accessing even the most hidden lagoons. Two stable fishing platforms provide solid footing and casting access for even the largest anglers. The comfortable, stable, padded seats can be pedestal mounted or anglers can fish standing, as per their preference. Don't be hornswoggled by big, fancy bass boats offered by some operators. They just aren't right for this purpose. Our boats can pass through the narrowest of lagoon openings, passing over underwater debris or under overhanging logs with ease. We handle the most challenging obstacles, letting us fish waters that others have to pass by.

Equipped with meticulously maintained 40 hp Yamaha outboards and 45 lb. thrust trolling motors, anglers are perfectly positioned to catch their Amazon trophies. Guides utilize Boga-grips, fishing tools and landing nets. A cooler with food and drinks of your choice provides the fuel that busy anglers need. Each boat carries a Garmin ‘InReach’ satellite tracker and communicator in case assistance is needed.

Peacock bass are inactive at night, so anglers and guides start their fishing day at sunrise. A hearty boxed lunch and a pair of hammocks makes for a comfortable midday break. Anglers return to the Explorer by 5:00, after a full day of pursuing the awesome peacock bass. Cocktails and appetizers are waiting.

More Than Just Awesome Fishing

The Amazon basin is the world's largest primeval wilderness. Not only is it home to the world's fiercest fighting fish, but it is a place of incomparable beauty, enduring mystery and incomprehensible contradictions. No visit here is complete without an opportunity to witness some of the Amazon's above-water wonders. On the Blackwater Explorer, you'll be given every opportunity to see, feel and be part of this spectacular place.

Visit an Amazon Village

Amazon Seminars

Catfishing

Brazilian Barbecue

Delicious Shore Lunch

Hike in the Rainforest

Spotlighting Excursions

Laundry

No need to pack an extensive wardrobe. Our washer and dryer equipped laundry means your clothes are washed, dried, folded and delivered to your cabin, daily - rain or shine.  Three changes of clothing are plenty.

Communications

The Blackwater Explorer is equipped with a complete array of telecommunications and electronics gear, including; Iridium Satellite telephone; shortwave radio; chart plotter; depth finder and VHF marine radio. Each fishing boat is equipped with a Garmin ‘InReach’ satellite tracker and emergency contact system.

Satellite telephone service is available for client use at $5.00 / minute and for emergency use at all times at no charge.

Free Fishing Tackle Use

No need to bring your own. Leave the clunky rod tubes home. As part of our “all-inclusive” package, Blackwater Explorer guests are provided with free use of our extensive stock of top quality rods, reels, lines and lures. We are proud to offer and Okuma rods, Shimano reels and Power-Pro lines.

Fishing Instruction

Novice angler? Never fished in the Amazon? Not sure how to proceed? Our expert guides are more than happy to provide fishing instruction, including casting, lure selection, even fly fishing lessons. Just ask.

Dietary Accommodation

Beyond the high quality of our delicious meals, our staff is fully prepared to provide dietary accommodations as necessary. We can serve a full range of meals for persons with a variety of food allergies or special dietary requirements.

Housekeeping

Your cabins are maintained daily. Our staff makes beds, cleans cabins and sanitizes bathrooms. You'll return after a full day of fishing to a clean, comfortable and fresh smelling cabin. Our staff is 100% dependable and theft NEVER occurs.

CPAP Machines

Each cabin is provided with 110 VAC power available whenever you are in your cabin, and all night long. Not only can you run your support machine, but you can also recharge batteries for cameras and other portable appliances.

Waterproof Compartments

The Blackwater Explorer is all wood, built to withstand the rigors of long travel and heavy use in Amazon waters. With its displacement style hull, made of dense itauba wood, the Explorer can safely navigate the sandbars and shallow obstructions characteristic of Amazon waters. Divided into three independent compartments by waterproof bulkheads, the Explorer is one of the safest and most stable vessels you'll ever travel on.

Satellite Trackers

All of our fishing boats are equipped with satellite messaging and Garmin ‘InReach’ GPS tracking devices. If an emergency arises, we’re ready to handle it immediately. We know where you are and what your status is all the time.

Lifeboats

Lifejackets

Sanitary Systems

Acute Angling is committed to conserving the Amazon's purity as well as ensuring our guest's comfort. So we've taken steps to ensure that our vessel is not only trimmed in green, but is "green" in every ecological sense of the word. The Explorer does not release effluents into Amazon waters. Two 4000 liter holding tanks ensure that all waste water can be sanitarily disposed of between angling groups. Not only does this keep the river clean, but it ensures that the Explorer's immediate environs are clean and pure for bathing and swimming as well.

Water Health

To further ensure our guests comfort, the Explorer has no water storage tanks, where undesired impurities can collect. The Explorer's shower and tap water is drawn "on demand", from the world's purest waters.

The Explorer uses only bottled mineral water for all cooking and drinking purposes. Even our ice is made from pure bottled water. That helps make us the healthiest boat in the Amazon.

Main Engine

We replace our main drive motor routinely. Driven by a brand new for 2018, fuel-efficient, powerful and dependable MWM diesel engine, the Blackwater Explorer cruises efficiently at 8 mph and can reach an 18 mph top speed.

Generators

The Blackwater Explorer provides full time 110 VAC electrical service. Lighting, auxiliary services and air conditioning are powered by one of our three diesel generators; 70kw main unit (2018), 70kw heavy duty backup (2016), and 15kw daytime appliance unit.

Barbara - Host/Interpreter

Marizete - Chef/Manager

Thaima - Assistant

Antonio - Waiter

Tomas - Engineer/Mechanic

Isaias - Assistant

Norberto - Partner/
Operations Director

Paul —
Partner/President

Adilson — Popcorn

Saba — Sebastião

Branco

Caju

Bene

Catita

Cidoka

Celio

Support Staff

An exclusive Indian reservation trip. Excellent for casters and fly fishermen alike, this is the Amazon’s best numbers fishery.

The Amazon's most productive fishing trip in the amazing Igapó Açu region. Enclosed in an Indigenous reserve, we are the only mothership operation with the rights to this hyper-productive fishery. Our great mobility allows us to access several protected fisheries, including the Rio Matupiri, Rio Preto, Rio Igapó Açu and Lago Tacquia. Over 300 miles of majestic waters with isolated lagoons, winding tributaries and lazy creeks.

This trip is focused on high numbers - Extremely high daily catch averages (from 30 - 100 or more a day!). Trophy fish in the teens are common and even fish over 20 lbs. are encountered here every season. Unbelievable fly fishing opportunities.

Single Occupancy Trip Configuration - Space is limited to 8 anglers per group, float-plane access, private cabins. This trip fills up a year in advance, so make your plans early!

We roam the Amazon's biggest fishery providing a mix of big fish, constant action and great fun. Simply the best fishing value in the Amazon.

In mid-October, the Blackwater Explorer moves into the enormous Rio Negro basin. With hundreds of miles of complex, island-dotted archipelagos and dozens of fish-laden tributaries, this is the world's largest peacock bass fishery - and we make use of all of it. We're not stuck in the channels! Our super-shallow draft and broad, displacement-type hull lets us go exactly where conditions are best.

This trip is focused on a mix of size and productivity - World-record size peacock bass (approaching 30 lbs.) are found in the Rio Negro basin. If you seek a 20+ pound trophy, this is the place. Good daily catch averages (from 15 - 30 or more a day). Fish over 20 lbs. are taken here routinely.

Double or Single Occupancy Trip Configuration - Space is limited to 14 anglers, charter flight access, private or shared cabins. The best value in the Amazon!