Mission Statement

The Blackwater Adventurer's navigational design is different than anything Acute Angling has ever built before. We created our luxurious new flagship to access a previously untouched fishery. Our Giant Peacock Reserve, where it was first conceived, is a navigational challenge; with 90 miles of rocks and rapids in its lower reaches, it is pretty much inaccessible with normal vessels. So, we built our new flagship on a super shallow-drafting, super tough barge hull so we could get it to the fishery through the rough stuff. Then we use super-safe, Cessna Caravan floatplanes to deliver anglers in comfort and ease, bypassing all of the hazards and difficulties and bringing you straight into the heart of the fishery.

The floatplane's capacity of 8 anglers also defined the Adventurer's design. Limited to pleasantly intimate 8-angler groups, all guests enjoy spacious private cabins; fully appointed with private bathrooms, hot showers and individual air-conditioners. And, by simply removing a divider, all cabins convert to couple's suites with king-sized beds and two of everything. But it's not just about luxury. It's about fishing success. The Adventurer uses an altogether new fishing formula; Its shallow draft ensures it gets to the fish; its mobility allows it to move to the best possible conditions, wherever they are; Transfer by floatplane means never having to leave the hotspots. The Adventurer provides the best of all worlds for the angler, ensuring a productive fishing trip.

The Blackwater Adventurer operates in two different regions during the Amazon’s moving dry season.

Giant Peacock Reserve — From late August to mid-November, the Adventurer fishes in a restricted Indian reservation, more remote than any other sportfished Rio Negro tributary. This trip is focused on world-record sized monsters.

Rio Negro Basin — From mid-November through March, the Adventurer moves into this giant region, focusing on a mix of size and productivity.

This is the trip for the angler who is in pursuit of the holy grail — the 20 lb. peacock bass. In overall Amazon fishing, trophy-sized fish make up about 1% of the peacock bass caught — and a 20 pounder appears perhaps once in several thousand fish caught. But, during our 2018 Exploratory and our 2019 first season, things were dramatically different. Here, over 7% of all fish caught were trophies, over 3% of them exceeded 20 lbs. Weirder still, 30% of Cichla temensis caught were over 20 pounds! That’s 300 times more 20 pounders than normal elsewhere! It’s so out of proportion, it’s hard to compare to other places. Even keeping in mind the very low numbers here, it’s even more than twice the percentage of what other proclaimed “big fish” rivers can report! We’ve not seen anything like this anywhere else.

If you are a dedicated trophy hunter and want to seek monsters while living in the lap of luxury, this is the trip for you. Space is limited to an intimate group size of 8 anglers or less, floatplane only access, with luxurious private cabins or King-sized couple’s suites.

The Blackwater Adventurer in the Rio Negro basin is the accommodation and destination for anglers who seek a wonderfully balanced fishing experience in an intimate group size of 8 anglers or less.  Our luxurious new flagship brings together an array of never-before combined capabilities and unique features.  The key numbers, shown at right, demonstrate an extraordinary average of 183 fish/angler and plentiful trophy–sized fish. The Blackwater Adventurer Rio Negro basin trip is focused on a perfect mix of excellent size and great productivity.

After it’s early fall tenure in the Giant Peacock Reserve, the Blackwater Adventurer moves into the enormous Rio Negro basin for its mid-November through March sojourn. With hundreds of miles of complex, island-dotted archipelagos and dozens of big, winding, fish-laden tributaries, this is the world’s largest peacock bass fishery - and we can make use of all of it. Our  shallow-drafting barge-hulled vessel lets us go anywhere, even where others can’t. If you want luxury, lots of action and excellent access to big trophies, this is the trip for you. Space is limited to an intimate group size of 8 anglers or less, floatplane only access, with luxurious private cabins or King-sized couple’s suites. 

Our luxurious new floating hotel, is different than anything Acute Angling has ever built before. We designed it to access a previously untouched river with 90 miles of rocks and rapids in its lower reaches; pretty much inaccessible with normal vessels. So, our new flagship features a super shallow-drafting barge hull, letting it make its way to the fishery through the rough stuff. Limited to pleasantly intimate 8-angler groups, all guests enjoy spacious private cabins; fully appointed with private bathrooms, hot showers and individual air-conditioners. And, by simply removing a divider, cabins can convert to couple's suites with king-sized beds and two of everything. But it’s not just about luxury. It’s about fishing success. The Adventurer uses an altogether new fishing formula; Its shallow draft ensures it gets to the fish; its mobility allows it to reach the best possible conditions, wherever they are; Transfer by floatplane means never having to leave the hotspots. The Adventurer provides the best possible combination of features, ensuring a productive fishing trip in first-class accommodations.

Comfortable, full-size beds with fresh linens provide a great night's sleep for hard-fishing anglers. Adjustable thermostats let you set your preferred cabin temperature. Each cabin has  110V electrical service, making charging all of your devices quick, simple and easy.

The cabins are roomy with high ceilings, big windows and plenty of storage space that lets you keep your gear close at hand without cluttering your living space. You'll be amazed at the relaxing home away from home you’ll find in the midst of the Amazon jungle.

Jungle Luxury — The vessel may be brand new, but we've been operating in the Amazon's most remote areas since for over 2 and 1/2 decades. Our long experience has taught us how to do it right and as a result, our operations have been honed over time. So, this is not your basic fishing trip; we have polished our operation to the point where the level of comfort and convenience challenges that of many renowned resort facilities! Your responsibility on our fishing trips is to fish, eat, drink, sleep and relax in the very heart of the world's most beautiful wilderness. We do absolutely everything else!

The Blackwater Adventurer takes Amazon luxury a step above angler's expectations. That demands that we provide meals at the same high level. Along with our floating hotel's first-class accommodations, our professional chefs, our fully-equipped kitchen and the gourmet meals it provides make sure that we live up to that standard. Sure, you're a fisherman and you'd be happy surviving on beer and potato chips if that was all you could get on an Amazon peacock bass fishing trip - but that's not what you'll experience on the Blackwater Adventurer. We don't pretend to offer a dieting experience, because no one leaves lighter than when they came.

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 our trips, you'll be given every opportunity to see, feel and be part of this spectacular place.  Note – These activities are often dependent on the current location of our operations and some may not always be available.

Visit an Amazon Village

Amazon Seminars

Catfishing

Brazilian Barbecue

Delicious Shore Lunch

Hike in the Rainforest

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 Adventurer is equipped with a complete array of telecommunications and electronics gear, including; Iridium Satellite telephone and shortwave radio . Each fishing boat is equipped with depth finders and a Garmin ‘InReach’ satellite tracker and emergency contact system.

Satellite telephone service is available for client use at $5.00 / minute and is available 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. Blackwater Adventurer guests are provided with free use of our extensive stock of top quality fishing tackle. We are proud to offer Loomis and Okuma rods and Shimano reels.

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, all night long. Not only can you run your support machine, but you can also recharge batteries for cameras and other portable appliances.

The Blackwater Adventurer uses, 18-foot welded aluminum bass boats. Custom made for our use, these fast and efficient boats are built to take hard work 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 padded seats can be pedestal mounted or anglers can fish standing, as per their preference. Don't be hornswoggled by the lure of 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 Motorguide trolling motors, anglers are perfectly positioned to catch their Amazon trophies. Guides are equipped with 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.

Our Blackwater Adventurer guides are consummate professionals. They are all Amazonian natives, so they have life-long knowledge of the rivers, the environment and the fish" but more importantly, they are all superb anglers and boast from 15 to 25 years of guiding experience. They have boat handling skills and river savvy that are unmatchable by outsiders and they know exactly where to find the fish and how to go after them. They will tie on your lures, tell you where to cast, help you learn Amazon tactics and techniques and simply ensure that you have a fishing experience beyond your expectations.

Waterproof Compartments

The Blackwater Adventurer endures a challenging 2-day upriver journey before our season even opens. It must navigate through the treacherous rocks and rapids at the lower reach of the Giant Peacock Reserve before it can reach the peaceful upriver stretches where we fish. Thus our luxurious floating hotel was built from durable steel. With its barge style hull, the Adventurer can safely navigate the obstructions that make access to this river so difficult. Divided into six independent compartments by waterproof bulkheads, the Adventurer 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.

Lifejackets

Each seat on your fishing boat is equipped with modern, approved lifejackets. Each cabin also provides its occupant with a full-sized lifejacket for emergency use.

Generators

Quiet and dependable electricity is provided by our two powerful diesel generators. These efficient machines provide electricity for our freezers, refrigerators, lights, fans, water heaters, pumps and air-conditioners. Each cabin has 110 VAC outlets available for charging camera and video batteries or operating a CPAP machine.

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 Adventurer 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 Adventurer's immediate environs are clean and pure for bathing and swimming as well.

Water Health

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

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

We probe the Amazon's last frontier for the biggest of all peacocks in an exclusive Indian reservation on a river with secrets yet to be discovered. This trip is all about giant fish. A high flood-plain river in an exclusive Indian reserve, it's the Rio Negro basin's best protected giant peacock bass tributary.

Although numbers of fish caught here are low, this trip delivers over 5 x as many 20lb. fish/week as any other trip.

The protected river holds a higher percentage of giant peacock bass than any other river in the Amazon. We've already proven that it's a world record fishery (with a new IGFA length record). It's also an extremely distant and remote region, creating significant logistical challenges, thus, anglers will arrive on the river directly via a Cessna Caravan floatplane flight.

Single Occupancy Trip Configuration - Space is limited to 8 anglers per group, private cabins or king-sized couple's suites. This trip fills up well in advance, so make your plans early!

The Blackwater Adventurer moves into the enormous Rio Negro basin. 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. 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 can make use of all of it. Our shallow-drafting barge-hulled vessel lets us go anywhere, even where others can't.

This trip is focused on a mix of size and productivity - Trophy size peacocks (well into the 20 lb. class) are found in the Rio Negro basin. If you want luxury, lots of action and excellent access to big trophies, this is the trip for you. Good daily catch averages (from 15 - 40 or more a day). Trophy fish in the high teens and up to over 20 lbs. are taken here.

Single Occupancy Trip Configuration - Space is limited to an intimate 8 angler group size, floatplane only access, luxurious private cabins or king-sized couple's suites.