EP 730 - Catching 60-70 Peacock Bass in One Week

Ryan Izqueirdo, known as Ryan Iz Fishing, is a renowned fishing content creator and expedition angler who has traveled extensively through the Amazon jungle, specializing in peacock bass and exotic freshwater species fishing in remote South American waterways. In this episode, Ryan reveals what it's really like to fish the upper Rio Negro in Brazil, where he caught 60 to 70 peacock bass over 5 pounds in a single week on his first trip in 2015. He breaks down the gear setups that work in black water rivers, explains why you can't use traditional sonar in tannin-rich water, and shares his strategies for locating aggressive peacock bass in one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. This conversation goes beyond fishing technique—it's about reading water in a place where pink river dolphins hunt cooperatively and anacondas hide on submerged logs.

How a South Florida Bass Angler Ended Up in the Amazon Jungle

Growing up fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass in South Florida's sports fishing community, Ryan heard about a fish called peacock bass that lived in the Amazon—described as a largemouth bass on steroids. The reputation was that these fish were aggressive, acrobatic, and colorful. In 2015, he set up his first trip to the upper Rio Negro in Brazil, despite being completely naive about what the Amazon would actually be like. When he arrived, the jungle was denser than he imagined, the water was black from tannins, and he couldn't see the bottom even in the shallows. What happened on that first week changed everything about how he saw fishing and the world. Hear how his first Amazon trip unfolded at 1:51.

Why You Can't Use Sonar in Black Water Rivers

Black water rivers in the Amazon are stained dark by tannins, creating an environment where traditional sonar simply doesn't work—the tannins interfere with the sonar signals. This means anglers have to rely entirely on reading the water with their eyes and experience. Ryan explains how he looks for structure like fallen trees, rocks, and current breaks where peacock bass like to ambush their prey. Baitfish activity becomes a critical visual cue that predators are nearby. It's a completely different approach to locating fish, one that forces you to develop skills that most modern anglers have lost. The full explanation of reading Amazon water starts at 7:00.

The Gear Setup That Works in the Amazon

Peacock bass have incredibly hard mouths with hard palates, which means you need a medium heavy to heavy action rod with serious backbone to set the hook correctly. Ryan pairs his rods with low profile baitcasters for accuracy and control, spooling them with 50 pound braid as a main line. He attaches a 20 to 30 pound fluorocarbon leader because fluorocarbon is invisible underwater, giving him the no-stretch hook setting power of braid with the stealth of fluoro. His favorite approach is topwater lures because you can see and feel the explosive power of the strike. But there's a specific reason why he prefers baitcasters over spinning reels, and why his lure selection changes throughout the day based on light conditions and fish behavior. The complete gear breakdown starts at 5:11.

The Real Dangers of Fishing the Amazon (And What's Overblown)

Everyone asks about piranhas, but Ryan explains they're actually pretty shy and don't typically attack humans unless provoked. The real concern is when you're constantly bleeding fish, which can attract piranhas to the boat. Anacondas can grow up to 30 feet long and are semi-aquatic, but they're not typically aggressive toward humans—they're just incredibly well camouflaged on submerged logs. Caiman are the South American version of alligators, less aggressive than crocodiles, but still capable of biting. The biggest danger isn't the wildlife—it's the remoteness itself. No cell phone service, no hospitals nearby, and the constant need to be aware of your surroundings in an environment that can turn serious quickly. Ryan breaks down how he handles fish safely to avoid attracting piranhas and why you should never go fishing alone in the jungle. The complete safety discussion starts at 7:43.

Final Thoughts from Tom

Ryan's perspective on the Amazon is something you just don't hear enough. He's not telling you about some glamorous fishing trip—he's talking about the reality of fishing in one of the most remote and biodiverse places on the planet. The fact that he's been back 8 to 10 times since 2015 tells you everything you need to know about how that first trip changed him.

What I really appreciate about this conversation is how Ryan connects fishing to conservation. He's not just catching fish—he's supporting local communities and working with organizations that protect the Amazon. That's the kind of approach that creates sustainable fishing for generations to come. And the way he describes reading water without electronics, locating structure by eye, and handling the real dangers of the jungle—that's the kind of knowledge you can't get from a book.

If you've ever thought about fishing the Amazon, or if you just want to hear what it's like to catch 60 to 70 peacock bass in a week in black water rivers where pink dolphins hunt and anacondas hide on logs, you need to listen to the whole thing. This one's worth your time.