Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 283 is my conversation with Kyle Gemas about pursuing the arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet, in the jungle. The arapaima is a prehistoric-looking giant that can grow to remarkable lengths and weights, and chasing one means going deep into remote water under tough conditions. We talk about the adventure, the challenge of the fish itself, and what draws an angler to chase something that big and that far off the map.
Listen now: Megaphone · Spotify · YouTube.
Kyle Gemas is an adventurous angler known for pursuing extraordinary fish in remote places. In this episode he shares his pursuit of the arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, deep in the jungle.
The arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish on earth, a prehistoric-looking giant native to remote jungle waters. It can grow to extraordinary lengths and weights, making it one of the most impressive and challenging freshwater species an angler can target.
Arapaima are famous for their enormous size, capable of reaching well over a hundred pounds and many feet in length. The episode centers on the pursuit of a true giant, the kind of fish that represents the upper limit of what freshwater angling has to offer.
Chasing arapaima means traveling deep into remote jungle water and dealing with demanding conditions far from any convenience. Kyle talks about the preparation, persistence, and physical effort required to even get a shot at a fish of that size.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 283 with Kyle Gemas is available on Megaphone, Spotify, YouTube, and the Tom Rowland Podcast feed. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
I wanted Kyle on because chasing a giant arapaima in the jungle is the kind of adventure that captures everything I love about fishing pushed to the extreme. A prehistoric giant in remote water, demanding conditions, and a fish that tests everything you have, that is a story worth telling. I am always drawn to anglers willing to go far off the map for a once-in-a-lifetime fish, and Kyle did exactly that. I wanted to hear how it went.
Press play in the player above to hear it.
The arapaima is unlike almost anything else in freshwater, an ancient giant that draws anglers from around the world. Kyle explains what makes it so compelling. Hear it in the episode.
Getting to arapaima water means going deep into the jungle under tough conditions. Kyle describes the travel and preparation the pursuit demanded. Listen to that section of the conversation.
Tangling with a fish that big is its own kind of test. Kyle talks about the fight and what it takes to handle a giant. Press play in the YouTube player above.
Trips like this are about more than the catch. Kyle shares what the pursuit of the arapaima meant to him. Worth hearing in full.
Listen to the full conversation: Megaphone · Spotify · YouTube.
What I take away from Kyle's trip is the reminder that fishing still has true frontiers. There are giants in remote water that very few people will ever see, let alone chase, and going after them is its own reward.
If you have ever dreamed about a fish at the edge of what is possible, this conversation will fuel that. Press play in the player above, or grab Episode 283 on Megaphone or Spotify.
Kyle Gemas · Arapaima · Tom Rowland (host)
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Kyle Gemas is an adventurous angler known for pursuing extraordinary fish in remote places. He set out to chase the arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, deep in the jungle, taking on demanding conditions far off the map for a shot at a true freshwater giant. His pursuits reflect a love of adventure fishing at the outer edges of the sport.
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