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Agua Boa Amazon Lodge
2025 TRIP REPORT - Brazil
Two Hosted Weeks - November 15-29, 2025
As is typical, Agua Boa was a great trip.
My flights from Billings, Montana, to Manaus, Brazil, went smoothly. I flew COPA Airlines from Miami to Panama City, then on to Manaus. For the 2025 season, this was the best flight. There are other USA departure cities that worked well, too.
Most of my hosted group arrived in Manaus at 2:30 a.m. on Friday, and we all stayed at the Intercity Hotel. Several in our group went on the city tour. The tour included stops at the Opera House, the famous Meeting of the Waters, and the Fish Market. The Meeting of the Waters is where the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões meet to form the beginning of the Amazon River. The two rivers are so massive—and so different in color— that it takes seven miles for their colors to fully blend.
The Fish Market was equally impressive, with more species of fish for sale than you can imagine. On the boat ride to the Meeting of the Waters, they also stopped at a net pen holding arapaima. Guests are allowed to tie a baitfish to a heavy cord attached to a stout wooden pole. When the arapaima attacks, it gives you a powerful tug before stripping the bait from the line—an unforgettable experience.
The night before we flew to the lodge, we all went to Gaucho’s for a traditional Brazilian barbecue dinner. Gaucho’s is an easy five-block walk from the hotel. I highly recommend making a point of visiting Gaucho’s Churrascaria.
Agua Boa has always been one of the nicest fishing lodges in South America. Over the past year, there have been some very nice improvements to the bungalows and the main lodge. All the outside doors have been upgraded to sliding glass windows. Everyone was blown away by the new look.
The river was at a medium-low height, with good clarity. We were able to sightcast to a variety of species, including peacock bass, arowana, and even a few arapaima. The weather was excellent for fishing. We had quite a bit of overcast, with some wind, which made the fishing more comfortable than direct sun. We did have a few rain showers that lasted 5-90 minutes, which actually added to the comfort while on the water.
My first hosted group had some impressive fish. Kris Spanjian and I landed about 150 peacocks in one day. We didn’t have more than five minutes without hooking a fish all day long. I landed a 17-pound peacock, my first arapaima, and my first redtail catfish ever, all on a fly. Ray Gilbertson landed an 18-pound peacock for the largest fish of the week. I came down with a cold and only fished four days (of the 6.5) the first week. I had already landed 11 species of fish, including the three peacocks, arapaima, arowana, wolf fish, dog fish, jacunda, pacu, silver piranha, and bicuda. I added a few more species the following week.
The second week was just as memorable. Bob Mueller landed two 17-pound peacock bass, Mark Flood landed a payara, Kathy Kim landed an arapaima—and lost two others, including one estimated at about 200 pounds. She battled that fish for nearly 30 minutes while the guide worked to move the boat toward a sandbar about 400 yards away, where we could land the fish. Kathy had the fish mostly under control when a 10-12-foot caiman dove down near the arapaima, and the two surfaced at the same time, within inches of each other. The arapaima got an adrenaline rush, took off on a powerful run, and opened up the hook enough to spit it out.
That was something to see. I was impressed.
The Lodge served a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day, making the day even more special for Bob and Susan Mueller who were celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary. This was the Mueller's sixth time fishing at Agua Boa. It tells you how special a trip to Agua Boa is when a couple chooses a fishing trip for their anniversary.
If you would like to join one of our hosted weeks in 2026 or 2027, please get in touch with Brad Staples or me.
Guy Schoenborn
1-800-205-3474 ext. 1
Cell (406) 698-0874
Email: guy@fishingwithlarry.com
Brad Staples
1-800-205-3474 ext. 3
Cell (503) 250-0558
Email: brad@fishingwithlarry.com
Information Packet
2026 Hosted Weeks:
7-nights and 6.5-days guided fishing
$7,925 per person
Group Size: 13 anglers + host
November 6-14, 2026:
Al Larson hosts
November 13-21, 2026:
Brad Staples hosts
December 4-12, 2026:
Carson Oldham hosts
2026 Hosted Holiday Weeks:
Save $1,000
now $6,925 per person
November 20-28, 2026:
Brad Staples hosts
2027 Agua Boa Hosted Weeks
7-nights and 6.5-days guided fishing
2027 rates are to be determined.
Group Size: 13 anglers + host
Nov. 5-13, 2027:
Al Larson hosts
Nov. 12-20, 2027:
Guy Schoenborn hosts
Dec. 3-11, 2027:
Carson Oldham
2027 Hosted Holiday Weeks:
Save $1,000
Nov. 19-27, 2027:
Guy Schoenborn hosts
Book anytime.
You are not restricted to our Hosted Weeks.
Agua Boa Amazon Lodge
New Rec Room at the Lodge
Ray Gilbertson with an Agua Boa Peacock Bass
Kathy Kim with a Large Peacock Bass
Dave Erickson with a Large Arapaima - 2025 Christmas Week.
Arapaima are massive, prehistoric freshwater fish native to the Amazon Basin and rank among the largest freshwater species on the planet. They can breathe air, allowing them to thrive in low-oxygen waters.
Guy Schoenborn with a Peacock Bass
Guy Schoenborn with a Redtailed Catfish
Susan and Bob Mueller with a Large Peacock Bass
Their 33rd Anniversary and 6th visit to Agua Boa!
Join our Hosted Weeks
View our Agua Boa main page.
