CAÑO NEGRO LODGE
A two-hour air charter northeast from Las Palomas/Los Guaduales or Santa Cruz will land you at the Rio Negro/Rio San Simon fishing area and Caño Negro Lodge (southern Amazon basin), owned by operated by Roberto Aponte and Andres Petricevic, superb outfitters and friends. Here in freshwater fishing’s most amazing new frontier, renowned tropical species such as giant arapaima (some over 100 pounds!), peacock bass, payara, pacu and surubi catfish are found in great numbers— and all accessed from the same lodge.
While fishing, anglers always enjoy the picturesque surroundings and abundant wildlife. You will see macaws, parrots, storks, geese, ducks and unique animal species such as caiman and capybara in the midst of the surrounding 4.5 million acre nature preserve.
Dove/PIGEON Shooting: May through October
Prime Time – Fishing: mid-July through October
The Fishing
For both conventional tackle and fly fishing, Caño Negro Lodge boasts the most productive multi-species fishing in South America – and perhaps the world. The mighty saber-tooth payara, river tiger of South America, offers the thrilling, tackle-busting fishing experience of a lifetime. Hailed as “tarpon on steroids”, these payara normally range from five to twenty-five pounds plus. Ten to fifteen strikes per day are the norm with four or five hookups (depending on skill level).
In addition to payara, the lagoon systems (accessed by walking trails) have great numbers of peacock bass! The peacocks here range from three to ten pounds (20 to 40 explosive, hard-hitting peacock bass landed are not uncommon). Other excellent gamefish include brawny pacu, brilliant sardinata, aerobatic corvina, and surubi or other giant catfish. You can land 20-40 peacock bass in the morning, head out for the afternoon to catch payara, or target arapaima (one of the world’s largest freshwater fish native to the Amazon, ranging from 50-100 pounds plus) with lures or bait. All of these fish can be caught in the same day.
Accommodations
Roberto and Andres, in association with longtime friend Jorge Molina hosts groups of eight anglers in surprising comfort at his rustic but modern lodge. The new facility features air-conditioned rooms with private baths, large dining and bar/conversation areas, and a lovely view overlooking huge adjacent spring-fed lagoons. The camp is quite comfortable and offers excellent “front door” opportunities to access multiple species of fish that have never seen a lure or fly.
This program, developed with longtime friends and renowned outfitters, offers fantastic fishing, knowledgeable spin and fly fishing guides, good boats and equipment, comfortable accommodations, delicious food and outstanding service. There is no greater multi-species trip on earth for adventurous anglers.
Rates
Fishing-only
4 DAYS – $4495, 6/7 DAYS – $5895 (air charters included)
Four day minimum, double occupancy. An example of a four day sequence is: mid-morning and afternoon of fishing on day of arrival, fish three full days and early morning fishing and return to Santa Cruz on departure day (around 10:00 AM).
Fishing-Shooting Combo
3 DAYS FISHING/3 DAYS SHOOTING – $6195 (air charter to fishing area included)
This sequence is: fly to Caño Negro Lodge, fish mid-morning and afternoon on arrival, then two full days, and depart for the shooting area after breakfast. Then fly to Las Palomas Lodge for lunch and shoot that afternoon, then two full days, then again the departure morning, returning to Santa Cruz after lunch, via ground transfer.
Included
All meals in the shooting/fishing areas, accommodations, airport transfers, soft drinks, local liquors, beer and wine, laundry service, shotgun cleaning, guides, boats, conventional fishing tackle (baitcasting and spinning rods and reels), all local permits, and the round-trip air charter to and from the fishing area.
Not Included
Commercial air travel, Bolivian visa (currently $160), shells at $18/box, gun rental ($70/day), gratuities to bird boys and lodge staff or fishing guides and fishing camp staff, lures and tackle, fly fishing tackle and flies, items of a personal nature (such as phone calls), and hotel or meals in Santa Cruz (as required by itinerary).
Travel
Travel to Santa Cruz is easy. Boliviana de Aviación (BOA Airlines) has daily non-stop overnight flights from Miami each evening, arriving Santa Cruz the next morning. COPA and United Airlines have one-stop flight service from Houston and Miami. Flights back to Miami usually operate early morning or late evening. We strongly suggest that you allow plenty of time between flights to make your connections.
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