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Manaka Jungle Lodge
Fishing Info
Orinoco Water Shed, Venezuela
What sets Manaka apart from all other peacock
bass destinations?
Besides the enviable comforts of the lodge, Manaka
is the only fishing lodge on the Orinoco/Ventuari river system. This
means that you and the other Manaka's guests will be the only fishermen
using this vast and untapped fishery. You must see the area from the
air to fully comprehend the enormity of the river drainage. The unique
combination of isolation, comfort, unlimited fishing area, and a strict
catch-and-release policy provides the optimal situation for catching
the greatest possible numbers of trophy peacock bass.
What type of fishing conditions am I going
to encounter at Manaka?
Once you experience the inconceivable surface strike
of a peacock bass, you will hooked for life. Besides world class peacock
bass fishing, Manaka Lodge also offers the angler incredible jungle
scenery and the opportunity to experience the untouched beauty of the
Amazon region of Venezuela. You can expect to catch more than 25 peacock
bass per day. Most fish will average between 5 and 12 pounds with the
biggest peacocks tipping the scales at 20 pounds. The "Pavón", peacock
bass in Spanish, is a Cichlid, and there are three different species
at Manaka. The Cichla nigrolineatus or Royal Pavón, averages about five
pounds, and has a central uneven horizontal black line on both sides
of the body that runs from the gills to the end of the dorsal fin. The
Cichla orinocensis or Butterfly averages about four pounds, is the most
abundant: it has three ocellates spots, which run along its lateral
side. And there is the Cichla temensis. Spotted or Deer, Cinchado in
Spanish; it has an unmistakable mottle patch directly behind the eyes.
Also, four horizontal dotted lines on both sides that tend to disappear
when the fish gets over 20 inches, approximately, then, three wide vertical
black will appear on both sides. This is the biggest of them all reaching
over 20 pounds. There are other fishes that you will be able to catch
during your stay: The sable tooth "Payara", a strong fighter that will
make acrobatic jumps and can reach over twenty pounds. "The Sardinatas",
also called "the leaping maniac" are found in large schools. The "Piranhas"
found day and night can weigh from one to three pounds. "Morocoto" is
like a large bluegill that can reach over forty pounds. Then there are
the different types of catfish or "Bagres" where some, like the "Lau
Lau", can reach up to four hundred pounds.
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