Peru Fishing

Peru Fishing

Peru is without a doubt a privileged and diverse country, possessing a majority of all the major types of microclimates and a large percentage of all the flora and fauna of the world. For this reason, Peru is considered a true "dream destination" for sports fishermen.

Peru is divided by three unique regions: THE COAST, THE MOUNTAINS (ANDES) AND THE JUNGLE (AMAZON).

Peru Fishing in the coast and Hunboldt Current:

Peru, located on the western side in the center of South America, has 2,800 kilometers of Pacific Ocean coast. The cold waters of the Humboldt Current influence over 75% of the coast; the northern 25% of the coastline is influenced by warmer tropical currents. Therefore, deep-sea fishing for Black Marlin, and yellow fin tuna is possible offshore along the northern coast and inshore in the northern mangrove swamps you can find Sea bass, snook and grouper.

The Southern coast, characterized by cold waters, is especially suited for fishing from the shore or rocky cliffs to catch Flounder, sea bass and other species such as Chita.

Peru Fishing in the Andean Mountains:

Snows thawing from the Andean mountains forms numerous lakes and rivers along the edges of the Andes of Peru and is considered a great habitat for Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Specimens of more than 7 kilos have been captured in lakes, flyfishing and spin fishing. While you may not always find a giant trout the Andean lakes are famous for the large numbers of 700 -900 g trout. Trout season is at its peak between May and November, spin fishing using light rods and #1 - #3 Mepps lures.

Peru Fishing in the Amazon Jungle and Basin:

The Amazon Basin comprise almost 75% of Peru’s land mass. The rivers and lakes of the Amazon Basin are full of a large and varied number of gamefish such as Peacock Bass, Giant Oscars, Surubi, Zungaro and Payara, considered one of the world’s best fresh water trophy fish.

Tuna, drums, flounder, Pacific croaker, grunt, sea bass and even black marlin are some of the attractions for deep sea fishermen. Peru still features the world record for the largest black marlin, weighing 702 kg (1,560 lb) caught by US fisherman Alfred Glossell Jr. Writer Ernest Hemingway was a frequent visitor to Peruvian waters, and it was here that he was inspired to write The Old Man and the Sea.

Like the author, Peruvians know that Peru is synonymous of adventure and above all good fishing. Fishing is one of the most important industries in Peru due to the variety of species in Peru's rich fishing grounds. Here fishermen will always find an ideal beach for the kind of fishing they are looking for: rocky bluffs and cliffs, sweeping sandy beaches, cold waters teeming with plankton and warm, clear currents.

If willing to practice sport fishing in Peru you should follow these recommendations:

• Every time you head out onto the water, whether in your own boat or a hired one, notify the local harbor captain. This can prove to be of great help in case of accidents.
• Also check tide tables and wave conditions.
• Although no particular permits are needed for sports fishing, the Fisheries Ministry prohibits fishing for trout and silversides in the highlands during the Andean summer, from April to October.
• Heed fishing bans and throw back into the sea small specimens or those with roe.
• Fishermen on bluffs or on open beaches need to take care with crumbling cliffs and quicksand.
• Never go fishing alone.
• On the coast: Visitors should bring plenty of water and sunscreen
• In the highlands: Sunscreen is recommended, plus warm clothing. High altitude sickness known locally as soroche can set in at over 2,500 masl. Take precautions by resting the first day, drink plenty of liquids and avoid heavy food and alcohol.
• In the jungle: Never travel without insect repellent, a raincoat and sunscreen. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are recommended to ward off insect bites. A yellow fever vaccination is obligatory. There are also vaccinations for malaria, tetanus and Hepatitis A and B, as well as local treatment for leishmaniasis (uta) and malaria.

Peru Fishing in Saltwater

This is done all along Peru's vast Pacific coastline, and is broken down into two types: shoreline fishing, whether from the beach or from clifftops, and in a boat.

Fishing on beaches is the most common form in Peru. Species like flounder, croaker and grunt are the best catches along the sandy beaches of Peru's central and south coast. To the north, fishermen along the beach tends to reel in drums and pompano.Fishing from the bluffs, meanwhile, is done all along the coast, and fishermen just need rocky crags to have a cast. Species caught include grunt, rock bass and local species such as cherlo, tramboyo and pintadilla. In both areas, fishermen tend to use as bait the tiny crustaceans called muy muys that live in the sand, wedge clams and snails.

Fishing from the back of boats is also divided into two kinds: pinteo, or fishing from an anchored boat, and trolling from a moving launch. Pinteo fishing along the central and south coast usually catches the same varieties as clifftop fishing, adding cuskeel, sea bass and smoothhounds in the north. Trolling, meanwhile, is usually done off the north coast using artificial bait, reeling in tuna, black marlin and local species such as cherela, agujilla, sierra, pluma and perico.

Peru Fishing in Freshwater

There is freshwater fishing to be had in rivers and lakes in the highlands, generally above 2,500 meters, as well as in the Amazon jungle. Highland fishing is basically limited to trout and silversides, both of which were introduced into Peru in the nineteenth century.

These varieties are plentiful in clean and well-oxygenated waters. At altitudes over 3,000 meters, one tends to catch trout (white and pink or rainbow).

Sports fishing in the jungle, while less developed than along the coast, is concentrated in a few rivers and lakes in the northern Amazon (Iquitos and environs), where local species such as the tucunare, gamitana and araguana are the most common catches.There is also fishing to be had in some parts of the southern jungle (Madre de Dios), which teem with zúngaro, chambira, paco and doncella.

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