Arapaima
Also called pirarucu, paiche
Arapaima are giant, air-breathing Amazon basin fish that live in warm, low-oxygen freshwater and eat other fish. They are targeted with heavy tackle and large flies in some managed fisheries.
- Group
- Warmwater & exotic freshwater
- Category
- Species
- Level
- Advanced
- Water
- Freshwater
Last updated
What Arapaima means
You notice arapaima first by the shape, long and thick-bodied with a hard, plated look and a broad head. They are native to the Amazon basin and nearby drainages, and they surface regularly to gulp air because they can breathe atmospheric oxygen.
Arapaima fishing is usually visual and timing-based. Anglers look for rolling fish, then lead the fish with a big baitfish-style fly and strip it to get a reaction. Eats can be subtle for a fish that size, and the first job is often getting a solid hook hold through a bony mouth.
Most fly tackle setups lean heavy, stout rods, strong leaders, and large single hooks.
Why it matters on the water
Arapaima are not a “cast anywhere” target. Success comes from reading roll patterns, setting up the angle, and putting the fly where the fish will be when it comes up to breathe, not where it was a second ago.
They expose weak links fast. Hook choice, knots, leader abrasion resistance, and landing plan matter more than finesse, because long fights and poor handling can beat up the fish and the angler’s gear.
Read next
- BackingBacking is thin, strong line spooled onto a fly reel under the fly line. It adds extra length for long runs and helps the fly line fit the reel correctly.
- LeaderThe leader is the clear, tapered line between the fly line and the fly. It turns the fly over and gives you a clean, controlled presentation.
- StreamerA streamer is a fly meant to be moved to imitate a baitfish, leech, sculpin, or crayfish. It is often fished with strips, swings, or a steady retrieve, but it can also be dead-drifted.
- Strip setA strip set is a hook set made by pulling the fly line hard with the line hand while keeping the rod low, instead of lifting the rod tip.