I’ve been on many peacock bass fishing trips, but this one was different. I wasn’t just guiding anglers, I was hosting a special group of guests, most of whom had fished with us before. These were return clients, friends really, who have experienced our different destinations over the years, and whose loyalty and passion have helped shape what we do.
We were at Akuani River Lodge, tucked deep into Colombia’s Orinoco basin. This wasn’t your typical fishing lodge getaway. This was a week of sharing stories, building connections, and seeing firsthand how sport fishing can empower local people and preserve wild places.
A Slow Morning That Turned Into a Personal Best
The week started with a group of friends from the U.S. They were experienced, humble, and curious, exactly the kind of people who appreciate the rhythm of the jungle. We fished tight channels, flooded backwaters, and long sandbars. The peacocks weren’t easy at first, but they were there.
On the third day, something clicked. We poled into a slow-moving lagoon where one of the anglers, Dev, hooked into a fish that took his streamer like it hadn’t eaten in days. Twenty-one pounds. Not just a trophy, but the kind of fight that makes you sit down and breathe after the release.
By the end of the day, four of us had landed fish over 18 pounds, all on flies, all sight-casting in clear, shallow water. This wasn’t just jungle fishing—this was surgical. The kind of peacock bass fishing trip that creates lifelong memories and stories retold year after year.
Why Our Peacock Bass Fishing Trips Go Beyond the Water
What made this trip special had less to do with the numbers, and more to do with the people we met along the way. On one afternoon, I took the group to visit a nearby indigenous community, a place where we’ve worked hand-in-hand to build something that lasts beyond a fishing season.
We spent the afternoon learning how they live: how tourism and fishing have created opportunity, how they’ve protected their river systems, and how their young people are now getting involved as guides, cooks, logistics staff, and caretakers of this land.
That night, back at the lodge, we sat under the stars talking about what sustainable tourism actually means. Not just eco-labels or buzzwords—but real investment in education, healthcare, and dignified work for communities that know this river better than anyone.
It was a moment of reflection for all of us, a realization that these peacock bass fishing trips we love can be about so much more than just the fish.
The Heart of Akuani River Lodge
Akuani River Lodge is more than a fishing lodge, it’s a model of what’s possible when local knowledge and global passion meet. We built it with four indigenous communities. Today, most of the lodge’s daily operations, from food preparation to boat handling, are run by members of those communities, with our team providing constant training and support.
We’ve helped develop local schools, assisted elders with transportation and food, and offered classes on conservation and hospitality. Every one of our peacock bass fishing trips contributes directly to these efforts. And the people who come to fish leave with more than photos—they leave connected.
Many of our guests, including those from this recent trip, have now fished with us multiple times, across rivers and coastlines. The relationships built on these jungle waters have turned into something more than business, they’ve become a community.
What Makes These Trips Unique
- Remote, clear-water access to big peacock bass
- Expert native guides trained over years of collaboration
- Cultural immersion with indigenous communities
- Direct support to sustainable development and education
- A sense of purpose, beyond just catching fish
This is what peacock bass fishing trips should be about: discovery, humility, conservation, and a few unforgettable topwater explosions along the way.
Want to Fish with a Purpose?
If you’re looking for more than just a trip, come see what makes the Orinoco basin so special. Come meet the communities behind the lodge. Come experience a fishery that teaches you something new every day.
Learn more about when to fish for peacock bass in Colombia https://afloatadventure.com/blog/best-time-to-catch-peacock-bass-in-colombia/
Contact us to plan a peacock bass fishing trip with purpose https://afloatadventure.com/contact-us/
Watch the experience https://youtube.com/shorts/OeYWTClyiyw?si=-YLR7XgPgvR02bIk
