I recently returned from the Brazilian Amazon after spending the entire month of September fishing four different rivers.
Four weeks. Four river systems. A lot of miles, a lot of casts, and a lot of peacock bass.
And after seeing the conditions firsthand, my biggest takeaway is this: September was a great month to be on the water, and the 2026/2027 Amazon peacock bass season has a lot of potential. But this is also a season where you'll need to pay close attention to water levels.
Amazon Water Levels: What We Saw in September 2026
Over the last three or four years, we've seen some pretty drastic swings in Amazon water levels. Extreme low water, unusual timing, and conditions that didn't always follow the patterns we had become accustomed to seeing. 2023 and 2024 both brought record low water on the Rio Negro.
On the rivers we fished this September, conditions felt much closer to what I'd consider a more normal Amazon cycle, the type of conditions we were seeing five or six years ago.
That doesn't mean every river is the same. The Amazon is massive, and conditions can vary tremendously from one river system to another.
It also doesn't mean the rest of the season will follow the same script. Official forecasts are calling for a lower-than-normal dry season this year, and the Rio Negro dropped fast in August and September. If that continues, some rivers could get very low in October and November.
Best Time to Fish the Amazon in the 2026/2027 Season
Here's my honest read:
- October and November: can be excellent, but watch the water. If levels drop too far, you'll need to adjust how you fish (more on that below)
- January and February: I'm optimistic about this window as well
Anyone who has spent enough time fishing the Amazon knows one thing:
There are never any guarantees down here.
Rain hundreds of miles away can change a river. Water can rise or fall quickly. A river that looks perfect one week can fish completely differently the next.
That unpredictability is part of what makes Amazon fishing so challenging, and so addictive.
For more on seasons and species, check out our Amazon fishing guide.
High Water Strategy: Make Some Noise
Because we were fishing during September, water levels were still relatively high on most of the rivers we visited.
When the water is higher, peacock bass have a lot more structure available to them. Fish can push farther into flooded timber, shoreline vegetation, lagoons and other areas where getting a lure in front of them becomes more difficult.
Our strategy was simple:
Make some noise and bring them out.
We threw a lot of aggressive topwater presentations, including:
- Choppers
- Large Spook-style walking baits
- Poppers
And it worked.
There is nothing quite like watching a big Amazon peacock bass explode on a chopper. Sometimes they completely crush it. Other times they blow up behind it, slap at it or miss the hooks entirely.
That's when having a follow-up bait ready becomes extremely important.
Don't Waste the Follow-Up Cast
When a fish missed a topwater lure, we immediately came back with something different. Our main follow-up baits:
- Swimbaits
- Bucktail jigs
- Jerkbaits
A peacock bass that just attacked a topwater is telling you exactly where it is. Even if it misses, that fish may still be aggressive.
The key is getting another lure back into that zone quickly.
Low Water Strategy: Go Quiet
If you arrive in the Amazon and find extremely low water, I would approach things differently. And with this season's forecast, that's worth being ready for.
As the rivers get very low, water temperatures can rise and fish can become less active. Under those conditions, extremely loud presentations aren't always the answer.
I tend to start working quieter.
Silent or more subtle topwater baits can become very effective, along with presentations that let you work an area without creating as much disturbance.
That doesn't mean a big peacock won't destroy a noisy bait in low water. They absolutely will.
But when conditions get extremely low and hot, sometimes less is more.
One of the biggest lessons in Amazon peacock bass fishing is learning to adjust to the river instead of arriving with one strategy and forcing it all week.
Four Rivers and an Unbelievable Month
At the end of the four weeks, September was everything we could have hoped for.
We caught a ton of peacock bass.
We caught some giants.
And the best part?
We're not even halfway through our Amazon season yet.
Heading Back to the Amazon
I'm heading back to Brazil in October for another three weeks in the jungle.
I'm very curious to see how much the rivers have changed since we left, and whether the patterns we saw in September hold up as the water drops.
That's one of the reasons I love spending extended time in the Amazon. You don't just get a snapshot of one river during one week. You get to watch the season develop.
I'll keep you guys posted from the jungle, here and on Instagram.
If you're thinking about fishing the Amazon this season, reach out to Jungle Fishing and I'll take it from there.
Quick Answers
When is the best time to fish for peacock bass in the Amazon in 2026/2027?
October–November and January–February are the windows to watch. This season, keep a close eye on water levels, since forecasts call for a lower-than-normal dry season.
What are the best lures for Amazon peacock bass in high water?
Loud topwaters like choppers, large Spook-style walking baits and poppers, with swimbaits, bucktail jigs or jerkbaits as follow-up baits.
What lures work for peacock bass in very low water?
Quieter, more subtle baits and silent topwaters. When water gets very low and hot, loud baits aren't always the answer.
— Lucas Sanchez
Founder, Jungle Fishing
