Payara
Hydrolycus spp.
Local / Portuguese name
Payara / Cachorra
Scientific name
Hydrolycus spp.
Typical size
Typically 10–20 lbs, with fang-like lower teeth up to 4 in. long.
Habitat
Fast-moving, oxygenated water — rapids, river mouths, and turbulent channels of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
More Detail
The Payara's saber-like fangs, which protrude past its jaw and lock into sockets in the skull, have made it one of the most photographed and feared-looking fish in South America. Locals call it the 'vampire fish' for good reason. It hunts in fast current with blistering speed, making it a prized — and visually unforgettable — catch.
We don't book trips
Ready to fish the Payara
We don't run trips. Our partner Infinity Angling holds the exact water, the dates and the operator — they'll build it for you.