Piraiba Expedition

Suriname

Piraiba fishing trip in Suriname!

Piraiba Expedition

Day 1: You’ll fly to Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, arriving in the early evening. From the airport, you’ll transfer to a hotel for the night.

Day 2: You’ll leave the hotel early in the morning and travel by bus to the harbour, where your speedboat will be waiting. From there, it’s a three-hour boat journey into the rainforest to reach the simple houseboat. Along the way, you may spot macaws and other jungle wildlife.

The houseboat is anchored in the middle of the river, so you can fish directly from it. There are fewer insects out on the water, and it’s much cooler than in the jungle.

Once we’ve unloaded and prepared the tackle, we’ll head out onto the river. Fishing here is strongly influenced by the tides, so each session is planned accordingly. The best periods are the two hours before and after high and low tide.

Fishing Strategy

Days 3–8: Over the next few days, we’ll target piraiba from the boat. You can also use spinning tackle to catch piranhas and other predatory fish.

Tarpon are sometimes found in the main river and its tributaries, where you can target them with spinning tackle. As the tarpon fishing spots are further away, you’ll need to dedicate a full day to this excursion.

Day 9: You’ll leave the houseboat in the morning. On the way to the airport, you’ll stop at an outdoor swimming pool, where you can shower and freshen up for your flight home. Your flight departs in the afternoon or evening, depending on the airline.

Day 10: You’ll arrive at your home destination.

Piraiba Fishing

Fishing for piraiba involves straightforward bottom fishing. The boats are anchored over deep holes or along broad outer bends, where you’ll fish with baitfish on simple bottom rigs. Before anchoring, you’ll usually use the boat to position your baits in the deeper parts of the river.

Two rods per angler are recommended. Once your baits are in place, it’s time to wait! Piraiba bites are usually quite tentative, so you need to give the fish enough time before striking. Their relatively narrow mouths mean they need a little longer to take the bait properly.

Baitrunner reels are an advantage, allowing you to engage the preset fighting drag when setting the hook. Penn Spinfisher VI 8500 reels with a free-spool function have proved reliable.

Piraiba are explosive fighters, often making long runs once hooked, so make sure your reels hold plenty of line. Fighting a large piraiba is physically demanding. Short boat rods are an advantage, as you’ll play the fish from a drifting boat.

Tarpon Fishing

As mentioned, you can also catch tarpon in Suriname, although this depends on how many fish are in the river at the time. We’ve caught some large tarpon while targeting piraiba in the past, so a Silver King is always a possible surprise catch.

We also know an area where you can target tarpon specifically. The fish here are somewhat smaller than those in the main river, but they’re great fun on light spinning tackle. The journey to this spot takes a little over two hours.

In the relatively narrow upper reaches of a tributary, you can troll or cast lures for tarpon. On our last visit, we hooked and landed numerous fish. Even so, it’s important to be realistic: with a little luck, you might land two out of every ten tarpon you hook.

Peacock Bass & Piranha Fishing

You can also target peacock bass and piranhas in Suriname. Peacock bass fishing offers a welcome change from targeting piraiba and is great fun on light tackle.

Using light spinning rods, you’ll fish a particular area in the upper reaches of the river with surface lures, plugs and spinnerbaits. The peacock bass found in Suriname belong to one of the smaller species, reaching a maximum weight of around 5 kg.

Piranhas can also be caught on spinning tackle. Metal lures are ideal, as they withstand the fish’s sharp teeth. Suriname is home to several piranha species, including the black piranha, which can grow quite large.

You can also target piranhas with natural bait on lighter spinning rods, using floats or simple bottom rigs. Long-shanked hooks are best, along with a strong steel leader – the thicker, the better.

The fishing area

The river you’ll fish flows into the Atlantic. At its mouth, it is hundreds of metres wide and strongly influenced by the tides, which play an important role in your fishing.

Even 100 km upstream, the tides reverse the river’s flow! This change in current triggers the piraiba to feed. The best fishing periods are usually two to three hours before and after the tide turns, depending on the strength of the tides.

Each fishing session is planned around the tides. Your guides know the most productive times and will discuss the schedule with you at the lodge. In principle, there are at least three prime fishing periods each day, with opportunities to fish both during daylight and at night.

The tides are less important when targeting tarpon or peacock bass, as these fishing spots are much further inland and barely affected.

Whether you’re relaxing during the day or spending the night on the houseboat, it’s worth keeping a few rods out. We’ve caught plenty of piraiba directly from the houseboat!

Bottom fishing: Piraiba, tarpon and rays.
Lure fishing: Peacock bass, tarpon, anjumara (wolffish) and piranha.

Accommodation Suriname fishing trip

The accommodation

This is a rainforest expedition, so don’t expect luxurious accommodation. Over the past few years, we’ve worked out the best and most practical option for this adventure: our houseboat, “Air Force Two”!

House Boat in Suriname

Air Force Two

“Air Force two” was built by our local partners and can accommodate up to seven people.

The houseboat has three sets of bunk beds and one single bed, with dining areas at the front and rear. Meals are brought over from our jungle camp.

There is a basic toilet on board, and buckets are provided for washing. Alternatively, you can go ashore and wash in the river.

Catering

Meals: Full Board

Beverages: Soft drinks, coffee/tea and water are included. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased directly on the way to the port.

Snacks are available on the houseboat. If you prefer special snacks, you can buy them on the way.

Paramaribo

Hotel Palacio

The Hotel Palacio is in the centre of the capital. This area is known for its old houses that were built when the country was still a colony.

You will stay in a double room on your journey. Each room has two single beds and its own bathroom. Breakfast is part of the deal.

There is a Burger King next to the hotel, as well as a few local restaurants. A great fishing shop is just a few minutes’ walk away.

Catering

Meals: Breakfast included

Beverages: Drinks can be paid for on site according to consumption

Your fishing boats in Suriname

The Boats

In Suriname, several boats are available, with two anglers fishing from each boat. All are made of aluminium and have ample engine power. We have three different boat types on site, including aluminium longboats and smaller, American-built Tracker boats with flat bottoms.

Fish finders aren’t needed when targeting piraiba – our guides know the best fishing spots inside out!

Boat fishing for Piraiba!

Aluminium Boats

A variety of aluminium boats is available for piraiba fishing in Suriname. Each accommodates two anglers and is operated by one of our experienced guides.

All boats have ample engine power to take you quickly between fishing spots.

Our large longboat is used for transfers from the harbour to the houseboat. It accommodates up to eight people and is also used for fishing once you arrive.

You need this fishing tackle for fishing on Piraiba!

Tackle Talk

Piraiba fishing is straightforward bottom fishing, so you won’t need much tackle. Weights can be purchased on site.

Our rod- & reel recommendations!

Piraiba: Zeck Fishing GmbH - Pro Cat Short & Soft
Piraiba: Zeck Fishing GmbH - Pro Cat Boat
Piraiba: Zeck Fishing GmbH - Mr. Waller Rod
Piraiba Reels: Zeck Fishing GmbH - HR20
Piraiba Reels: Penn - Spinfisher 8500 LL
Piraiba Reels: Zeck Fishing GmbH - SR10 (kein Freilauf!)

Spinfishing: Zeck Fishing GmbH - All Black 240/80
Spinfishing: Zeck Fishing GmbH - Pro Pike 240/80
Spinfishing: Zeck Fishing GmbH - Big Stick
Spinfishing: Zeck Fishing GmbH - Troy 240/150
Spinfishing Reels: Zeck Fishing GmbH - SR5
Spinfishing Reels: Zeck Fishing GmbH - SRM4000
Spinfishing Reels: Shimano - Stradic, Saragosa, Exsence
Spinfishing Reels: Daiwa - Exceler LT, Regal, Cerate, Caldia

You need this fishing tackle for Piraiba!

Piraiba Fishing Equipment

Piraiba fishing is straightforward bottom fishing, so you won’t need much tackle. Weights can be purchased on site.

With plenty of submerged timber in the river, a high-quality main line is essential. Zeck Fishing Hulk Line with a diameter of 0.55 mm and a breaking strain of 50 kg is sufficient.

For your leader, use Kevlar at least 1.4 mm thick. Zeck Silent Leader is well suited to this.

You’ll also need zip sliders for attaching your weights, good-quality ball-bearing swivels with snaps, such as the Zeck Ball Bearing Swivel + Snap, and a few rubber beads, such as Zeck Soft Beads.

You need this fishing tackle for piranha fishing!

Piranha Fishing Equipment

Piranhas can make short work of your tackle, so don’t compromise when targeting large black piranhas.

A strong wire leader is essential. Use either 7×7 steel at least 0.45 mm thick or a titanium leader. Remember to bring suitable crimp sleeves and crimping pliers.

For your piranha rigs, you’ll also need small swivels, long-shanked hooks such as the BKK Beak Baitholder R, and ball weights.

Take extreme care when unhooking piranhas. Long-reach unhooking pliers, such as the Zeck MP Pliers or Unhooking Pliers, are strongly recommended. Your fingers will thank you!

The best lures for Suriname!

Peacock Bass & Tarpon

For peacock bass fishing in Suriname, you’ll need a selection of surface and shallow-diving lures. The peacock bass found here belong to one of the smaller species, so lures measuring 7.5–13 cm work well.

Choose surface lures with a walk-the-dog action. Models with rattles can improve your chances of a catch. Twitchbaits and spinnerbaits are also highly effective.

Alongside natural baitfish colours, bring some bright, eye-catching patterns. Firetiger, white, orange and vivid green are all effective choices.

Terminal Tackle

Hooks & Terminal Tackle

For fishing in Suriname, you’ll need strong single hooks and treble hooks, but avoid sizes that are too large. If you’re using Zeck hooks, bring sizes M and L. For other treble hooks, choose sizes 2/0–4/0, such as the BKK Raptor Z 3/0 or Owner ST-66 4/0.

Rigs combining a single hook and a treble hook have proved very successful. Two single hooks connected with a Ryder Hook Sleeve have also produced excellent results. At times, this double-single-hook rig has achieved an even better hook-up rate than the single-and-treble combination.

As these rigs require quite a few small components, we recommend bringing a good tackle box to organise your lead booms, zip sliders, rubber beads and other terminal tackle.

Helpful tools, waterproof luggage

Tools & Travel Bags

We recommend bringing good unhooking pliers, along with split-ring pliers for changing the hooks on your lures.

Rain showers are frequent in the rainforest, and humidity is generally very high, so waterproof travel bags are recommended. Ortlieb 80-litre duffel bags are a good choice.

Bring a waterproof backpack and document pouch to keep your passport and travel documents safe and dry.

For smaller items, we recommend a waterproof boat bag such as the Zeck Tackle Container Pro.

Clamps from Bauhaus have proved useful as rod holders. Attached to the side of the boat, they help prevent your rods from slipping. Banksticks are also useful when fishing from the shore.

This is the clothing you need on your Piraiba fishing trip!

Other things for your expedition

Bring good-quality outdoor clothing for this expedition. Sturdy, full-length trousers such as Fjällräven G-1000 trousers, bite-resistant long-sleeved shirts or our Expeditions UV Long Sleeve are ideal. As you’ll be hiking in the rainforest, a waterproof jacket and trousers are essential.

Ankle-high hiking boots are the best choice of footwear. Make sure they’re breathable.

As you’ll often be fishing during the day, bring a good sun hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. Don’t forget a bright, reliable head torch!

Good polarised sunglasses are essential for fishing. We recommend gloryfy unbreakable sunglasses, which combine polarised lenses with exceptionally durable frames.

Take a closer look at the gloryfy unbreakable range of polarised fishing sunglasses here: Polarized Sunglasses for Anglers!