Matrincha

Yet another Characid fish with great fly fishing potential it is spelt matrinxa in Portuguese and belongs to a large genus of fishes called the Brycon which has about, 800 species in the genus worldwide, many of them existing in South American waters. Which particular species we have on the Agua Boa waters I do not know, it is just given as Brycon sp in most fishing references. One that is common throughout the Amazon system and can grow up to about 18 inches is called the silver dourado B. brevicauda and another similar sized species from the Rio Paraguay is called pirapu tanga B. pesu.

 
Many sources give the scientific name B. hilarii for the matrincha,  or B.falcatus but in truth I would not take that to be an absolute fact, for as with many of the fish found in the Amazon waters there is a conflict of information and identification on many of the species.

 
The matrincha is a silver scaled fish (some individuals have a pale gold appearance) with a compact body and small head looking not unlike a shad in appearance. It is dark across the back with pronounced dorsal fin and a well developed adipose fin which is tipped with orange. It has strong square tail which is, only very slightly forked; a black marking occurs on the upper portion of the tail fin which extends down to the root of the anal fin which like the adipose can be in most specimens slightly orange. 

 
A check on the Brazilian weight records indicates the matrincha can attain a weight of just over seven pounds, some say that it can grow even larger,  the fish we have taken on the Agua Boa have been in the region of one to three pounds.

 
During the rainy season the matrincha follows the flooding into the sunken forest for the good feeding times. During the dry season, when we are actually fishing, the matrincha can be found in small shoals alongside sunken trees and other subsurface obstructions for they are ambush feeders darting out from the comfort shelter to snatch small fish, they will also take insects and spiders off the surface it is also believed that this fish will take seeds and fruit.

 
I have always found them around semi sunken bushes growing in the river margins and also in places where small streams and creeks enter the main river.  The take of the matrincha is almost as explosive as that of the peacock bass with fast runs and plenty of aerial acrobatics. As with all the other smaller Amazon game fish six weight rods would be ideal and though the matrincha often take the ultra large flies meant for peacocks it would be better to use small fish imitating streamers, size 6-8 long shank. The matrincha are very easily spooked on many occasions when one is  caught, the rest of the shoal will quickly move away.

 
In passing there is another close relation of the matrincha found in some rivers but not as far as I know on the Agua Boa, at least we have not come across a specimen as yet, this fish is another Brycon species called jutuarana a much darker fish than the matrincha, this species is reputed to weigh up to 17lbs. 

 
The matrincha is considered to be one of the finest eating fish you can catch in Amazon waters and your guide will often politely ask you if he may keep one for his supper, the catch and release ethic flies out of the proverbial window when there is a call from the guide's stomach.