By: IGFA Representative Rodrigo Salles and Rafael Marques
Few freshwater game fish command the respect and admiration of anglers quite like the speckled peacock bass, Cichla temensis. Found primarily within the blackwater systems of the Rio Negro Basin in the Brazilian Amazon, this remarkable predator represents the pinnacle of tropical sportfishing. Its explosive strikes, immense power, vibrant coloration, and ability to exceed 20 pounds have earned it legendary status among anglers worldwide.
Yet despite its reputation, surprisingly little long-term scientific information exists regarding the life history of giant wild Cichla temensis. Questions about age, growth, territoriality, movement patterns, and survival after release have largely been answered through anecdotal observations rather than long-term data.
In 2019, that began to change.
What started as an ambitious conservation initiative on Brazil’s Rio Marié evolved into the largest and longest-running mark-and-recapture study ever conducted on Cichla temensis. Known today as the Temensis Tagging Project, the program has already tagged more than 3,000 fish and generated a growing body of information that is helping anglers, fisheries managers, scientists, and conservationists better understand one of the world’s greatest freshwater sportfish.
More importantly, it demonstrates how recreational fishing can play a direct role in conservation, Indigenous stewardship, and scientific discovery.
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