Fishing near Porto Velho, Rondônia

Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia, sits on the banks of the Rio Madeira — one of the Amazon basin's great rivers and the backbone of fishing in this part of western Brazil. The river and its surrounding tributaries, including the Rio Candeias, Rio Jamari, and the igarapés that thread through the surrounding forest, draw sport anglers after tucunaré (peacock bass) and a range of other Amazonian species. The city serves as the main gateway and base for fishing the broader Madeira region.