Ilha do Jeff

Ilha do Jeff is an all-inclusive sport fishing lodge on Lago de Balbina, a 2,360 km² reservoir formed by the damming of the Uatumã River in Presidente Figueiredo, 170 km north of Manaus. What makes the fishery unique is its timber structure: when the reservoir was created in the 1980s, the flooded forest was left standing — thousands of submerged dead trees now serve as ambush cover for some of the largest peacock bass in the Amazon. The lodge was the first on the lake to institute a mandatory catch-and-release policy.

Lago de Balbina hosts three peacock bass species in a single reservoir: Vazzoleri (*Cichla vazzoleri*), the lake's flagship species and one of Brazil's largest, regularly exceeding 8 kg; Paca (*Cichla temensis*), with its distinctive wide vertical markings and aggressive surface strikes around submerged timber; and the Amarelo (Yellow Peacock Bass), smaller in maximum weight but prized for its fighting spirit. Silver arowana, bicuda, corvina, trahira and black piranha round out the catch variety through the day. All fishing is strictly catch-and-release.

Aluminum bass boats carrying up to 2 anglers depart daily with experienced native guides and fuel included. Three floating support camps are strategically positioned across the reservoir to provide mid-day snacks and hot meals on the water. The operation provides BGFA-certified measurement boards for official record documentation, drawing anglers chasing personal bests and competition records.

On-land accommodations combine native hardwood chalets and suites with air conditioning, flat-screen TV, minifridge, Starlink Wi-Fi and ensuite bathrooms. The social hub features a pool overlooking the lake, a wide hardwood deck, a fully stocked bar with premium beer brands (Budweiser, Heineken, Amstel, Brahma and Império), a billiards room and an open-air restaurant. The daily buffet showcases Amazonian regional cuisine — tambaqui, pirarucu, tucupi duck and free-range chicken, much of it grown in the lodge's own garden. The lodge operates January 15 through December 15.

2025 packages run from 2 to 5 fishing days and are fully all-inclusive: regional meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, guided aluminum boat, fuel and lodging. Road transfer from Manaus to the Comunidade Rumo Certo boat staging area (approximately 3 hours via BR-174) is the angler's responsibility, as is the IBAMA sport fishing license.