As an avid outdoorsman and owner of a sport fishing operation I would like to be able to be announcing that ABC’s World New Tonight was preparing to do a positive story about our industry. Sadly that is not the case.

Tomorrow evening, Dan Harris of ABC World News Tonight is scheduled to report on Child Sex Tourism in the sport fishing/peacock bass fishing industry. This is said to include undercover video of fishing trips being sold that include minors as part of the package.

In 2008 when we signed “The Code” (www.thecode.org) with ECPAT–USA (www.ecpatusa.org). We did this in the hope that we could help stop this cancer that is taking over our industry and that others would follow our lead and speak out against the abuse of children by sportsmen. This has not happened. I have asked the Safari Club International (www.scifirstforhunters.org) to join in this fight with no positive results.

It is my hope that this report and the others that have run will help clean up our industry and protect those who have been /are being abused and exploited by it.

We all have the responsibility to stand up for the less fortunate. If we sit back and do nothing when we see a crime being committed we are just as guilty as those perpetrating the crime.

Sincerely,

Philip A. Marsteller
Founder
Amazon Tours, Inc.
(972) 304-1656
www.amazontours.com

Note: you can view the reports done by Fox 5 Atlanta’s Dale Russell here:

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A_brazil_sex_tourism_112309

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A-sex-tourism-pt.-2-011110

This week the group got off with a great start (let’s see if they can keep it up). They boated a total of 249 peacock bass with 7-10lbs, 1-11lbs, 1-12lbs, 1-13lbs, 3-14lbs, 2-16lbs, 1-18lbs, 1-20lbs, and 1-21lbs. Big Fish of the Day went to Dr.Jerry Cotner for his 21 pound monster. Congratulations Dr. Cotner!

Rio Negro Lodge
By Marc Cobos

This year started fast as we are approaching the end of the first month of the year but still lots of great fishing conditions. As for our anglers they had a great time despite all the odds out there in the back woods and the lagoons. Landed lots of peacock bass not to mention the memories of their adventures they will have for a long time to come.
The count for the week was 1420 peacock bass total with 87 being 10 lbs. or better and 2 of those being 20 lbs or better.
This week it was two of our couple’s team who landed the big fish of the week. They go to Frances who landed a 20-pound monster for the week and his wife Francis landed an 18-pounder. Then we have the second couple made up of Scott Von Hatten also landing a 20-pounder and his wife Luanne who didn’t break the double digit but enjoyed being here to fish, the adventure and learned a lot about the Amazon. Our other couple is Skip who landed an 18-pounder and Peggy landed a 14-pounder. Jay landed a 14-pounder and his wife Carrie landed a 16-pounder. These couple fished hard the wives giving the husbands a run for their woodchopper.
Some of our returning anglers are David Fuller who landed a 19-pounder and his partner Mark landed a 18-pounder. Then we have Bob Zann who came with his friend Peri who landed a 19-pounder on his last day. David Peacock brought down his partner Matt to try his hand at wood chopping for a week after big peacocks; David landed a 17-pounder and Matt ended with a 16-pounder.
Our four friends were Bill who landed a 16-pounder, his fishing buddy Buzz landed an 11-pounder. The other two were John who landed a 16-pounder and Bob Street landing a 15-pounder for the week.
To end the groups we have our big group from Cabela’s with some first time anglers and some returning anglers which brought their friend to work and give it a try at landing a big monster. Many of them hooked big ones but few were landed which is part of fishing.
First we start with our father and son teams of Jon S. Crowe who landed an 18-pounder and his son Jon P. Crowe landing a 19-pounder. But it looks like their friends James and Kyle had the most fun in the group, they dove into lagoons with piranhas, waded with sting rays and more, they seemed to be the most adventurous ones in the group, James ended the week with a 17-pounder. Kyle’s partner was Ryan, Ryan landed a 16-pounder and Kyle landed a 12-pounder. Our two brothers were Mathew who landed an 18-pounder and his brother Eric ended up landing a 10-pounder for their week. Tom landed a 13-pounder and his partner Brian landed a 15-pounder. Then there is Brendan who landed a 12-pounder and his partner Charles who also landed a 12-pounder. Our last team in this group is Tyler with a 19-pounder and Scott with a 17-pounder. Their guides took them all into places where it looked inaccessible but with their help to push, pull, drag and walk they made their week an unforgettable one in peacock bass fishing.

From my staff and I and the people who have meet of the Rio Negro, we thank God for this opportunity to once again have this wonderful trip and for offering these great fishing conditions. We wish our guest a safe and memorable journey home to their families full of memories of the adventure of a lifetime.

Thank you for fishing with us on the Rio Negro, we will be waiting here for your return soon for some more great fishing, and lots of new stories (Real Fishing Stories) and many friends.

For the groups last fishing day they landed a total of 366 peacock bass with 5-10lbs, 2-11lbs, 1-13lbs, 3-14lbs, 2-15lbs, 1-18lbs, and 1-19lbs. Big Fish of Day went to Peri Proctor for his 19 pounder. Congratulation Peri!

Today the group landed 265 peacock bass with 7 – 10 Lbs, 2 – 11 Lbs, 4 – 12 Lbs, 2 – 13 Lbs, 1 – 14 Lbs, 1 – 15 Lbs, 3 – 17 Lbs, 1 – 18 Lbs, and 1 – 20 Lbs. Big Fish of the Day went to Scott Von Hatten. Congratulations Scott!

Today Tyler Hornig landed the Big Fish of the Day with this beautiful 19 pounder! For the day they landed a total of 450 peacock bass with 5 – 10 Lbs, 2 – 11 Lbs, 4 – 12 Lbs, 1 – 13 Lbs, 2 – 14 Lbs, 1 – 15
Lbs, 1 – 16 Lbs, and 1 – 19 Lbs. Not a bad day to be out on the water.

Today the group landed a total of 320 peacock bass with 3 – 10 Lbs, 3 – 11 Lbs, 2 – 12 Lbs, 2 – 13 Lbs, 2 – 14 Lbs, 1 – 15 Lbs, 1 – 16 Lbs and 1- 20 Lbs. Big Fish of the Day goes to Francis Lawrence for his 20 pound monster. Congratulations Francis!

For day two the group boated a total of 269 peacock bass with 3 – 10 Lbs, 3 – 11 Lbs, 1 – 13 Lbs, 3 – 14 Lbs, 1 -15 Lbs, 3 – 16 Lbs, 1 – 17 Lbs, 2 – 18 Lbs, and 1 – 19 Lbs. John Crowe won Big Fish of the Day with his 19 pounder. Congratulations John!

Today the total number of peacock bass landed was 186 with 1 – 10 Lbs, 4 – 11 Lbs, 2 – 12 Lbs, 2 – 15 Lbs, 2 – 16 Lbs, 1 – 18Lbs, and 1 – 19 Lbs. Big Fish of the Day was landed by David Fuller. Congratulations David!

Into the third week of 2010 and the Rio Negro still dropping with an average of 3” per day, this gave our anglers that optimal opportunity to go after those monster peacock bass. As our anglers became more and more familiar with techniques in peacock bass fishing with a chopper they soon started landing more and letting less big fish get off.

The count for the week was 1799 peacock bass total with 136 being 10 lbs. or better and 12 of those being 20 lbs. or better.

Biggest fish goes to Rick Hayman who landed two beautiful 22-pounders on the same day. Rick brought down his group of friends. The group fished with different partners during the week and tried different adventures out on the river and the back waters. In the group was Joe who fished hard and landed lots of fish, then there is Karl who landed a 10-pounder, Wayne landing a 17-pounder, Charlie D. with a 20-pounder, Ray landed a 16-pounder, Richard W. with his a 12-pounder, Charles G. landed a 15-pounder, Steve landed two 15-pounders, Richard G. monster fish a nice 21-pounder, and Thomas who landed two 14-pounders.

Our father and son teams start with Jack and with his son Dave who ended up the week with an 18-pounder. The other team was Richard and his son Mark who also ended the week with a 15-pounder. Then we have our long time friend Dr. Hatasaka who comes with his two sons Mark and Harry Jr and their friend Richard L. They were fly fishermen rather than a wood chopper. Dr. Hatasaka ended the week with the most fish landed, Mark landed a 14-pounder and took advantage of this season to take plenty of pictures for his photography books. Harry Jr. landed an 11-pounder with Richard who landed 64 fish for the week.

Our families and couples for the week were made up of the following, Glen who landed two 16-pounders and his wife Judy that landed a 15-pounder for the week. Glen’s friend David landed a nice 17-pounder after chopping the whole week. Then we have Bob that landed a 15-pounder and his wife Oweta who unfortunately was under the weather with a cold and only fished for a few days, but Oweta had Bob beat till she had to stay in. Who know what the outcome of this couple would have been with them fishing together. We hope she gets well soon and come back for the re-match with the peacock bass.

Daniel came with his wife Kristie and their two boys Jacob (5yrs) and Dylan (3yrs). Dad landed a 15-pounder while the kids learned about fishing for peacocks with dad. Besides fishing, daddy took mommy and the boys to the beach, visit villages, fishing for piranhas and lots of other adventures together during their stay.

Now for more fishing friends we have Gary Hail who landed a 20-pounder, then Bryan who landed a 16-pounder and Jason ended by landing a19-pounder for the week.

Another group was made up with Roger that landed a 20-pounder, William landing a 21-pounder and Gary Hermes who got a little too much sun burn, but ended the week with an 18-pounder. This team did very well for big fish for the week.
Next is the partners made up of Gary and David both landing 21-pounder and Then to finish of the groups there is Robert who landed an 20-pounder on his last day and his partner Michael who landed two 19-pounders.

Another avid fly fisherman of Amazon Tours is Dr. Barkett that landed a 10-pounder and came down with Camp who is new to peacock bass fishing but has experience with a fly rod. Camp soon caught on and had most fish for the group with 124 peacock bass landed on a fly rod including a 12-pounder.

From my staff and I and the people who have meet of the Rio Negro, we thank God for this wonderful trip and especially the great fishing conditions. We wish our guest a sound and safe journey home back to their families full of memories and the adventure of their lifetime.

Thank you for fishing with us on the Rio Negro, we will be waiting here for your return soon for some more great fishing, and lots of new stories (Real Fishing Stories) and many friends.

Marc Cobos