End of Season | Ten Weeks, One Remarkable Season Kendjam 2026

A season on the Iriri is never just one story.

It is shaped by changing water, precise casts, explosive takes, returning friends, first-time anglers, and moments that happen when nobody is looking at a fly. Over ten weeks, the 2026 season moved through all of them.

Some days were defined by numbers. Others by a single fish, a family sharing the river, or an unexpected encounter with the wild. Together, they created a season that could only have happened here.

Here are some stories that defined Kendjam 2026.

1.More Than 3,500 Fish and Remarkable Diversity

Across ten weeks, anglers landed a total of 3,674 fish, reflecting the extraordinary diversity that continues to define the Iriri.

Peacock bass remained a constant presence throughout the season, while matrinxã, bicuda, wolf fish, payara, rubber pacu, silver pacu, redtail catfish, jaú, and other species continuously changed the pace and approach of each day.

The numbers were impressive. The variety behind them was even more important.

2.The Fish That Set the Benchmarks

Several catches became reference points for the season. Matt landed the largest peacock bass of 2026 at 66 cm, with the help of Rafael Costa during one of his returns to the guiding boat. Wolf fish reached 88 cm, while an 86 cm payara and an 83 cm bicuda added even more weight to an already memorable season.

The lighter side of the spectrum delivered its own standout fish. A 54 cm matrinxã became one of the largest seen at Kendjam, while several rubber pacu surpassed 50 cm and rewarded some of the most precise presentations of the year.

Different species, different approaches, and a collection of fish that showed just how varied a season on the Iriri can be.

3.The Iriri Kept Changing

The season began with exceptional clarity and strong opportunities for sight fishing. Stable levels during the opening weeks allowed anglers to see fish before making their presentations and, in many cases, watch the entire encounter unfold.

As levels gradually dropped, new opportunities appeared. Rocky structure became increasingly important, faster moving water demanded more accurate presentations, and by the final weeks, low water had opened excellent opportunities for wading.

Then the rain arrived.

The final weeks became another reminder that the Iriri never stays the same for long, and that adapting to the river is always part of fishing it.

4.From Explosive Strikes to Delicate Takes

One of the defining characteristics of the season was contrast.

Peacock bass, bicuda, wolf fish, and payara brought speed, aggression, and explosive encounters. At other moments, rubber pacu and matrinxã required a completely different approach, responding to dry flies, nymphs, and subtle presentations.

Week Eight captured that contrast particularly well, with anglers moving between powerful surface action and far more delicate fishing within the same days.

The diversity of Kendjam is not simply about how many species live in the Iriri. It is also about how differently those species ask to be caught.

5.New Generations and Familiar Faces

Some of the strongest stories of 2026 were about the people who came to fish.

Breno returned for another season, continuing an uninterrupted relationship with Kendjam that began in 2015. Will joined us again. Mike came back, this time bringing his family. Another family of five shared the Iriri across two generations, while young anglers in Week Four experienced fly fishing for the first time.

Roger arrived at 77 years old for the first half of a two week Untamed journey, beginning at Kendjam before continuing to Marié. Week Eight brought a predominantly female group hosted by Trisha.

Some anglers were discovering the Iriri. Others were returning to a place that had already become part of their story.

6.The Moments Beyond Fishing

Not every defining moment happened at the end of a fly line.

A rare tapir sighting marked Week Two. Week Five brought two jaguar sightings, turning an already strong fishing week into something impossible to plan.

As the season moved toward its final weeks, another natural cycle became visible along the riverbanks with the end of the tracajá turtle egg season, connecting wildlife, the river, and the Kayapó people in a rhythm that extends far beyond fishing.

These encounters are part of what makes every week different. The fish may bring anglers to the Iriri, but the surrounding territory constantly reminds them where they are.

Looking Back at 2026, Ahead to 2027

With some distance from the final cast of the season, what remains is not a single catch or one exceptional week. It is the combination of 3,674 fish, changing conditions, returning friendships, first experiences, family journeys, and encounters that could never have been planned.

Each season leaves its own mark on the Iriri. The water changes, the fishing evolves, and a new group of anglers arrives ready to discover what the river has waiting for them.

Now, our attention turns to 2027.

If the Iriri is part of your next fishing journey, this is the time to start planning.

Click here to talk to our specialists and plan your Kendjam 2027 experience.