Bicuda

Bicuda Kendjam Lodge Brazil

Name:   Boulengerella cuiveri

When:  Late September 2023

Where: Kendjam Lodge, Kayapo Territory, Amazonas, Brazil

Boulengerella cuiveri, commonly known as the bicuda, is a species of pike-characin in the family Ctenoluciidae.

It is native to the Amazon River Basin and one of the targeted species I had hoped to catch.

Similar in behavior to a Saltwater Barrucada, it has sharp teeth, and a torpedo like body shape. It’s an acrobatic and fast fish, hitting both top water flies as well as mid-stream ones.

I caught mine on a large fly as you can see. The fly seems to be 1/4 the length of the fish.

It often lays in ambush just out of the flow of the stream as it is an aggressive, confident predator.

The fish is named in honor of George Cuvier who was the first to diagnose the Salmones family.

The one I caught had a single black spot on its tail along with a partial moon end to its tail. This is typical of the species. If you notice, the tail’s width is quite large considering the thinness of the fish. Between the power of the tail and its shape, the fast goes on a fast run. I caught mine on an 8 weight, but I wish it was a 4 weight – would have been a hoot. It was a fun fish to catch. Not the biggest Bicuda I caught during the week but a beautiful one.