Fresh Fangs on Your Forearm: Ink Inspired by the Payara

Stuff we Like

Feb 14

My trophy payara from a 2019 trip to Brazil’s Rio Juruena still ranks among my top five catches on a life list packed with unforgettable fish. They’re tough to hook, tougher to land, and even when clamped in a Boga Grip these vampire fish remain downright intimidating.

In person, their dagger-like teeth are mind-blowing. On skin, even in two dimensions, payara tattoos capture that same primal energy — sharp, wild, and unforgettable. It’s no wonder so many traveling anglers choose to memorialize them in ink.

Here are some of our favorite payara tattoo designs to inspire your next piece — or maybe even your next fishing adventure with us.

Colorful cartoonish payara tattoo — **Jason Stephan Tattoos**

Blue and white tattoo of payara chasing a lure — **Juan Camilo Pelaez Lopez**

Colorful vampire fish tattoo — **Tom Beans Tattoo**

Payara skull tatooo with coral and shells — **Aito Koyha Tattoo**

Black and white tattoo of payara skull on man's chest — **Quentin Deroc Tattoo**

fly angler with payara fish and payara tattoo — **Payara Fly Fishing**

Black and white payara tattoo arm — **Andy Duarte Art**

Ready to chase your own vampire fish? Join us on our next Amazon adventure. Few freshwater predators match the payara’s raw power and ferocity, and nothing compares to catching one where they truly thrive. Secure your spot now and turn bucket-list inspiration into reality.