Large migratory catfishes of the Amazon are iconic species that connect distant habitats with their migrations, thereby influencing ecological conditions throughout much of the basin. Amazon migratory fishes can be loosely grouped based on the direction (lateral, longitudinal) and scale (local, regional, continental) of their migrations, which often occur for feeding or reproduction. Beyond their ecological importance, large migratory catfishes sustain freshwater fisheries throughout much of the lowland Amazon, providing a major source of protein and income for many Amazonian people. Concerns over perceived and reported declines in their populations caused by overfishing and hydropower dams have motivated a recent proposal to include large migratory catfishes as a conservation target under the Convention on Migratory Species. However, much information on the species’ ecological needs and existing management approaches is still lacking. Large migratory catfishes are hard to study, in part because they move over continental-scale distances. Only in the past decade have detailed scientific syntheses been published about their migratory routes and movement ecology. These studies offer a basin-scale perspective on migration as an ecological process, but less published information exists about the ecology and habitat use of migratory catfishes in specific localities, or about the fishing communities that depend on them. These fishing communities are likely the best source of knowledge on large migratory catfish, yet in few instances has this knowledge been recorded. Within this context, we aimed to document the experience, knowledge, and management of large migratory catfishes among fishers along the Amazon River in Peru. We had four lines of inquiry: (1) important species; (2) techniques and fishing gear; (3) local management of the fishery; and (4) change over time. We conducted our research in collaboration with seven communities in Loreto, Peru, during 2024-26. Here we describe the research process, fishers’ perspectives, and preliminary results to date. We also share how fishers’ knowledge from Peru and other parts of the Amazon has strengthened the case for their inclusion in the Convention on Migratory Species.