The fish species found in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul are not large, but the quantity of fish is.
Although there are currently around 260 described species in the region – a modest number compared to the 1,800 in the Amazon – there are thousands of fish.
The explanation for this abundance is simple.
During the rainy season, between November and March, much of the Pantanal is flooded.
The bays remain shallow, however, which means that there is intense light, creating an environment favourable to the growth of plants, microalgae and macrophytes, the basis of the food chain for small invertebrates and fish, which find abundant food in the Pantanal waters.
Partially isolated from the large rivers, the bays are an excellent nursery for small fish, safe from predators.
Fishing in the Pantanal, including sport fishing, is showing signs of being seriously threatened by over-exploitation.
There is speculation that the current model, which focuses on around twenty species, may not be sustainable.
Goldfish, for example, are becoming smaller and less abundant. However, monitoring of fishing boats has become more rigorous.
It’s worth remembering that the waters of the Pantanal are also home to alligators, capybaras, giant otters and other animals, as well as water birds, making the region particularly rich and interesting.
Therefore, it is necessary to preserve the environment and the habitats of all species.
THE MOST COMMON FISH SPECIES IN THE PANTANAL
- Chacara or Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum
- Curimbatá or Prochilodus lineatus
- Dourado or Salminus brasiliensis
- Jaú or Paulicea lutkeni
- Jurupensém or Sorubim lima
- Jurupoca or Hemisorubim platyrhynchos
- Lambari or Astyanax spp
- Pacu or Piaractus mesopotamicus
- Mandube or Ageneiosus brevifilis
- Piavuçu or Leporinus macrocephalus
- Pintado or Pseudoplatystoma corruscans
- Piranha or Serrasalmus spilopleura
- Piraputanga or Brycon hilarii
- Traíra or Hoplias malabaricus
1. CACHAREA
(Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum)
Other common names: Surubim, Surubim-Cachara
A leathery fish with an elongated plump body and a large flat head.
A species of great commercial value, it is very resilient when caught.
It hides in deep water during the day and concentrates on beaches and shallow shores at night.
It feeds on small fish. It can grow up to 1 metre long and weigh up to 70 kilos. In general, the specimens caught today do not exceed 20 kilos.
To catch them, use medium/heavy tackle and natural or artificial mid-water and bottom baits.
Watch out for fin spines.
2. CURIMBATÁ
(Prochilodus lineatus)
Other common names: curimatá, curimba and papa-terra
Fish with scales. In Brazil, its meat is widely used in cooking by Japanese descendants.
The curimbatá eats a variety of detritus, as well as mud, algae and small invertebrates from the river bed.
It lives in large schools, mainly in calm waters.
It reaches a length of about 40 centimetres and a weight of 5 kilos.
It is best fished in ravines, on the banks of rivers, with very simple and light equipment. This fish is not attracted to artificial baits; the use of wheat flour dough is recommended.
3. GILTHEAD SEA BREAM
(Salminus brasiliensis)
Scale fish. A voracious predator, it lives in water with currents, at varying depths, preferably mid-water to the surface, in open water, between rocks or in waterfalls.
Goldfish can grow to 1 metre in length and weigh up to 20 kilos.
Tackle should be medium to heavy, with artificial mid-water lures and shell-shaped metal spoons for both trolling and casting. Natural baits are also recommended.
When the goldfish hooks on to one of these, keep the line taut so it doesn’t come loose.
4. JAÚ
(Paulicea lutkeni)
Other common names: pacamum, pacamão
Leather fish. It feeds on other fish and usually lives in rough waters, waterfalls, the depths of rivers and places with a high concentration of rocks.
The jaú is a large fish that can grow to 1.2 metres in length and weigh up to 100 kilos. It hides between rocks when hooked, which makes it difficult to catch.
The tackle used to catch them must be heavy and the baits – natural ones – must be at the bottom of the water. They are best caught at night when they are most active.
5. JURUPENSÉM
(Sorubim lima)
Other common names: Duck-billed
A leather fish that feeds on small fish and invertebrates. It lives in schools, under rapids or in pools.
The Jurupensém can grow to a length of 70 centimetres and weigh up to 15 kilos.
To catch it, you should use light to medium tackle and natural baits, which are more effective in this case.
6. JURUPOCA
(Hemisorubim platyrhynchos)
Other names: jerepoca, braço-de-moça
A leathery fish whose meat is highly prized.
The jurupoca fish eats fish and invertebrates and lives in bays and along the banks of rivers. It can reach a length of 50 centimetres and a weight of 3 kilos.
The best baits are fillets or pieces of small fish and the tackle is light to medium.
7. LAMBDA
(Astyanax spp.)
Other common names: Piaba
A scaly fish, quite light, it tends to take bait easily without being hooked.
The lambari has a maximum size of 15 centimetres and weighs no more than 50 grams.
For this reason, the equipment used to catch them must be very light and they are also used as bait.
The lambari feeds on flowers, fruits, seeds, insects, algae and other animals and plants.
It lives in a variety of habitats, usually along the banks of rivers and bays. The best baits to catch it are flour dough, worms, insects, small fish or pieces of cheese.
8. PACU
(Piaractus mesopotamicus)
Other common names: pacu-caranha, caranha
Fish with scales. Its meat is considered very tasty. It feeds on fruit, flowers, crabs, aquatic plants, fish and snails.
The pacu lives near fruit trees, along river banks, among fallen branches or in deeper water.
It can reach 50 centimetres in length and weigh around 15 kilos.
The tackle should be medium sized and the baits natural (berries, seeds, water plants and crabs) or artificial (small, mid-water or bottom baits).
If the trees are in fruit, it’s best to use fruit and imitate the sound of it falling into the water to attract the fish.
9. MANDUBE
(Ageneiosus brevifilis)
Other names: Palmito, Fidaldo
Leather fish whose meat is said to be as tasty as that of the guinea fowl.
It feeds on fish and invertebrates and lives in the backwaters of rivers. It can reach a length of 50 centimetres and a weight of 2.5 kilos. To catch it, use light tackle and bait with pieces of fish, worms and insects.
10. PLAVUÇU
(Leporinus macrocephalus)
The piavuçu has scales.
It feeds on other fish, fruit, flowers, crabs, aquatic plants and snails.
The piavuçu is concentrated on the banks of rivers and canals, in bays, in areas close to vegetation or under waterfalls.
It is very fast, constantly breaking the line and often delicately removing the bait without attaching itself to the hook.
The piavuçu is up to 60 centimetres long and weighs 3 kilos.
Use medium tackle and a spool or spinning reel. A bamboo rod is recommended for gully fishing.
The most effective baits are snails, crabs or flour dough, although worms will also work.
11. PINTADO
(Pseudoplatystoma corruscans)
Other common names: cambucu, surubim-pintado
Leather fish. The most sought-after fish in the Pantanal, it feeds on small fish, tuviras, muçuns and worms, as well as small rodents, snakes and lizards.
It inhabits river channels, the mouths of bays and wooden structures at the bottom of rivers.
It is very large, with specimens reaching just over 1 metre in length. Although there are old reports of fish weighing up to 80 kilos, in recent years it has become rare to catch specimens over 20 kilos.
It requires medium or heavy tackle. It is best caught using natural baits. Artificial baits include mid-water and bottom lures. Care should be taken with fin spines.
12. PIRANCHES
(Pygocentrus nattereri and Serrasalmus spilopleura)
Other common names: Catarina, Pirambeba
Piranhas have scales. There are several species of piranha and their diet is quite varied.
In general, they feed on parts of other fish, such as fins, as well as the carcasses of other animals – which is why they are considered to be great cleaners of the Pantanal’s waters.
They attack injured animals that have difficulty moving in the water. They live in schools in rivers, ponds and lakes.
They can be up to 50 centimetres long and weigh around 2 kilos.
The bait you use to catch them should be medium sized. Use chunks of fish or mid-water artificial lures. Be very careful when removing them from the hook to avoid possible bites.
13. HILLARY BRYCON
(Brycon hilarii)
Fish with scales. The Piraputanga fish, one of the most common fish in the Pantanal region, is very shy.
It feeds on seeds, fruits (ingas, wild figs, guavas), fish and invertebrates.
It lives in rapids and backwaters, under fruit trees, near aquatic plants and on the banks of rivers or in the middle of vegetation (these are also the best places to catch it).
The Piraputanga reaches a length of about 50 centimetres and a weight of 2.5 kilos.
Light tackle, with light or medium action rods, guarantees good fishing. Bait can be natural (small fruits, small fish, green maize) or artificial (spinners and small mid-water plugs).
The Piraputanga fish has an alarm substance on its skin.
When it is caught, it releases the alarm substance into the water, scaring away other members of the species. This makes it very difficult to catch more than one in the same place.
4. TRAILER
(Hoplias malabaricus)
The traíra fish has scales. A voracious predator, it is mainly active at night. It feeds on other fish and insects.
The Traíra fish can be found in calm, shallow waters, in bays, corixos and along the banks of rivers, among aquatic plants.
It reaches a length of 60 centimetres and a weight of 3 kilos. It can be fished with light tackle and natural baits (fish and chicken giblets) or artificial baits (spinners, spoons, poppers or rubber frogs).
Traíra must be unhooked carefully to avoid bites, which are often the cause of accidents. Its flavour is much appreciated by fishermen, although its preparation requires care to remove the numerous thorns.
See the following publications on the Pantanal
- Mammal and reptile watching in the Pantanal
- Fishing in the Pantanal – Best places, lures, methods and seasons
- Most common fish species in the Pantanal
- Birdwatching in the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Most common bird species in the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Flora of the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Fauna of the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Pantanal of Mato Grosso – Geography, climate, soil and rivers
- History of the Mato Grosso Pantanal – Discovery and economic development
- Southern Pantanal Region
- Northern Pantanal Region
- Why visit the Pantanal in Mato Grosso?
