The Pantanal is a
Freshwater Fishing Paradise. From its total area of 147,574 km2 the Pantanal is estimated to have an average flooded area of 43,000 km2, which increases during the wet season. It is estimated that around 400 fish species live in the region, where fish are an important ecological and social resource. Due to the wide variety of feeding and reproductive methods of fish, the Pantanal provides a highly diverse abundance of species. Fishing for sport is one of the reasons tourists visit the region.
The fish of the Pantanal are of important ecological value since they sustain many food chains. The abundance of birds such as Jabiru Storks, Wood Storks, Egrets, Herons and Cormorants is directly related to the abundance of fish that serve as their food. Large groups of birds can be seen in inlets, lowlands and drying bays where they are easily able to find fish in large quantities. Fish also serve as food for the giant and neotropical otters, species that are threatened with extinction in other areas of Brazil but still enjoy relative stability in the Pantanal. In the
piracema (spawning) season, it is common to observe caiman in the middle of the rivers during the day feeding on
curimbatá swimming upstream to spawn. At night the caiman lie on the riverbanks noisily attacking schools of feeding fish.
The principal factor behind the exuberance and abundance of fish in the Pantanal is the yearly flooding. High-flood years signify a surplus of fish and, conversely, low-flood years signify low yield. Throughout the annual cycle of flood and drought, the fish migrate upriver to spawn, a phenomenon popularly known as
piracema. Generally the first schools begin to form in July and August and by October they are already organized, have well-developed eggs, and can be found in medium currents of tributary rivers of the Pantanal such as the Cuiabá, the Paraguay, the Coxipó, the Manso, etc. In December, they reach the riverheads where, generally, during or after a good rain they spawn. This can often be detected by the grunts the males produce when chasing the females, as is the case with the curimbatá.
After spawning, they return downstream and in February and March can be found in the lower flooded parts of the Pantanal, thin and gaunt. They remain in these locations until April or May feeding abundantly so that when they return to the river the following year they are in peak condition, with the necessary accumulation of fat needed to make the migration upriver and to become ready to reproduce again. Larvas and fry also remain in the flood areas where they find shelter and food. Fish can be found in many different aquatic environments in the Pantanal, ranging from rivers to
corixós (temporary streams with a defined course that may or may not dry up, depending on the height of the floods), in
vasantes (temporary streams without a defined course that form in the flood season), and in
baias or bays (the regional nomenclature for lakes and lagoons).
Some of the more popular fish species for sport are listed below:
- Armado (Pterodoras granulosus) - Granulated Catfish
- Bagre (Pimelodus ornatus) - Ornate Pimelodus Catfish
- Barbado (Pirinampus pirinampu) - Flatwhiskered Catfish
- Cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) - Barred Sorubim
- Cachorro (Rhaphiodon vulpinus) - Dogfish
- Corvina (Plagioscion ternetzi) - Freshwater Croaker
- Curimbatá (Prochilodus lineatus) - Streaked Prochilod
- Dourado (Salminus maxillosus) - Golden Dorado
- Dourado-cachorro (Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro) - Pike Characin
- Jaú (Paulicea luetkeni) - Gilded Catfish
- Jurupoca (Hemisorubim platyrhynchos) - Porthole Shovelnose Catfish
- Jurupensen (Sorubim lima) - Duckbill Catfish
- Lambari (Astyanax fasciatus) - Banded Astyanax
- Mandi (amarelo) (Pimelodus maculatus) - Yellow Mandi Catfish
- Manguruyú (Zungaro zungaro) - Black Manguruyu
- Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) - Acara-acu or Apaira
- Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)
- Pacu-peba (Mylossoma orbignyanum or Myloplus levis)
- Palmito (Ageneiosus brevifilis)
- Piau (Leporinus friderici) - Threespot Leporinus
- Piavuçu (Leporinus macrocephalus)
- Pintado (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) - Spotted Sorubim Catfish
- Piranha (Serrasalmus spilopleura, Serrasalmus marginatus or Pygocentrus ternetzi)
- Piraputanga (Brycon microlepis)
- Surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) - Tiger Flathead or Shovelnose Catfish
- Traira (Hoplias malabaricus) - Tiger Fish or Snakehead
- Tucunaré (Cichla temensis) - Butterfly Peacock Bass or Peacock Cichlid or Speckled Pavon
Piraputanga and
Dourado, which can weigh up to 30 kilos (66 pounds) in the Pantanal, are the most popular catches here, but
Pintado,
Traíra and
Pacú, which is a round-shaped fish that enjoys eating the fruits of the fig trees and inga trees growing on the river banks, are also abundant and popular.
Piranha are endemic to the area and are both delicious and an aphrodisiac.
As indicated above, since in November most fish start to swim upstream to spawn, fishing is prohibited between November and March. Therefore, it is in the other months of the year that
Pantanal Jaguar Expeditions will be happy to take you fishing in the rivers of the Pantanal, to places where large fish are plentiful.
Included in our fishing tours:
Transfer from the airport to your hotel.
Comfortable hotel in the Pantanal with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Boat, bait, water, beer, caipirinha and a driver for the boat.
Anyone who buys a Pantanal fishing tour with
Pantanal Jaguar Expeditions will have a free jaguar safari included in their tour package.
What you should bring:
Fishing equipment
Rain hat
Clothing: Comfortable sports clothes, jeans, long-sleeved shirt, T-shirt, swimsuit, sun glasses, protective sun cream, bug repellent, binoculars, camera, flashlight/torch, sport shoes (sneakers) or boots.
Not included in the tour:
Air flights
Accident, health and travel insurance (including insurance against the loss of baggage)
Yellow fever vaccination
The price for a regular 5 day/4 night package tour, including a jaguar safari, is found on our
Pricing page.
Ask us about custom fishing tours.
