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CHECK YOUR FISHING OPTIONS IN MATO GROSSO DO SUL ON THE MAP
Mato Grosso do Sul is known for its rich and diverse fishing opportunities, especially in the Pantanal region. Here are some details about what a fishing experience in Mato Grosso do Sul might be like:
Fish species: The Pantanal is home to over 250 fish species, including the popular Pintado (a type of catfish), pacu, and dourado. Fishing enthusiasts can also find piranhas, piraputangas, and other species in the rivers and lakes of the region.
Fishing methods: Fishing in Mato Grosso do Sul can be done using a variety of methods, including baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing. Some popular techniques include using live bait or lures to catch fish in the rivers or trying your hand at fishing in the lakes.
Scenery: One of the unique aspects of fishing in Mato Grosso do Sul is the stunning scenery that surrounds you. The Pantanal region is home to vast wetlands, tropical forests, and diverse wildlife, including birds, caimans, and capybaras. Fishing trips often involve traveling to remote areas, which allows you to experience the beauty and diversity of the region up close.
Local guides: To get the most out of your fishing experience, it’s recommended to hire a local guide who can provide insider knowledge of the best fishing spots, techniques, and local culture. Many local guides are also skilled naturalists who can teach you about the region’s wildlife and ecology.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE RIVERS OF OUR STATE
The Paraguay River is one of the most important rivers in Mato Grosso do Sul, which with its low slope runs sinuously and with slow waters, favoring the typical floods of the Pantanal and forming several lakes, called “baias”, which are true nurseries of life. pantaneira. It houses a wide variety of fish, including highly sportive species that can be caught with live bait, fruit, pasta or also with artificial bait, both in bait casting and fly fishing. The most sought after species are: pacus, golden, painted, cacharas, jaús and piraputangas, in addition to the blue peacock bass, which can be found in some bays and tributaries that provide many emotions for sport fishermen.
Where do you fish in the Paraguay River?
Municipality of Corumba
Municipality of Porto Murtinho
The Aquidauana River rises in the Serra de Maracaju and is characterized by being a river with fast waters and many rapids, bordering hills and forming a beautiful canyon. When it reaches the Pantanal Basin, it becomes a sinuous river with typical Pantanal slow waters. It houses a wide variety of fish, with highly sportive species that can be caught with live bait, fruit, pasta or also with artificial bait, both in bait casting and fly fishing. The most sought after species are: pacus, golden, painted, cacharas, jaús and piraputangas, ideal for sport fishermen.
Where do you fish in the Aquidauana River?
Região Serrana
Pantanal
The Miranda River has its source in Serra de Maracaju and runs northwest parallel to Serra da Bodoquena, from where it receives tributaries of crystalline waters, true nurseries for various highly sought after fish. It rises with fast waters and many rapids until it reaches the Pantanal Basin, when it turns into a winding river with slow waters typical of the Pantanal. It also receives water from the Aquidauana River, becoming more voluminous until it flows into the Paraguay River many kilometers ahead. It houses a wide variety of fish with highly sporting species that can be caught with live bait, fruit, pasta or also with artificial bait, both in bait casting and fly fishing. The most sought after species are the pacus, golden, painted, cacharas, jaús and piraputangas, bringing many emotions to sport fishermen.
Where to fish in the Miranda River?
Região Serrana
Municípios de Bonito, Jardim e Guia Lopes
Pantanal
The Apa River rises near the Serra de Maracaju, running west and passing through several municipalities until it flows into the Paraguay River, near Porto Murtinho, in the extreme south of the Pantanal. Like the other Pantanal rivers, it starts with mountain characteristics and turns into a slow and winding river until its mouth. Although very fishy, it is a little explored river due to the difficulties of access in a good part of its route. It houses a wide variety of fish, with highly sportive species that can be caught with live bait, fruit, pasta or also with artificial bait, both in bait casting and fly fishing. The most sought after species are: pacus, golden, painted, cacharas, jaús and piraputangas, great options for lovers of sport fishing.
Where do you fish on the Apa River?
Municipalities of Bela Vista and Porto Murtinho in ranches and fishing lodges along its route.
The Taquari River originates in the extreme south of the State of Mato Grosso, in the middle of the Cerrado, but for a large part of its length it flows in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, cutting through the Serra de Maracaju until it reaches the Pantanal, when its waters spread throughout the region. from Paiaguas. It houses a wide variety of fish, with highly sportive species that can be caught with live bait, fruit, pasta or also with artificial bait, both in bait casting and fly fishing. The most common species are: pacus, golden, painted, cacharas, jaús, piraputangas and the blue tucunaré, great options for sport fishermen.
Where do you fish on the Rio Taquari?
Região Serrana
Municipality of Pedro Gomes
Pantanal
The Coxim River rises in the Serra de Maracaju and is characterized by being a very large river, but of small extension and with fast waters until it flows into the Taquari River. It houses a wide variety of fish, with highly sportive species that can be caught with live bait, fruit, pasta or also with artificial bait, both in bait casting and fly fishing. The most sought after species are: pacus, golden, painted, cacharas, jaús and piraputangas, ideal for sport fishermen.
Where do you fish on the Coxim River?
Municipalities of Camapuã and Coxim, where for a good part of its course it offers ranches and fishing inns;
City of Coxim, with fisheries close to the urban area.
The Piquiri River originates in a plateau region, in the south of the State of Mato Grosso. Part of its route establishes the border between the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso in the west, with the Correntes River as its main tributary. In the Pantaneira Basin, it becomes a slow and winding river until it meets the Cuiabá River. Although very fishy, it is a little explored river due to access difficulties in most of its route. The most sought after species is the blue peacock bass, although it is abundant in highly sportive species such as: pacus, golden, painted, cacharas, jaús and piraputangas, which can be fished with live baits, fruits, pasta or also with artificial baits, both in the bait casting as in fly fishing, being great options for sport fishermen.
Where to fish on the Rio Piquiri?
The Paraná River originates from the confluence of the Grande and Paranaíba rivers, running along the eastern border of Mato Grosso do Sul with the states of São Paulo and Paraná. It has several hydroelectric dams along its route, which form large lakes that bathe several municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul. Being close to large urban centers, it has very easy access. The most sought after species is the blue peacock bass, although it is abundant in piracanjubas, piaparas, gold and painted, which can be caught both with live and artificial baits, either in bait casting or fly fishing.
Where do you fish in the Paraná River?
Municipalities of Aparecida do Taboado, Três Lagoas, Bataguassu, Taquarussu and Mundo Novo, with many options of ranches and fishing inns.
Rio Paranaíba
Forming part of the Paraná River Basin, the Paranaíba River comes from the border between Minas Gerais and Goiás and when it reaches Mato Grosso do Sul it defines the border with Minas Gerais. It runs for about 300 kilometers until it joins the Rio Grande, forming the Paraná River. The most sought-after species is the blue peacock bass, with a good supply of piaparas, gold and painted, which can be caught both with live and artificial baits, either in bait casting or fly fishing.
Where do you fish in the Paranaíba River?
Forming part of the Paraná River Basin, the Dourados River rises in the Serra de Maracaju and runs eastward through several municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul until it flows into the Brilhante River, another important river in the state. The main species sought are: piracanjubas, golden and painted, which can be fished both with live and artificial baits, either in bait casting or fly fishing.
Where to fish in the Dourados River?
Municipalities of Dourados and Fátima do Sul, where for a good part of its course it offers ranches and fishing inns.
Forming part of the Paraná River Basin, it rises in the municipality of Sidrolândia and runs eastwards, passing through some municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul. It receives the waters of the Rio Dourados and, when it joins the Rio Vacaria, it starts to receive the name of Rio Ivinhema. The main species found are: piracanjubas, golden and painted, which can be fished with live baits or artificial baits, either in bait casting or fly fishing.
Where do you fish in Rio Brilhante?
Municipalities of Rio Brilhante and Dourados, where there are several ranches and fishing lodges.
Rio Ivinhema
Forming part of the Paraná River Basin, the Ivinhema River rises from the junction of the Vacaria and Brilhante rivers, running in a southeasterly direction and passing through some municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul until it flows into the Paraná River, on the border with the State of Paraná. The main species found are: piracanjubas, golden and painted, which can be fished both with live and artificial baits, either in bait casting or fly fishing.
Where to fish in the Ivinhema River?
Municipality of Ivinhema, where there are fishing ranches and inns on its banks.
Forming part of the Paraná River Basin, the Sucuriú River originates in the municipality of Costa Rica, running in a southeasterly direction and passing through some municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul until it flows into the Paraná River, in the municipality of Três Lagoas, on the border with the State from Sao Paulo. With the damming of the Paraná River for the Jupiá hydroelectric plant, the lower course of the Sucuriú River underwent a great expansion, giving rise to several branches and favoring the search for the blue peacock bass, but there is also a good offer of piaparas and barbados, which can be caught both with live and artificial baits, whether in bait casting or fly fishing.
Where do you fish on the Sucuriu River?
Learn more about the fish in our State
(Salminus brasiliensis)
The adult individuals of this species have a very intense yellowish body, with the presence of dark spots that form longitudinal lines. It is a top predator that inhabits a wide variety of environments, from large rivers to springs. It is a fish much sought after by sport fishermen for its strength and several jumps, generating great emotion, promoting battles that are difficult to win. It can be fished using live baits, such as tuviras and small piaus and curimbas, or with artificial surface, subsurface and mid-water baits, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: species very appreciated in sport fishing.
Capture prohibited throughout Mato Grosso do Sul. Only allowed for catch and release.
With a very elongated and low body, adults can be found in rivers, bays and in open water, while juveniles inhabit floodplains amid vegetation and submerged branches. In certain regions, the species interacts with the dorado during the predation of juvenile piraputangas. It is a fish despised by most fishermen, but for sport fishermen it is very popular because it brings great emotions with its jumps, requiring skill from the fisherman to win the battle. It can be fished using live baits, such as tuviras and lambaris, or with artificial surface and subsurface baits, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: species appreciated in sport fishing.
It has no restriction on measures for capture
The piraputanga is a fish that performs great migrations during the flood season. It inhabits rivers, streams and creeks in areas with weak to moderate rapids, in the bed of drainages or more commonly along the banks, under vegetation and among trunks, antlers and aquatic vegetation, where it usually swims in shoals with dozens or hundreds of individuals. . Omnivorous, it has a diet composed of aquatic plants, fruits, flowers, seeds, arthropods, snails and small fish. It is usually hidden between structures, requiring a lot of technique from sport fishermen. With a beautiful attack on the surface, it offers an exciting fight that requires a lot of skill to avoid escaping close to the boat. It can be fished using small fish and fruits or with artificial surface baits, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: species appreciated in sport fishing and local cuisine.
Minimum size allowed for capture: 30 cm
The piracanjuba inhabits clear waters, river channels, areas close to the banks, rapids and, mainly, places where trees usually lie down. It has a silvery dark brown back and red fins. It is an omnivorous fish, feeding on fruits, small fish and insects. Highly sporting, it offers an exciting fight for the fisherman, with a lot of power and beautiful jumps, requiring vigor and a lot of technique to be embarked. It can be fished using small fish and fruits or with artificial surface and mid-water baits, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: species appreciated in sport fishing.
Capture prohibited throughout Mato Grosso do Sul. Only allowed for catch and release.
With a tall and moderately elongated body, it can vary from gray to silver with dark scale margins. It performs large migrations, forming large shoals. It can be fished with a bamboo pole using sour dough or protein.
Economic importance: species appreciated in local cuisine and used as bait.
Dimensions allowed for capture: 38 cm
With a tall and elongated body, it has a darker back, varying from gray in the anterior portion to yellowish in the posterior portion, with the belly of the body eventually clear. It is very common in the Pantanal and can be found in different environments, from bays to large rivers. Herbivore, it feeds on fruits and seeds, but in certain periods it can look for protein to strengthen itself for the “piracema”. Much sought after by sport fishermen, it offers a very good fight with vigorous races, providing an exciting battle. It can be fished using pasta, fruits, portions of protein and crabs, or with artificial subsurface baits, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: one of the main commercial species in the Pantanal, much appreciated in the local cuisine.
Measures allowed for capture: between 45 cm and 65 cm
With a robust and slightly elongated body, it is usually found in large shoals. It inhabits lakes and large rivers in the Pantanal. Adults are usually found in the gutter and on riverbanks while juveniles are more often found in vegetation. It has parental care, depositing eggs on roots and leaves. Young individuals have a diet based on the consumption of insects, scales and fish, while adults consume mainly fish, plants and carcasses. It can be fished using live baits, such as tuviras and small fish, portions of protein or with artificial subsurface and mid-water baits, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: species very appreciated in local cuisine.
Measures allowed for capture: the slaughter of only 5 specimens is allowed, regardless of the measures.
The Pintado has a very elongated body, flattened head and long muzzle. Its coloration is grayish on the back with dark “spots”, generally rounded or slightly elongated vertically, and white on the belly. Inhabits large rivers of the Paraguay and Paraná River Basin where adult specimens are found in the main bed and juveniles in the oxbow lakes. The species performs upward migrations during the beginning of the rainy season and reproduces in the upper reaches of the watercourses, while the lower areas are used as breeding and feeding sites. Piscivorous, feeds on a wide variety of fish. Coveted by all fishermen, it provides a good fight when small. As an adult, it provides a brutal battle, demanding vigor and a lot of patience from the fisherman to win it, especially due to fatigue. It can be fished using live baits, such as tuviras and small piaus and curimbas, or with artificial bottom baits in bait casting, using the appropriate technique.
Economic importance: one of the main commercial species in the region, much appreciated in sport fishing and cooking.
Measures allowed for capture: between 85 cm and 125 cm
It has a very elongated body, flattened head and long snout. Its color is grayish on the back with dark transverse bands and the presence of small rounded spots, to a lesser extent, with a white belly. It presents reproductive and feeding behaviors similar to those of the guinea fowl and, on average, shorter length. It usually occurs near river banks and in deeper stretches. Piscivorous, feeds on a wide variety of fish. Just like the Pintado, it provides a good fight when small. As an adult, it provides a brutal battle, demanding vigor and a lot of patience from the fisherman to win it, especially due to fatigue. It can be fished using live baits, such as tuviras and small piaus and curimbas, or with artificial bottom baits in bait casting using the appropriate technique.
Economic importance: one of the main commercial species in the region, much appreciated in sport fishing and cooking.
Measures allowed for capture: between 80 cm and 120 cm
It has a short, robust body with a broad, flat head and very small eyes. It has a body that goes from dark brown to yellowish and with the presence of dark spots of irregular shape and size. It inhabits the main channel of rivers, normally in wells and deep areas, leaving these regions to feed. It has migratory reproductive behavior, using the main river channel as a breeding site. Extremely strong, it offers a fight that only giants can provide with many line takings, demanding vigor and technique from the sport fisherman. Piscivorous, feeds on a wide variety of fish. It can be fished using live baits, such as tuviras and small piaus and curimbas, or with artificial bottom baits in bait casting, using the appropriate technique.
Economic importance: exploited as an ornamental species, up to the juvenile stage, and important in sport fishing.
Measures allowed for capture: between 95 cm and 130 cm
It has a broad, deeply depressed head, small, lateral eyes. With a tall, robust and relatively elongated body, it has a silver gray color in the anterior region, becoming clear in the belly region. With a wide geographic distribution, it occurs in the main basins of South America. Adult individuals inhabit riverbeds while juveniles are found in lakes and marginal areas of watercourses. It can be fished using live bait, such as tuviras and lambaris.
Economic importance: appreciated in local cuisine.
Minimum size allowed for capture: 35 cm
With a flattened head and slightly elongated body, it has predominantly brown fins and a white belly. It has black and generally circular spots on the sides, which can vary in size and quantity. Inhabits backwater areas and deep river channels. Carnivorous, feeds on small fish. It can be fished using live bait, such as tuviras and lambaris.
Economic importance: species appreciated in local cuisine, fish farming and sport fishing.
Size allowed for capture: 40cm
(Sorubim lima)
It is a catfish with a very elongated body and an equally long and flattened head. The body is light brown in the dorsal region, with small dark spots irregularly distributed, followed by a dark longitudinal stripe that extends from the eyes to the caudal fin, with a white belly. It has the widest geographic distribution, occurring in the main basins of South America. The species feeds on crustaceans and other invertebrates, predominantly a piscivorous diet in adulthood. It can be fished using live bait, such as tuviras and lambaris.
Economic importance: exploited as an ornamental species and important in commercial and sport fishing.
Measure allowed for capture: 35cm.
(Cichla piquiti)
The blue peacock bass, as it is known in Brazil, originates from the Tocantins River Basin, but was disseminated in the Upper Paraguay River Basin through an accidental escape of a flock that was kept in a fish farm, close to the border of MT -MS. This confinement was broken in 1982, during a great flood, spreading the species in the Itiquira and Piquiri rivers. It has already dispersed to the south, exploring cleaner waters along the left bank of the Paraguay River, near Corumbá. Based on data obtained in the last decade by regional fishermen and sport fishers, the blue peacock bass has already been captured well below the cities of Corumbá and Ladário. Adult specimens were recorded near the region of Forte Coimbra, in the bays that are connected with the Paraguay River, during the flood period. Its range, with well-documented catches by fishermen, has been carried out on the Taquari River, in the “Arrobado do Caronal” region, on the Correntes River, in the reservoir of a hydroelectric plant in the municipality of Sonora and even on the Piquiri River, where it can be caught. both on shallower shores and in bays along its path, following up to the confluence with the Paraguay River, where capture is quite frequent, especially in bays.
Currently, the blue peacock bass is an invasive species that has been increasingly meeting the demand of sport fishing practitioners and, for this reason, attracts an increasing number of fishermen to the Pantanal region.
As for the ecological aspects, as it is a relatively aggressive predatory species with parental care, researchers are concerned about its wide dissemination in the Pantanal Basin. However, so far no well-defined impacts caused by this species have been found.
Piscivorous, feeds on a wide variety of fish. It can be fished using live baits, such as lambaris, or with artificial surface and subsurface baits, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: ambassador of sport fishing and appreciated in local cuisine.
Measurement allowed for capture: as it is an invasive species, it can be freely slaughtered.
This species, originally from the Amazon Basin, has been documented in isolated spots in the Upper Paraguay River Basin. Official records are still scarce, however there are frequent reports of its capture in a place known regionally as Baía da Patrícia, on the banks of the Paraguay River, in the region of the village of Paraguai-Mirim. Many fishermen appreciate fishing this species because it is extremely resistant and provides “long battles” after hooking. Despite the evident environmental integrity in the regions where this species was captured, young specimens of tambaqui were not seen, and therefore, even though there are still relatively frequent captures of adult specimens, there are no claims that the species is reproducing naturally in the Paraguay River . However, because this species does not yet belong to the fish quota, due to the scarcity of studies associated with recreational and commercial fishing, the species tends to disappear from the Pantanal, which for many, in terms of ecological scope, would bring benefits to the environment and, for others, a major commercial and recreational loss, as a sought-after attractant in sport and subsistence fishing. It can be fished using pasta, fruit, meat and crabs, or with artificial subsurface baits, using the correct technique, both in bait casting and fly fishing.
Economic importance: species appreciated in amateur fishing, sport and local cuisine.
Measurement allowed for capture: as it is an invasive species, it can be freely slaughtered.
Being in Mato Grosso do Sul is an adventure . It’s getting excited about biodiversity and letting your body float in crystal clear waters. It is to embark on an entourage and live the field to the sound of the horn.
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