Published on January 24, 2024 · Updated on November 1, 2026

Home » Pantanal of Mato Grosso » Pantanal fish: names, photos and species guide

Pantanal fish are not as varied as those of the Amazon, but they exist in enormous numbers. Today, for example, about 260 species have been described in the region, a modest number compared with the more than 2,000 in the Amazon basin. Even so, Pantanal fish number in the thousands, and the explanation for this abundance is simple.

Why are there so many fish in the Pantanal?

First of all, during the rainy season, between November and March, much of the Pantanal is under water. The baías (shallow ponds and lagoons), however, remain shallow and receive plenty of light. As a result, plants, microalgae and macrophytes grow, forming the base of the food chain for small invertebrates and fish.

In addition, the baías are partly cut off from the large rivers. For this reason, they work as a nursery, where small fish stay safe from predators.

The waters of the Pantanal also shelter caimans, capybaras, giant otters and many waterbirds. That is why, therefore, it is so important to preserve these habitats.

Fishing in the Pantanal: precautions and rules

However, fishing in the Pantanal, including sport fishing, is showing signs of strain due to overexploitation. After all, it is concentrated on about twenty species. The size and number of dourados, for example, have been declining.

For this reason, the rules have become stricter. In Mato Grosso, Lei 12.197/2023, known as “Transporte Zero”, has been in force since 2024 for five years. Thus, it bans transporting, storing and selling 12 species from the state’s rivers, including cachara, dourado, jaú, pintado and piraputanga; for these, only catch and release is allowed.

In both states, moreover, fishing is banned during the piracema, the spawning season. Since dates and lists change, always check with Sema-MT or Imasul (MS) before you travel. See also the guide to fishing in the Pantanal.

Pantanal fish species

These are the most commonly found Pantanal fish species, in alphabetical order:

1. Cachara (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum)
2. Curimbatá (Prochilodus lineatus)
3. Dourado (Salminus brasiliensis)
4. Jaú (Zungaro jahu)
5. Jurupensém (Sorubim lima)
6. Jurupoca (Hemisorubim platyrhynchos)
7. Lambari (Astyanax spp.)
8. Mandubé (Ageneiosus inermis)
9. Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)
10. Piavuçu (Leporinus macrocephalus)
11. Pintado (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans)
12. Piranhas (Pygocentrus nattereri and Serrasalmus maculatus)
13. Piraputanga (Brycon hilarii)
14. Traíra (Hoplias malabaricus)

1. Cachara

Scientific name: Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum (formerly called Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum); other names: surubim, surubim-cachara.

A leather fish, it has an elongated, rounded body and a large, flat head. In addition, it has great commercial value and puts up a strong fight when hooked.

During the day, it stays in deep water; at night, on the other hand, it moves to beaches and shallow banks. Moreover, it eats small fish and can exceed 1 meter in length. Today, however, the specimens caught rarely exceed 20 kilos.

So, to catch it, use medium to heavy tackle and natural baits or artificial lures, both mid-water and bottom. Also, watch out for the spines on its fins.

2. Curimbatá

Scientific name: Prochilodus lineatus; other names: curimatá, curimba and papa-terra.

A scaled fish, it feeds on detritus, mud, algae and small invertebrates from the riverbed. In general, it lives in large schools, especially in calm waters. During the piracema, in fact, it makes long migrations upriver.

It also reaches about 5 kilos. To catch it, then, choose the riverbanks and use simple, light tackle. However, since it is not attracted to artificial lures, use wheat flour dough.

3. Dourado

Scientific name: Salminus brasiliensis.

A scaled fish and a voracious predator, it lives in flowing water, preferably from mid-water up to the surface. It also stays among rocks and in waterfalls.

In general, the dourado (golden dorado) reaches about 1 meter and can exceed 20 kilos. For this reason, tackle should be medium or heavy. Use mid-water artificial lures and metal spoons, both for trolling and casting; natural baits also work.

Once it takes the hook, keep the line tight so that it does not get away. Also remember that in Mato Grosso the dourado is among the species protected by “Transporte Zero”.

4. Jaú

Scientific name: Zungaro jahu (formerly Paulicea luetkeni); other names: pacamum, pacamão.

A leather fish, it eats other fish and lives in rough waters, waterfalls, deep pools and very rocky areas.

It is one of the largest Pantanal fish: it can exceed 1.2 meters and reach 100 kilos. Furthermore, when hooked, it hides among the rocks, which makes landing it difficult.

Therefore, tackle should be heavy, with natural baits on the bottom. It is easier to catch at night, when it is more active.

5. Jurupensém

Scientific name: Sorubim lima; other name: bico-de-pato.

A leather fish, it eats small fish and invertebrates. It also lives in schools, below rapids or in river pools.

It is a medium-sized fish, about 50 centimeters long. To catch it, therefore, use light to medium tackle and, preferably, natural baits.

6. Jurupoca

Scientific name: Hemisorubim platyrhynchos; other names: jerepoca, braço-de-moça.

A leather fish with highly prized meat, it eats fish and invertebrates and lives in the baías and along riverbanks. In general, it can reach 50 centimeters and 3 kilos.

The best baits, in this case, are fillets or pieces of small fish, with light to medium tackle.

7. Lambari

Scientific name: Astyanax spp.; other name: piaba.

A scaled fish, it is very quick and often steals the bait without getting hooked. After all, it is at most 15 centimeters long and weighs no more than 50 grams. For this reason, tackle should be very light; in addition, the lambari is also widely used as bait.

It eats flowers, fruits, seeds, insects and algae and, in general, lives along the banks of rivers and baías. Finally, the best baits are flour dough, earthworms, insects and small bits of cheese.

8. Mandubé

Scientific name: Ageneiosus inermis (synonym: Ageneiosus brevifilis); other names: palmito, fidalgo.

A leather fish, its meat is considered as tasty as that of the pintado. It eats fish and invertebrates and lives in river backwaters. In general, it reaches about 50 centimeters and 2.5 kilos. To catch it, then, use light tackle and baits such as pieces of fish, earthworms and insects.

9. Pacu

Scientific name: Piaractus mesopotamicus; other names: pacu-caranha, caranha.

A scaled fish with very tasty meat, it eats fruits, flowers, crabs, aquatic plants, fish and snails. In addition, it lives near fruit trees, along the banks, among fallen branches or in deeper waters.

It can exceed 60 centimeters and reach about 15 kilos. Tackle should be medium, with natural baits such as fruits, seeds and crabs, or small artificial lures.

When the trees are fruiting, for example, use fruits and imitate the sound of them falling into the water.

10. Piavuçu

Scientific name: Leporinus macrocephalus.

A scaled fish, it eats fish, fruits, flowers, crabs, aquatic plants and snails. It also stays along riverbanks, in channels, in the baías, near vegetation or below waterfalls.

Very fast, it often breaks the line or, sometimes, takes the bait without getting hooked. In general, it reaches about 60 centimeters and 3 kilos.

Use medium tackle, with a baitcasting reel or a spinning reel; for bank fishing, on the other hand, a bamboo pole works well. Finally, the best baits are snail, crab and flour dough.

11. Pintado

Scientific name: Pseudoplatystoma corruscans; other names: cambucu, surubim-pintado.

A leather fish, the pintado (spotted sorubim) is the most sought after by anglers in the Pantanal. It eats small fish, tuviras (small knifefish), muçuns (swamp eels) and minhocuçus (giant earthworms) and, sometimes, even small rodents, snakes and lizards.

In general, it lives in river channels, at the mouths of baías and near sunken logs on the bottom. There are specimens over 1 meter long and old reports of fish weighing up to 80 kilos. Today, however, it is rare to catch one over 20 kilos.

For this reason, it requires medium or heavy tackle. In general, it is easier to hook with natural fish baits; among artificial lures, use mid-water and bottom models. Also, watch out for the spines on its fins.

12. Piranhas

Scientific names: Pygocentrus nattereri (piranha-vermelha) and Serrasalmus maculatus (formerly Serrasalmus spilopleura); other names: catarina, pirambeba.

Piranhas have scales, and there are several species in the Pantanal. In general, they eat pieces of other fish, such as fins, as well as animal carcasses. As a result, they help clean the waters.

Above all, they attack injured animals or those that struggle to swim. In addition, they live in schools in rivers, lagoons and baías, and are usually up to about 30 centimeters long.

Tackle should be medium, with pieces of fish or mid-water artificial lures. When unhooking them, however, beware of their bites.

13. Piraputanga

Scientific name: Brycon hilarii.

A scaled fish, it is one of the most common Pantanal fish and also very wary. It eats seeds, fruits such as ingás and wild figs, fish and invertebrates.

It lives in rapids and backwaters, under fruit trees, near aquatic plants and along riverbanks, which are, incidentally, the best places to catch it. In general, it reaches about 50 centimeters and 2.5 kilos.

Light tackle ensures good fishing, with natural baits such as small fruits, small fish and sweet corn, or artificial lures such as spinners and small plugs. In addition, the piraputanga releases an alarm substance into the water when it is hooked. As a result, the other fish move away, and it is hard to catch more than one in the same spot.

14. Traíra

Scientific name: Hoplias malabaricus.

A scaled fish and a voracious predator, the traíra (wolf fish) is most active at night. Moreover, it eats other fish and insects and lives in still, shallow waters, in baías, corixos (seasonal channels) and along riverbanks, among aquatic plants.

In general, it reaches about 60 centimeters and 3 kilos. It can be caught with light tackle and natural baits, such as fish and chicken giblets, or artificial lures, such as spinners, poppers and rubber frogs.

When unhooking it, however, be careful of its bites. Its meat is highly prized, although it has many bones.

Frequently asked questions about Pantanal fish

What are the main Pantanal fish?

Pintado, cachara, dourado, pacu, jaú, piraputanga, piavuçu, curimbatá, piranha and traíra.

Of these, the most sought after in sport fishing are the pintado, the dourado and the pacu.

How many fish species are there in the Pantanal?

About 260 described species.

Even with fewer species than the Amazon, the Pantanal still has an enormous number of fish.

What is the largest fish in the Pantanal?

The jaú, which can reach 100 kilos.

The pintado is also large and, in the past, reached 80 kilos.

When is fishing banned in the Pantanal?

During the piracema, the spawning season, which usually runs from October or November to February.

Therefore, check the exact dates with Sema-MT or Imasul before you travel.

What is the difference between leather fish and scaled fish?

Leather fish, such as pintado and jaú, have no scales; scaled fish, on the other hand, include dourado and pacu.

In general, leather fish are catfish, with barbels near the mouth.

See more about the Pantanal

• Fishing in the Pantanal: best spots, baits, styles and seasons
• Mammals and reptiles in the Pantanal
• Birdwatching in the Pantanal
• Most common bird species in the Pantanal
• Flora of the Pantanal
• Fauna of the Pantanal
• Pantanal: geography, climate, soil and rivers
• History of the Pantanal
• Southern Pantanal (Pantanal Sul)
• Northern Pantanal (Pantanal Norte)
• Why and when to go to the Pantanal