araguaia river — araguacema
Wide Araguaia, with islands and beaches, on the Tocantins bank facing Pará. Peacock bass in the lakes, cachorra and bicuda in the current.
Araguacema is on the Tocantins bank of the Araguaia, about 297 km from Palmas, with Pará on the other bank. In the falling water, Gaivota Island, across from the town, turns into a large sandy beach that hosts the July season. Outside the season rush, the wide river, with islands, beaches and lakes along its banks, offers classic Araguaia fishing: blue and yellow peacock bass in the lakes and eddies, cachorra and bicuda in the currents, pirarara and barbado in the pools with bottom bait, pescada and aruanã along the edges. It lies between the Cantão region, upriver, and Conceição do Araguaia, downriver.
best season
Dry season and beach season, June to September; Gaivota Beach gets visitors in July. Araguaia spawning closure (piracema) from Nov 1 to Feb 28 (INI MPA/MMA 12/2011).
Local rules: In Tocantins, from March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2029, transporting fish caught by amateur and sport anglers is prohibited: consumption on site up to 3 kg and transport of only 1 native fish per angler (Portaria Naturatins 44/2026). Blue and yellow peacock bass only between 30 and 50 cm, and dourada and piabanha are prohibited (Portaria Naturatins 47/2026). Araguaia spawning closure (piracema) from Nov 1 to Feb 28 (INI MPA/MMA 12/2011): in rivers, amateur fishing is prohibited. The left bank is in Pará, where recreational anglers may take up to 5 kg plus 1 fish and sport fishing is catch and release (Decreto PA 5.271/2026). Check local rules.
- getting there
- By road from Palmas, about 297 km. Palmas has the nearest airport with regular flights. Accredited boatmen run the crossing to the beach.
- facilities
- Inns, restaurants and boatmen in town; camping, tents and restrooms at the beach during the season.
- basin
- Tocantins-Araguaia
tip
In July the river fills with boats near town: go up or down a few kilometers and fish the lakes along the banks early, with surface lures.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Diário Oficial do Tocantins — Portaria Naturatins nº 44/2026 (transporte de pescado)DOE-TO No. 7.013, March 6, 2026
- official Naturatins — Portaria nº 47/2026 (pesca no Tocantins, espécies proibidas)Annex I (sizes) and Annex III (prohibited species), as worded by Portaria 105/2026
- official Ibama — Defesos continentaisAraguaia basin spawning closure (piracema) (INI MPA/MMA 12/2011)
- official Semas-PA — Decreto estadual nº 5.271/2026 (pesca amadora e esportiva no Pará)