araguaia river — bandeirantes (nova crixás)
Nova Crixás district on the Goiás bank of the middle Araguaia, between Aruanã and Luiz Alves. Beaches in the dry season, marginal lagoons and a stop on the Gigantes do Araguaia Circuit.
São José dos Bandeirantes, a district of Nova Crixás, lies on the Goiás bank of the middle Araguaia, between Aruanã and Luiz Alves, in a stretch of meanders, beaches and marginal lagoons. In the dry season the river drops, opens beaches and concentrates fish: peacock bass and aruanã in the lagoons, cachorra and bicuda in the current and at rocky points, pirarara and barbado in the holes with bottom bait, pescada along the edges. The district hosts a stop of the Gigantes do Araguaia Circuit, a catch-and-release sport fishing event. The opposite bank is Mato Grosso.
best season
Beach season, June to September. In Goiás, closed season Nov 1 to Feb 28, no recreational fishing in the river.
Local rules: Goiás: state license and zero transport limit for 4 years from May 28, 2026 (IN Semad 17/2026): native fish may be kept only for eating on site, up to 5 kg per angler and within the size limits; chumming with feed or cracked corn is banned. Closed season in Goiás Nov 1 to Feb 28, no recreational fishing in the river, together with the federal spawning closure of the Araguaia (INI MPA/MMA 12/2011). Arapaima (pirarucu): closed season Oct 1 to Mar 31 across the basin (IN MMA 24/2005). Araguaia matrinchã (Brycon gouldingi), a threatened species: catch prohibited. The opposite bank is Mato Grosso, with its own rules. Check local rules.
- getting there
- About 465 km from Goiânia, passing through Nova Crixás.
- facilities
- Inns and fishing cabins in the district, campsites in beach season, boatmen and fishing guides.
- basin
- Tocantins-Araguaia
tip
In the lagoons, approach quietly and cast tight to the vegetation and submerged timber. In the main channel, large pirarara sit in the deep hole at the end of the beaches: whole-fish bait and a sliding sinker.
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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 Goiás Turismo — Folder AraguaiaMap of the Araguaia Valley, with Bandeirantes 465 km from Goiânia
- press O Hoje — Circuitos de pesca esportiva movimentam turismo e economia em Goiás a partir de março2026 calendar of the Gigantes do Araguaia Circuit, with a stop in Bandeirantes on April 11, catch and release
- official Casa Civil de Goiás — Instrução Normativa Semad nº 17/2026 (defeso e cota zero de transporte)State license, zero transport limit, closed season Nov 1 to Feb 28 and ban on chumming in Goiás
- official Ibama — Defesos continentaisAraguaia spawning closure (INI MPA/MMA 12/2011) and arapaima closed season (IN MMA 24/2005)