all destinations MA · São Luís · estuary

são marcos bay — são luís

Bay of giant tides, with weakfish, camurupim and snook in channels and mangroves.

São Marcos Bay has one of the largest tidal ranges in Brazil, over 6 metres. The water rises and falls fast, creating strong currents in the channels, igarapés and shoals. Weakfish on the bottom of the channels, snook and camurupim in the mangroves and river mouths, cavala and sororoca on the rocks and outer ledges. Boat fishing depends on the tide table more than anything else. A good destination for anyone who wants variety and big fish.

best season

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Low water, August to December, with saltier and clearer water in the bay.

Local rules: The Parcel de Manuel Luís Marine State Park, in open sea, bans fishing. Check local rules. Camurupim is a threatened species (Vulnerable): catch and release only, preferably without lifting the fish out of the water; capture, retention and transport are prohibited.

getting there: São Luís airport. Boat departures from Ponta d'Areia and other island ports.
facilities: Hotels in the capital, marinas, boatmen and local guides.
basin: Western Northeast Atlantic
coast: North Coast

tip

Fish the slack water (estofa) and the first hours of the incoming tide. At mid-tide the current is too strong for light bait.

next 7 days here

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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

Sciaenidae

Acoupa weakfish

Cynoscion acoupa

The largest weakfish on the coast, over 1 m. Hunts in murky water with the tide running, at dawn and at night.

EstuarySea

time of yearbest: Oct–Mar

MegalopidaeVU

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

The 'silver king': over 2 m, jumps non-stop and breathes air. Vulnerable species: fishing for it is prohibited in Brazil.

EstuarySea

time of yearbest: Aug–Jan

Centropomidae

Common snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Brazil's largest snook and the prize of coastal fishing. Hunts with the tide running at inlets, mangroves and rocky shores.

EstuarySea

time of yearbest: Oct–Mar

Scombridae

Serra Spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus brasiliensis

The coastal Spanish mackerel. Yellow spots, razor teeth and a hard run on spoons and jigs retrieved fast.

Sea

time of yearbest: Nov–Apr

Scombridae

King mackerel

Scomberomorus cavalla

The largest cavala on the coast, strong and sharp-toothed. Widely caught by trolling and in the artisanal fishing of the Northeast, and excellent eating.

Sea

time of yearbest: Oct–Mar