mouth of the rio de contas — itacaré
The Rio de Contas reaches the sea at Itacaré among mangroves, beaches and Atlantic Forest. Snook and tarpon come in with the tide.
After coming down from the Chapada Diamantina, the Rio de Contas forms a mangrove estuary at Itacaré and empties beside the town, on the southern coast of Bahia. At the mouth and in the mangrove channels, peva and flecha snook, tarpon, jack, carapeba and mullet come in with the tide. Fishing is from a boat or kayak in the channels, and casting at the mouth and along the rocky shores of the nearby beaches, always guided by the tide. Itacaré is a surf and ecotourism destination, and the river also serves boat trips and rafting upstream at Taboquinhas.
best season
August to March, outside the snook closed season in Bahia (May 15 to Jul 31). The tide matters more than the season.
Local rules: Snook closed season in Bahia May 15 to Jul 31 (Portaria Ibama 49-N/1992). Tarpon is a threatened species (Vulnerable): catch and release only, preferably without lifting the fish out of the water. Itacaré's coast lies within the state APAs of Costa de Itacaré/Serra Grande and Baía de Camamu, managed by Inema. Strong current at the bar and surf waves at the mouth: take care with small boats. Check local rules.
- getting there
- About 70 km north of Ilhéus, which has an airport, via BA-001.
- facilities
- Inns, restaurants and boatmen on Itacaré's waterfront; boat and canoe trips on the river.
- basin
- East Atlantic
- coast
- Northeast Coast
tip
At the mouth, fish the first hours of the ebb tide with a mid-water lure, along the line where the river water meets the sea.
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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 Sema-BA — Defeso do robalo começa hoje na Bahia e segue até 31 de julhoSnook closed season in Bahia (Portaria Ibama 49-N/1992)
- official Imprensa Nacional (DOU) — Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026 (lista nacional de peixes ameaçados)Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) as Vulnerable
- official Sema-BA — Áreas de Proteção Ambiental estaduaisCosta de Itacaré/Serra Grande and Camamu Bay APAs
- market iScaBox — Pesca no Rio de Contas (BA)Commercial fishing guide: snook, tarpon, jack and mullet in the Itacaré estuary