itamaracá island and santa cruz channel
Mangrove channel between the island and the mainland, north of Recife. Snook and tarpon on the tide.
The Santa Cruz Channel separates Itamaracá Island from the mainland and forms one of Pernambuco's largest mangroves, linked to the sea at both ends. It is a tidal fishery: snook in the roots and at the gamboa (mangrove creek) mouths, tarpon in the deep stretches, pescada-amarela in the channels and crevalle jack at the bars. The island has Fort Orange and conservation projects for the West Indian manatee, which lives in the area. Fishing from a voadeira (small aluminum boat) or kayak, always with a tide table at hand.
best season
September to March, with less rain and clearer water in the channel.
Local rules: The channel and its surroundings lie in the Santa Cruz Environmental Protection Area, a state unit managed by CPRH. West Indian manatees live in the channel: go slow and never chase them. Tarpon is a threatened species (Vulnerable): catch and release only. Goliath grouper: harvest prohibited. Check local rules.
- getting there
- About 50 km from Recife via BR-101 and PE-035, with a bridge to the island.
- facilities
- Inns, restaurants, boatmen and simple marinas on the island and in Itapissuma.
- basin
- Eastern Northeast Atlantic
- coast
- Northeast Coast
tip
On the ebb, snook wait at the gamboa outlets: hold your boat outside the mouth, cast inward and retrieve with the current.
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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 CPRH — Agência Estadual de Meio Ambiente de PernambucoManager of state conservation units
- official Imprensa Nacional (DOU) — Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026 (lista nacional de peixes ameaçados)Tarpon (VU) and grouper (CR)