jatapu lake — caroebe
Hydroelectric reservoir in southern Roraima, with a sport peacock bass fishing festival and the Brazilian record for speckled pavon.
The Jatapu lake formed when the river was dammed for a hydroelectric plant, between 1991 and 1994, and covers over 7,000 hectares in Caroebe, in southern Roraima, on the border with Pará. The Jatapu is a tributary of the Uatumã, and the speckled pavon, native to this basin, is the star: in 2024, a 63 cm fish caught and released in the river was certified as a Brazilian record by BGFA, in the kayak category. Since 2023 the town hall has organized the Peacock Bass Sport Fishing Festival on the lake every year, in the Entre Rios area, with artificial lures only and mandatory release. It is a destination in the making, with small-town infrastructure.
best season
September to February, with the fishing festival in September. In Roraima, March 1 to June 30, all rivers are under closed season (Portaria Ibama 48/2007).
Local rules: Closed season in Roraima from March 1 to June 30 on all rivers (Portaria Ibama 48/2007). The Caroebe town hall issues a municipal sport fishing license through the Municipal Department of Environment and Tourism: ask whether it is required in addition to the federal amateur angler license. Respect the dam's safety area. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Caroebe is 338 km from Boa Vista, in southern Roraima, by road. Check road conditions during the rainy season.
- facilities
- Hotels, restaurants and gas stations in town. Rental boats and guides; at the festival, both are accredited by the Municipal Department of Environment and Tourism.
- basin
- Amazon
tip
The speckled pavon fights hard for its size: use a medium-action rod, line that can handle contact with timber, and mid-water lures worked right along the lake's submerged timber.
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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 Prefeitura de Caroebe — Regulamento técnico do 3º Festival de Pesca Esportiva do Tucunaré (Lago do Rio Jatapú, Entre Rios, 2025)Catch and release, artificial lures only, guides and boats accredited by Sematur, and municipal sport fishing license fee
- press Folha BV — Roraimense pesca espécie de tucunaré de 63 cm e quebra recorde brasileiro63 cm speckled pavon from the Jatapu River, certified by BGFA in March 2024
- press Diário do Turismo — Tucunaré começa a colocar cidade de Roraima no mapa do turismoNews article from September 8, 2026 about the lake (over 7,000 hectares, dammed between 1991 and 1994) and the festival
- official Ibama — Defesos continentaisRoraima closed season, Mar 1 to Jun 30 (Portaria Ibama 48/2007)