all destinations MS · Bela Vista · river

apa river — bela vista

Border river with Paraguay in southwest MS, with fishing cabins and inns. Pacu, piraputanga and dorado.

The Apa rises near the Maracaju Range and flows west, forming the border between Brazil and Paraguay, until it meets the Paraguay River near Porto Murtinho. In Bela Vista, the town faces Bella Vista Norte on the Paraguayan side, and the river has fishing cabins and inns along its course, according to the official state fishing guide. Pacu and piraputanga are caught with fruit, dough and small baits; dorado in the current; surubim, cachara and jaú in the holes with live bait. Farther down, already on the Pantanal plain, the river becomes slow and winding, and access is difficult.

best season

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March to October, outside the spawning closure; with the river lower, from August to October, the water is clearer. Spawning closure in MS Nov 5 to Feb 28.

Local rules: In MS, recreational fishing is catch and release: you may eat the fish on site and carry only 1 native specimen within the size limits, plus 5 piranhas; peacock bass and other exotic species have no limit (Decreto 15.166/2019). A state license from Imasul is required in addition to the federal one. Dorado: catch banned until Mar 31, 2027, catch and release only (Lei 5.321/2019, as amended by Lei 6.390/2025). Surubim is a vulnerable species: catch only under the recovery plan, with a minimum size of 85 cm in the upper Paraguay (PI MPA/MMA 15/2024); in MS, between 85 and 125 cm. Spawning closure Nov 5 to Feb 28 (Decreto 15.166/2019, art. 11): no fishing and no catch and release, except in February in the Paraguay River channel. Border river: the Paraguayan bank follows Paraguayan law; fish only in Brazilian waters, with a Brazilian license. Check local rules.

getting there: About 310 km from Campo Grande.
facilities: Fishing cabins and inns along the river; hotels in town.
basin: Paraguay (Pantanal)

tip

In clear water, piraputanga are wary: use light line, small baits and approach quietly along the bank, without revving the motor near the spot.

next 7 days here

Loading…

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

Serrasalmidae

Pacu

Piaractus mesopotamicus

The fruit eater of the Pantanal. Caught by batida (tapping the water with the rod), under the trees, or with crab. Pulls hard and dives into submerged timber.

Freshwater

time of yearbest: Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov

Bryconidae

Piraputanga

Brycon hilarii

The fish of the crystal-clear waters of Bonito and the upper Paraguay. Fast, wary and excellent on a fruit-fly pattern.

Freshwater

time of yearbest: May and Aug–Oct

Bryconidae

Golden dorado

Salminus brasiliensis

The king of the river. A rapids predator that strikes violently and leaps out of the water several times. In MS, MT and PR it may only be fished for catch and release.

Freshwater

time of yearbest: Aug–Oct