all destinations MS · Aquidauana · pantanal

aquidauana river — aquidauana

Eastern gateway to the southern Pantanal, two hours from Campo Grande. River of cutbanks with surubim, pacu and piraputanga.

forecast for here see on the map

Aquidauana is where the mountains meet the plain. The river runs clearer upstream, with piraputanga and dorado in the rapids, and turns slow and muddy in the Pantanal, with surubim, cachara and pacu. Ranches and inns on the Pantanal do Rio Negro and the lower Aquidauana give access to lightly fished stretches. Bottom fishing with live bait for the leather catfish, dough and fruit baits for pacu and piavuçu, and casting for dorado and piraputanga.

best season

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Season from March to October. Low water from August to October concentrates fish.

Local rules: In MS, catching and transporting dorado are banned (Law 5.321/2019, extended, with a planned validity until March 2027): catch and release only. Spawning closure (piracema) in state rivers from Nov 5 to the end of February. Check local rules.

getting there: BR-262, about 140 km from Campo Grande. Pantanal inns of Aquidauana along dirt roads.
facilities: Hotels in town, fishing inns and ranches, fishing guides and boatmen.
basin: Paraguay (Pantanal)

tip

In the clear-water stretch, piraputanga strikes small surface lures and fly. Thin line and patience.

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

PimelodidaeVU

Spotted sorubim

Pseudoplatystoma corruscans

The great leather catfish of the Pantanal, the Paraná and the São Francisco. Nocturnal, heavy and with long runs. Vulnerable on the national list.

Freshwater

time of yearbest: Aug–Oct

Pimelodidae

Cachara

Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum

The striped sorubim of the Pantanal. Smaller than the pintado, more common along the shore and much sought in night drifting with tuvira.

Freshwater

time of yearbest: May and Aug–Oct

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