das mortes river — nova xavantina
Clear-water tributary of the Araguaia, with rocky stretches, beaches and rapids. Cachorra, bicuda and catfish in sport fishing.
The Das Mortes River runs through Nova Xavantina, the former base of the Roncador-Xingu Expedition, on its way to the Araguaia. In the dry season, the water clears, beaches and rock ledges appear, and fishing is current-based: cachorra and bicuda hit mid-water lures at the rapids and rock points, while pirarara, jaú and barbado hold in the pools for natural bait. Pescada and piranha complete the catch. Downriver, the Mortes passes sparsely populated areas and indigenous lands until it reaches the Araguaia. In Mato Grosso, amateur fishing in rivers is catch and release, with consumption only on site.
best season
Dry season, June to September. In Mato Grosso, the piracema runs from Oct 1 to Jan 31 and prohibits even catch and release in rivers.
Local rules: Mato Grosso has Transporte Zero until Dec 31, 2028: amateur fishing in rivers is catch and release, with consumption on site of up to 2 kg or 1 fish, and taking fish home is prohibited (Lei MT 9.096/2009, amended by Lei 12.434/2024). State piracema from Oct 1 to Jan 31, with no fishing at all in rivers. Araguaia matrinchã (Brycon gouldingi) is a threatened species: capture prohibited. Indigenous lands downriver: only with authorization. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Via BR-158, about 150 km north of Barra do Garças. Barra do Garças and Cuiabá have the most used airports.
- facilities
- Hotels and inns in town, boatmen, guides and fishing lodges along the river.
- basin
- Tocantins-Araguaia
tip
Cachorra have hard mouths and often shake loose during the jump: keep the hook sharp, set firmly and keep the line taut.
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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 Assembleia Legislativa de Mato Grosso — Lei estadual nº 12.434/2024 (Transporte Zero)Amends Lei 9.096/2009 (art. 19-A)
- official LegisWeb — Resolução Cepesca nº 1, de 24/04/2026 (piracema 2026/27 em Mato Grosso)Republication of the official text
- official Sema-MT — Lei estadual nº 9.096/2009 consolidada (Política de Pesca de Mato Grosso)Check whether the consolidated version already includes the most recent amendments