iaco river — sena madureira
Purus tributary that flows past Sena Madureira, in Acre. Catfish in the channel pools and scaled fish in the várzea lakes.
Sena Madureira sits on the banks of the Iaco, a tributary of the Purus, about 140 km from Rio Branco on the BR-364. It is muddy water, with beaches in the dry season and várzea lakes that riverine families treat as a food reserve, under informal use agreements. For rod fishing, the targets are catfish such as jaú, surubim and caparari in the channel pools, and scaled fish such as pirapitinga, matrinxã, pescada and cachorra along the edges and lake mouths. On the Macauã River, a tributary of the Iaco, are the Macauã and São Francisco National Forests, whose management plan lists jaú, surubim, pirapitinga and pescada among the most fished species in the region. Sport fishing infrastructure is minimal: the usual route is to hire boatmen in town.
best season
Summer, June to October, with low water and isolated lakes. In Acre, closed season from Nov 15 to Mar 15 for the species in Annex II of Portaria Ibama 48/2007.
Local rules: In Acre, closed season from Nov 15 to Mar 15 for the species in Annex II of Portaria Ibama 48/2007 (among them dourada, piraíba, pirapitinga, caparari, aruanã and matrinxã); line-and-hook recreational anglers have an exception, with a bag limit of 5 kg plus 1 fish. Arapaima: treat as prohibited in Acre and confirm with Ibama and Imac. Várzea lakes may have community use agreements: get a license before entering. Tambaqui: capture prohibited from Oct 25, 2026, as a threatened species (Portarias GM/MMA 1.666 and 1.667/2026). Check local rules.
- getting there
- From Rio Branco, about 140 km on the BR-364. Rio Branco has an airport with regular flights.
- facilities
- Basic hotels, restaurants and boatmen in Sena Madureira. No facilities dedicated to sport fishing.
- basin
- Amazon
tip
In the muddy channel, strong-smelling natural bait and a sliding sinker at the tail of the pool; in the lakes, fruit and dough for pirapitinga in the shade of the trees.
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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 Ibama — Defesos continentaisAmazon basin closed season in Acre (Portaria Ibama 48/2007)
- official ICMBio — Plano de Manejo das Florestas Nacionais do Macauã e de São Francisco (AC)National Forests in Sena Madureira, on the Macauã River; list of the most fished species and use of the middle Iaco lakes. Plan approved by Portaria ICMBio 53/2016
- official Imac — Instituto de Meio Ambiente do Acre
- official Imprensa Nacional (DOU) — Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666, de 27 de abril de 2026Protection of threatened species; 180-day deadline for new ones, such as tambaqui