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all destinations MT · Cotriguaçu · river

juruena river — cotriguaçu

Remote river in northwestern MT, with clear water and rapids. Trairão, payara and matrinxã in a nearly untouched environment.

forecast for here see on the map

The Juruena is one of the headwaters of the Tapajós and runs through one of the best-preserved regions of Mato Grosso. Rapids, islands and eddies alternate for hundreds of kilometers. Big trairão in the eddies with snags, payara and bicuda in fast water, matrinxã schooling over the rocks. In deep pools, pirarara and jaú. Fishing pressure is low because access is hard. Casting with surface, mid-water and jig, and bottom fishing for catfish.

best season

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Low water, June to September. Spawning closure (piracema) in MT from Oct 1 to Jan 31.

Local rules: MT has Zero Transport (Laws 12.197/2023 and 12.434/2024): until 2029, 12 native species, including trairão, matrinxã, pirarara, jaú and piraíba, may not be captured to take home, transported or sold. In practice, catch and release. Spawning closure (piracema) in MT from Oct 1 to Jan 31. The laws are being challenged at the STF (Supreme Federal Court): check local rules. The Juruena National Park and the region's indigenous lands require authorization.

getting there: Flight from Cuiabá to cities in the region, such as Juína or Alta Floresta, and charter flight to the inns. By land, long dirt roads from Cotriguaçu.
facilities: Few fishing inns, remote, with fixed-price packages, voadeiras and guides.
basin: Amazon

tip

Bring spare bait: in the rapids and with trairão, bait gets used up fast. Reinforced treble hook and steel split ring.

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

Illustration of Trairão

Trairão

The trairão, the giant trahira of the clear-water rivers of the Brazilian Shield. Brutal surface strikes and teeth that cut through anything.

time of yearbest: Jun–Oct

Illustration of Payara

Payara

Hydrolycus armatus

Rapids predator with huge fangs on its lower jaw. High leaps and strong runs in the current.

time of yearbest: Jul–Oct

Illustration of Bicuda

Bicuda

Boulengerella cuvieri

Long-snouted, fast and leaping fish that chases fast lures in clear water.

time of yearbest: Jul–Oct

Illustration of Matrinxã

Matrinxã

Brycon amazonicus

Silvery, nervous fish of fast rivers, jumps a lot and eats everything: fruit, insects and small fish.

time of yearbest: Jul–Oct

Illustration of Redtail catfish

Redtail catfish

Phractocephalus hemioliopterus

A strong, unmistakable catfish with a red tail and yellow band. Heavy fighter, sought after in rivers and pay lakes.

time of yearbest: Jul–Oct

Illustration of Gilded catfish (jaú)

Gilded catfish (jaú)

Zungaro zungaro

Giant, stocky catfish of deep pools and rapids. One of the strongest freshwater fish in Brazil.

time of yearbest: Jul–Oct

Illustration of Kumakuma

Kumakuma

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum

The largest catfish in the Amazon. Juveniles are called filhote; adults exceed 100 kg and are Brazil's great trophy catfish.

time of yearbest: Jul–Oct

sources and references

Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.

official ICMBio — Parque Nacional do Juruena
official Assembleia Legislativa de Mato Grosso — Lei estadual nº 12.434/2024 (Transporte Zero)Amends Lei 9.096/2009 (art. 19-A)
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

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