paranaíba river — paranaíba (MS)
The Paranaíba on the border with Minas Gerais, in the far east of MS, with fishing lodges and inns. Blue peacock bass, piapara, dorado and surubim.
In the far east of Mato Grosso do Sul, the Paranaíba River separates the municipality of Paranaíba from Minas Gerais and flows south until it meets the Rio Grande to form the Paraná River, near Aparecida do Taboado. The state's official fishing guide cites fishing lodges and inns in Paranaíba and Aparecida do Taboado and names blue peacock bass, introduced, as the main fish of the river, alongside piapara, dorado and surubim. Peacock bass are cast at the points, rocks and submerged timber; piapara are fished with chum and bottom bait; dorado in the currents; and surubim in the pools, with live bait.
best season
March to May and September to October, outside the Paraná basin piracema (Nov 1 to Feb 28). Blue peacock bass feed more in warm water.
Local rules: Paraná basin piracema Nov 1 to Feb 28 (IN Ibama 25/2009 and Decreto MS 15.166/2019, art. 11): in MS rivers, the state rule provides no amateur fishing or catch and release in that period. In MS, amateur fishing is catch and release: you may consume on site and take only 1 native fish within size limits, plus 5 piranhas; peacock bass and other exotics have no limit (Decreto 15.166/2019). Imasul state license, in addition to the federal one. Dorado: capture banned until Mar 31, 2027, catch and release only (Lei 5.321/2019, wording from Lei 6.390/2025). Surubim is a Vulnerable species: capture only under the recovery plan, with a minimum of 90 cm in the Paraná basin (PI MPA/MMA 15/2024); in MS, up to 125 cm. Border river: the Minas Gerais bank follows Minas Gerais rules, with its own piracema (Portaria IEF 156/2011) and state license. Check local rules.
- getting there
- By the BR-158, which runs through Paranaíba and links the town with Aparecida do Taboado and Cassilândia. The river lies east of the city, on the border with Minas Gerais.
- facilities
- Fishing lodges and inns along the river, according to the state's official guide; hotels and shops in the town of Paranaíba.
- basin
- Paraná
tip
Blue peacock bass hit surface and mid-water lures at the points and submerged timber early in the morning and late in the afternoon; in high sun, look for the drop-offs into the channel with bottom bait.
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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 Fundtur-MS (Visit MS) — Pesca em Mato Grosso do SulParanaíba River: blue peacock bass as the main species, piapara, dorado and surubim; fishing lodges and inns in Paranaíba and Aparecida do Taboado
- official Governo de MS — Decreto estadual nº 15.166/2019 (pesca amadora em MS)Catch and release with 1 native fish, state license and piracema (art. 11)
- official Diário Oficial de MS — Lei estadual nº 6.390/2025 (altera a Lei 5.321/2019, dourado)Dorado catch banned in MS until Mar 31, 2027
- official MMA — Portaria Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 15/2024 (pintado)Surubim: minimum size of 90 cm in the Paraná basin (art. 4º)