piraquê-açu river — santa cruz (aracruz)
Mangrove estuary of the Piraquê-Açu and Piraquê-Mirim rivers, in the village of Santa Cruz. Snook in the mangrove, and croaker, roncador and peroá at the river mouth heading to the sea.
Santa Cruz is a village on the coast of Aracruz, at the mouth of the Piraquê-Açu River, which joins the Piraquê-Mirim in a large mangrove estuary protected as a municipal sustainable development reserve. The management plan of the neighboring marine units describes the estuary as a nursery for reef fish and records recreational rod fishing in the area. In the mangrove, the target is snook: flecha and peva; at the river mouth and in the sea in front, local anglers cite croaker, pescadinha, roncador and peroá, and local landings are dominated by mahi-mahi and croaker. Here the geography of the rules matters most: to the north and offshore lies the APA Costa das Algas, where recreational fishing is allowed, and south of the river mouth begins the Santa Cruz Wildlife Refuge, where it is banned.
best season
All year, except during the snook closed season in Espírito Santo, May 1 to Jun 30.
Local rules: Snook: closed season May 1 to Jun 30 on the coast and in the inland waters of Espírito Santo, and snook tournaments banned from May 1 to Aug 31 (IN Ibama 10/2009); minimum sizes of 50 cm for flecha and 30 cm for peva (IN MMA 53/2005). Santa Cruz Wildlife Refuge (federal, full protection), in the sea south of the Piraquê-Açu mouth: recreational and sport fishing banned. APA Costa das Algas: recreational fishing allowed, without gillnets or trawls, subject to ICMBio rules (management plan, Portaria ICMBio 3.374/2023). In the municipal RDS mangrove reserve, visiting and recreation require authorization from the Aracruz Environment Department. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Aracruz is about 75 km from Vitória via BR-101 or the coastal ES-010 highway, which passes through Santa Cruz. Vitória airport.
- facilities
- Schooner tours and outrigger canoe rides on the estuary, inns and restaurants in the village, artisanal fishers and shellfish gatherers in the surrounding communities.
- basin
- Southeast Atlantic
- coast
- Southeast Coast
tip
In the mangrove, fish for snook at the gamboa (mangrove creek) mouths and along the banks with roots while the tide is rising, using live shrimp or mid-water lures.
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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 ICMBio — Plano de Manejo do REVIS de Santa Cruz e da APA Costa das AlgasZoning: recreational fishing prohibited in the REVIS and allowed in the APA; species cited by anglers
- official Prefeitura de Aracruz — RDS Municipal Piraquê-Açu e Piraquê-MirimMunicipal Law 3.739/2013; visits and recreation with authorization from the Environment Department
- official Normas Brasil — Instrução Normativa Ibama nº 10/2009 (defeso do robalo no Espírito Santo)Republication of the official text: closed season on the coast and in the inland waters of ES; snook tournaments banned May 1 to Aug 31
- official Normas Brasil — Instrução Normativa MMA nº 53/2005 (tamanhos mínimos de captura no Sudeste e Sul)Republication of the official text