tocantins river — imperatriz
The Tocantins at the border of Maranhão with Tocantins, with sandy beaches in the dry season. Peacock bass, pescada, cachorra and bicuda.
Imperatriz is on the right bank of the Tocantins, which there forms the border with the state of Tocantins, and has the Beira-Rio waterfront as one of its landmarks. From July, with the falling water, river beaches appear, such as those of Cacau, Meio, Belinha and Imbiral. Fishing is by boat and from the bank in the holes, eddies and beaches: peacock bass at beach points early in the morning and late in the afternoon, pescada do Piauí, cachorra and bicuda in the holes and current, surubim and barbado on the bottom at night, piau with chum.
best season
Low water and dry season, June to October, when the river's beaches appear. Spawning closure Nov 1 to Feb 28, with the river closed to recreational anglers.
Local rules: Tocantins basin spawning closure Nov 1 to Feb 28 (IN Interministerial MPA/MMA 13/2011): recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with consumption on site; therefore, in the Imperatriz river it is closed. Minimum sizes in the basin: peacock bass 35 cm, pescada do Piauí 32 cm, cachorra and barbado 50 cm, surubim 80 cm. Tocantins matrinchã (Brycon gouldingi) is threatened: catch banned. The opposite bank is in Tocantins state, where transport of fish is banned until Feb 28, 2029, except for 1 native specimen (Portaria Naturatins 44/2026). Check local rules.
- getting there
- Imperatriz has an airport and is about 630 km from São Luís via BR-010 and BR-222.
- facilities
- Hotels and restaurants in town; boatmen on the Beira-Rio.
- basin
- Tocantins-Araguaia
tip
In the dry season, fish peacock bass at the points of the sand beaches early in the morning, with a topwater lure, short twitches and pauses.
Loading…
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 continentaisSpawning closure and minimum sizes in the Tocantins basins (IN Interministerial MPA/MMA 13/2011)
- official Imprensa Nacional (DOU) — Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026 (lista nacional de peixes ameaçados)Brycon gouldingi as Vulnerable
- official Diário Oficial do Tocantins — Portaria Naturatins nº 44/2026 (transporte de pescado)
- market iScaBox — Rio Tocantins: guia de pescaCommercial fishing guide: Imperatriz spots, peacock bass at the beaches, piau with chum and surubim in the holes