são francisco river — januária
The São Francisco in northern Minas, with beaches and riverbank cliffs, near the Peruaçu caves. Dorado and surubim.
Januária is one of the historic towns on the middle São Francisco, in northern Minas, with riverbank cliffs, river beaches and the traditions of the carrancas (carved wooden figureheads) and riverboats. In the dry season the river drops and forms beaches and channels, and fishing targets dorado on the rapids and sandbar points, surubim in the deep pools, and croaker, mandi and piau along the banks. Downriver, between Januária and Itacarambi, lies Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, one of the country's great cave systems.
best season
Dry season, May to October, with the river low and sandy beaches exposed. Spawning closure (piracema), Nov 1 to Feb 28.
Local rules: In Minas Gerais, the spawning closure (piracema) runs Nov 1 to Feb 28: only exotic and hybrid species, up to 3 kg plus 1 fish; in the São Francisco's marginal lagoons, no fishing until April 30. São Francisco dorado: minimum 60 cm in Minas. Surubim is a threatened species (VU), with a minimum of 80 cm on the São Francisco. Pirá is an Endangered species: harvest prohibited. Check local rules.
- getting there
- In northern Minas, about 170 km from Montes Claros, which has the nearest airport with scheduled flights.
- facilities
- Hotels, inns, boatmen and local fishers. Fishing shacks along the river.
- basin
- São Francisco
tip
São Francisco dorado hunt at the exit of the rapids and at the sand points early in the morning: silver mid-water lure, fast retrieve.
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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 — Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu
- official Governo de MG — Obter licenças para pesca amadora
- official Ibama — Defesos continentaisSpawning closure on the São Francisco and marginal lagoons (Portaria Ibama 50/2007)