são francisco river and reservoir — três marias
Large lake and river below the dam. Dorado and surubim on the São Francisco, peacock bass and croaker in the lake.
Três Marias has two fisheries. In the lake, with clear water and many arms, peacock bass and croaker dominate, with trahira in the coves. Below the dam, the São Francisco runs hard and is dorado and surubim territory, fished in rapids and pools. The stretch down to Pirapora is one of the river's most traditional. Casting with mid-water lures for dorado, live bait on the bottom for surubim, surface and jig in the lake.
best season
Outside the spawning closure, March to October. The river below the dam runs clearer and dorado is more active from April to September.
Local rules: Spawning closure (piracema) in the São Francisco basin Nov 1 to Feb 28: native species banned; exotic and hybrid species with reduced bag limit. Outside the closure, a 5 kg bag limit plus one fish (Portaria Ibama 50/2007). The dam's safety zone is off-limits. Check local rules.
- getting there
- About 270 km from Belo Horizonte via the BR-040.
- facilities
- Hotels, inns, marinas, fishing ranches and fishing guides.
- basin
- São Francisco
tip
Dorado below the dam hunts in the rapids' foam. Cast upstream and bring the bait back with the current.
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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 Ibama — Defesos continentaisSão Francisco spawning closure (Portaria Ibama 50/2007)
- official Agência Minas — Piracema começa em Minas e restrições à pesca entram em vigor neste sábado (1/11)Spawning closure news, 2025/26
- official Governo de MG — Obter licenças para pesca amadora