Arawana closed season (AM, AC, AP)
capture, transport and sale banned15/11 to 15/03AMACAPAmazon
In Amazonas, Acre and Amapá the arawana is on the list of species whose catch, transport, storage and sale are banned from Nov 15 to Mar 15.
catalog
Osteoglossidae · predator
silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Freshwater
Long silver fish that hunts at the surface and leaps to catch insects and even small animals on branches.
Also called: aruanã, macaco-d'água
- common size
- 50–80 cm
- maximum
- 90 cm
- common weight
- 1–3 kg
- record/max.
- 6.0 kg
- depth
- 0–2 m
- ideal water
- 26–31 °C
overview
who is the silver arowana
The arawana is an ancient relative of the arapaima. It lives at the surface of lakes, igapós and calm shorelines. It has a huge upturned mouth and two barbels on its chin that help it sense prey on the water surface. It eats insects, spiders, small fish and even young birds and bats, and it is famous for leaping out of the water to catch prey on low branches. The male incubates eggs and larvae in his mouth for weeks. In sport fishing it strikes small surface lures and flies, but its bony, hard mouth means many fish are lost on the hookset.
fun facts
- It leaps up to about 2 m to catch insects and small animals on branches, which is why it is nicknamed macaco-d'água (water monkey).
- The male keeps eggs and larvae in his mouth for weeks.
- It belongs to a very ancient fish lineage, the same as the arapaima.
how to recognize it
identification
Very long body, flattened on the sides like a ribbon, with large silvery scales that reflect pink or blue. Large upturned mouth with two short barbels at the tip of the chin. Long dorsal and anal fins, almost touching the tail. The arapaima is much bigger, rounder and has a red tail end. No other fish in the region has two barbels on its chin.
how silver arowana fishing looks
Loading the next 7 days…
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.
distribution
open on the large map where found
Floodplain (várzea) lakes, igapós and backwaters of the Amazon basin and the Araguaia-Tocantins, where it is common in the Araguaia lagoons.
Habitat: Water surface of lakes, igapós, backwaters and shorelines with low branches and floating vegetation.
native to the basins
AmazonTocantins-Araguaia
states
Amazonas, Pará, Amapá, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Goiás
when to fish
best season
time of yearbest: Aug–Nov
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Falling water and the dry season, from August to November, concentrate the arawana in lakes and shorelines. During high water it moves into the igapó.
best time of day
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Hunts at the surface during the day, most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
what affects the silver arowana
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
A cold snap (friagem) pulls the fish away from the surface.
atmospheric pressure
Stable weather favors surface hunting.
moon
Little effect.
rain
Heavy rain churns the surface and gets in the way.
water level
A falling lake concentrates fish; repiquete spreads them out.
noise
Sensitive: it sinks at the noise and takes a while to resurface.
wind
Strong wind ruffles the water and reduces surface hunting.
depth
Almost always in the top 50 cm of water.
how to fish
- rod
- 6'0'', medium-fast action, 10 to 20 lb
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- 2500 spinning reel or 100 baitcasting reel
- line
- braided line 20 lb
- leader
- fluorocarbon 20 to 30 lb
- hook
- small treble hooks 1 to 1/0, very sharp
lures
- small zara 7 to 9 cm
- small popper
- small prop bait
- popper and streamer fly
natural baits
- gafanhoto
- besouro
- lambari at the surface
accessories
- alicate
- hook sharpening file
tip from an angler
The arawana bites a lot but hooks poorly. Wait until you feel the weight before setting the hook, and keep the treble hook always sharp.
rules for the silver arowana
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the national list (Portaria GM/MMA 1.667/2026). Larvae and young are heavily exploited for the aquarium trade.
Commercial fishing banned in the Negro River (AM)
commercial fishing bannedAMAmazon
In the Negro River basin, from the border with Colombia to the mouth of the Branco River, commercial arawana fishing is banned. Recreational, sport and ornamental fishing remain allowed.
Minimum size of 50 cm in Amazonas
50 cmAMAmazonconfirm with the agency
Ipaam enforces a 50 cm minimum size for arawana. Confirm the rule with the state agency (Ipaam).
Minimum size in Tocantins
50 cmTOTocantins-Araguaia
In Tocantins the arawana may only be kept if it is 50 cm or longer.
Source: Portaria NATURATINS/GABIN nº 47/2026 (annexes amended by Portaria nº 105/2026)
Closed season in the Amazon basin in Amazonas
15/11 to 15/03AMAmazon
Annual closed season in AM for the species in Annex II of Portaria 48/2007: pirapitinga, mapará, sardine, pacu, aruanã and matrinxã. Tambaqui and arapaima (pirarucu) have their own rules (see the specific items and "prohibitions").
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Closed season in the Amazon basin in Acre
15/11 to 15/03ACAmazon
Annual closed season in AC for the species in Annex II: dourada, piraíba, pirapitinga, caparari, aruanã, jaraqui, mapará, sardine, matrinxã and pacu. On the Acre River, the closed season applies to all species (IN IBAMA 205/2008).
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007; IN IBAMA nº 205/2008 (Acre River)
Minimum size: 50 cm (max. 65 cm)
GOTocantins-Araguaia
Source: IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, Annex I, Araguaia-Tocantins basin (on-site consumption only; zero transport)
Minimum size: 50 cm
TOTocantins-Araguaia
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 47/2026, Annex I, as amended by Portaria nº 105/2026
Minimum size: 50 cm
GOTOPAMAMTTocantins-Araguaia
Source: INIs MPA/MMA nº 12/2011 (Araguaia) and 13/2011 (Tocantins), minimum size annexes
piracema closures in the basins where the species lives
Closed season in Goiás (state rule)
01/11 to 28/02GO
Allowed: Sport and guided fishing only in reservoirs, catch and release with barbless hooks (no keeping, transporting or eating). Subsistence: up to 5 kg per day, for household consumption only.
Spawning closure (piracema) in Mato Grosso (all basins)
01/10 to 31/01MT
Allowed: All fishing modalities are prohibited in rivers, including catch and release (Law 9.096/2009, art. 19-A). Exceptions: subsistence fishing from shore (3 kg or 1 fish, no transport or sale) and scientific fishing. Law 13.159/2025 now allows licensed sport fishing in UHE/PCH hydropower reservoirs, natural lakes and border rivers, subject to a scientific study and a license from the environmental agency. We have not confirmed whether these licenses are already being issued.
Spawning closure (piracema) in the Araguaia River basin
01/11 to 28/02GOTOPAMT
Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with handline, rod, or spinning or baitcasting reel. Fish may only be eaten on site, not transported. Competitions prohibited. Subsistence: 3 kg + 1 fish. State rules (GO and TO) may be stricter.
Spawning closure (piracema) in the Tocantins and Gurupi river basins
01/11 to 28/02TOPAMAGO
Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with on-site consumption. Subsistence: 5 kg + 1 fish. State rules may be stricter.
Spawning closure (piracema) in Tocantins (state rule)
01/11 to 28/02TO
Allowed: In 2025/26: catch and release with barbless hooks and recreational fishing card; subsistence fishing on foot or from a rowboat, with simple pole or handline.
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 244/2025 (2025/26 season); INIs MPA/MMA nº 12 and 13/2011
Closed season in the rivers of Marajó Island (PA)
01/01 to 30/04PA
Allowed: The same recreational-angler exceptions as in Portaria 48/2007 apply (handline or rod, 5 kg + 1 fish), unless a stricter state rule applies.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Closed season in the Amazon basin in Amapá
15/11 to 15/03AP
Allowed: Recreational anglers with handline or rod, line and hook are outside the Annex II prohibitions, with a bag limit of 5 kg + 1 fish, unless a stricter state rule applies.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Closed season in Roraima
01/03 to 30/06RR
Allowed: Subsistence fishing only.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Border rivers MT/RO and MT/PA
05/11 to 28/02MTROPA
Allowed: See the exceptions in Portaria 48/2007 and the state rules for each bank.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Long body and loose scales: hold it with both wet hands, supporting the whole body, and release it quickly.
in the kitchen
White flesh with bones. Eaten fried or grilled locally, but it is valued more as a sport and ornamental fish.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00417, b = 3.1; FishBase (bayesiano, espécie + forma do corpo da família)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
- scientific FishBase — Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship and references. Page checked on October 13, 2026.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026 — Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)Most recent national list. The species is not on it (search by scientific name in the text published in the DOU, checked on October 13, 2026).
- official ICMBio/SALVE — Ficha de Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (avaliação nacional do risco de extinção)ICMBio national assessment, published in 2025. DOI checked on Crossref.
- scientific IUCN Red List — Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 04/11/2020)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
- scientific Ferreira, E. J. G.; Zuanon, J. A. S.; Santos, G. M. (1998). Peixes comerciais do médio Amazonas: região de Santarém, Pará. Brasília: Ibama. 211 p.Printed work; the URL is the bibliographic record on FishBase, which cites this work for the species.
- scientific Ferraris Jr., C. J. (2003). Osteoglossidae (arowanas). In: Reis, R. E.; Kullander, S. O.; Ferraris Jr., C. J. (orgs.). Check List of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, p. 30.Printed book chapter; the URL is the bibliographic record on FishBase, which cites the chapter for the species.
