bagre-colombiano
Cathorops mapale
Catfish from rivers and estuaries of Colombia and Venezuela, up to 30.6 cm, with spines that injure. The species is considered vulnerable, so it is best to return what you catch.
Also called: bagre-colombiano, bagre
- maximum
- 31 cm
who is the bagre-colombiano
The bagre-colombiano is an ariid catfish of fresh and brackish water and reaches 30.6 cm. It lives in Colombia and Venezuela, near the bottom, and little is known about its habits. Cathorops is a genus with many similar species. It has commercial fishing. Like other catfish of the family, it has strong spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins that injure. The species is considered vulnerable, so the best option is to release the specimens you catch.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the bagre-colombiano; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated catfish, with three pairs of barbels and rigid spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins that injure. The Cathorops look alike, so the range separates them: this species is in Colombia and Venezuela, while the bagre-de-Maracaibo reaches Guyana. Check the size, up to 30.6 cm.
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.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Colombia and Venezuela, in fresh and brackish water, near the bottom. Not recorded in Brazil.
Habitat: Fresh and brackish water, near the bottom.
rules for the bagre-colombiano
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
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.
The spines of the dorsal and pectoral fins injure. Hold it with a cloth, remove the hook with pliers and return it without touching the spine.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00589, b = 3.15; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
—
sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Cathorops mapale (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Cathorops mapaleNames by country and language.
