MS: minimum 60 cm
60 cmMS
Minimum size for barbado in MS.
Source: Decreto estadual MS nº 15.375/2020 (amends Decreto nº 15.166/2019), art. 9º - Semadesc/Imasul
catalog
Pimelodidae · predator
flatwhiskered catfish
Pinirampus pirinampu
Freshwater
Silver catfish with ribbon-like barbels. Common in night bottom fishing in the Pantanal and Paraná. A fighter and good eating.
Also called: barbado, barba-chata, mandi-alumínio, piranambu
- common size
- 40–70 cm
- maximum
- 120 cm
- common weight
- 1–5 kg
- record/max.
- 7.7 kg
- depth
- 2–15 m
- ideal water
- 24–30 °C
overview
who is the flatwhiskered catfish
Silver leather catfish, common in the large rivers of the Pantanal and Paraná. It hunts small fish at night, in channels and pools, and shows up often in bottom fishing for pintado. It fights with quick runs and is more agile than other catfish of the same size. Specimens of 2 to 5 kg are common in good rivers. Anglers spot it from afar by its long, ribbon-flat barbels. In MS and MT the minimum is 60 cm; in the Paraná basin, 50 cm.
fun facts
- The name barba-chata comes from its ribbon-flat barbels.
- It is one of the fastest catfish in a fight for its size.
how to recognize it
identification
Elongated body, silver to bluish-grey, without spots. Maxillary barbels very long and flat, like ribbons, extending past the pelvic fins. Very long, low adipose fin. Deeply forked tail. The mandi is yellowish and spotted. The jaú is thick and dark. The pintado has spots and a spade-shaped head.
how flatwhiskered catfish 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
Paraguay River and Pantanal tributaries, Paraná River and large tributaries, Uruguay River; also in the Amazon.
Habitat: River channel, pools and backwaters of large rivers; hunts in mid-water and on the bottom at night.
native to the basins
Paraguay (Pantanal)ParanáUruguayAmazonTocantins-Araguaia
states
Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, São Paulo, Paraná, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins
famous destinations
when to fish
best season
time of yearbest: Aug–Oct
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Dry season and falling water, like the pintado. August to October is the best period in the Pantanal.
best time of day
Night and twilight. Active from dusk until dawn.
what affects the flatwhiskered catfish
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) reduces activity.
atmospheric pressure
Muggy weather favors it.
moon
Dark nights produce more.
rain
Little effect.
water level
A falling river concentrates the barbado in the channel.
noise
Boat anchored in silence.
wind
Little effect.
depth
Bottom and mid-water, 3 to 12 m.
how to fish
- rod
- 6' to 7', medium action, 17 to 40 lb
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- baitcasting reel 200 to 300 or spinning reel 4000 to 5000
- line
- braid 30 to 50 lb
- leader
- monofilament 60 to 80 lb
- hook
- 4/0 to 7/0 maruseigo or circle hook; olive sinker 30 to 80 g
natural baits
- tuvira
- lambari
- muçum
- piece of fish
- minhocuçu
accessories
- alicate
- headlamp
- luva
tip from an angler
Fish bait on the channel bottom at night. The pull is quick: set the hook right after the first jolt.
ready-made kit
pantanal drifting and bank fishing (catfish)
Fishing for surubim catfish, cachara and jau catfish in the Pantanal and rivers of the Paraguay basin, with natural bait, drifting downriver by boat or staying still at the bank and in the pool.
guidetrolling (rodada) and steep-bank fishing in the pantanal
How to rig your gear, choose bait, feel the bottom, decide between anchoring and trolling, the best times, and respect for fishing guides and riverside communities.
rules for the flatwhiskered catfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
MT: minimum 60 cm
60 cmMTParaguay (Pantanal)
Minimum size in the Paraguay basin in MT.
Source: Lei estadual MT nº 9.096/2009, art. 28 and Annex I (Paraguay Basin) - Sema-MT
Paraná basin: minimum 50 cm
50 cmSPPRMGGOParaná
Federal minimum size for barbado in the Paraná basin. In MG, IEF Portaria 111/2003 also sets 50 cm.
Source: Instrução Normativa Ibama nº 26/2009 (fishing rules for the Paraná River basin), Annex
Minimum size: 60 cm
MSParaguay (Pantanal)Paraná
Source: Decreto estadual MS nº 15.166/2019, art. 9º (as amended by Decreto nº 15.375/2020)
Minimum size: 60 cm
MTParaguay (Pantanal)
Minimum size: 50 cm
SPPRMGGOMSDFParaná
Source: IN IBAMA nº 26/2009, Annex (Paraná River basin; stricter state rules prevail)
Minimum size: 50 cm (max. 75 cm)
PRParanáSoutheast Atlantic
Source: Portaria IAT nº 650/2025, Annex I (interior basins of PR, except Iguazu and coastal)
Minimum size: 50 cm
MG
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 (max. 65 cm)
GOParaná
Source: IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, Annex I, Paranaíba basin (on-site consumption only; zero transport)
Minimum size: 40 cm (max. 60 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
Spawning closure (piracema) in the Paraná River basin
01/11 to 28/02SPPRMGGOMSDF
Allowed: Recreational fishing only for non-native species and hybrids (peacock bass, tilapia, black bass, carp, croaker, etc.; piauçu remains prohibited), with handline, simple pole, or rod with spinning or baitcasting reel, up to 10 kg + 1 fish. In rivers, from shore only; in reservoirs, from a boat or from shore. Prohibited: floodplain lakes, aquatic-animal bait, within 1,500 m of dams and waterfalls, and within 500 m of confluences. Tournaments only in reservoirs and only with non-native species.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 25/2009
Spawning closure (piracema) in Minas Gerais (state rule)
01/11 to 28/02MG
Allowed: Only exotic or hybrid species, 3 kg + 1 fish per day, with handline, rod, simple pole, or spinning or baitcasting reel. Nets prohibited. Keep the minimum distances from dams and reservoirs.
Source: Portarias IEF nº 154/2011 (São Francisco), 155/2011 (East) and 156/2011 (Grande/Paranaíba)
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 the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul
05/11 to 28/02MS
Allowed: Subsistence fishing by riverside residents and authorized scientific fishing. Decree 15.166/2019 (art. 11, §5) allows catch and release only in February and only in the channels of the Paraguay and Paraná rivers. For the rest of the period, not even catch and release is allowed. Check the Imasul portaria for each season.
Source: Decreto estadual MS nº 15.166/2019, art. 11; IN IBAMA nº 201/2008
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
Spawning closure (piracema) in the Uruguay River basin
01/10 to 31/01RSSC
Allowed: Recreational fishing from shore, or from a boat without motor. Only handline or rod, line and hook, one gear per angler, up to 5 kg. Prohibited in floodplain lakes, within 1,500 m of dams, within 500 m of confluences, and in stretches listed in the rule (e.g., Turvo River).
Source: IN IBAMA nº 193/2008
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.
Watch out for the dorsal spine and pectorals. Hold it under the belly and release it facing into the current.
in the kitchen
White, boneless and tasty flesh; fried steaks or stew.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00289615, b = 3.09; FishBase; coeficiente a ajustado ao porte máximo registrado). 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 — Pinirampus pirinampu (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 Pinirampus pirinampu (avaliação nacional do risco de extinção)National assessment by ICMBio, published in 2024. DOI verified on Crossref.
- scientific IUCN Red List — Pinirampus pirinampu (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 22/12/2020)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
- scientific Britski, H. A.; Silimon, K. Z. S.; Lopes, B. S. (2007). Peixes do Pantanal: manual de identificação. 2ª ed. Brasília: Embrapa Informação Tecnológica. 227 p.Printed work; the URL is the bibliographic record on FishBase, which cites this work for the species.
- scientific Ota, R. R.; Deprá, G. C.; Graça, W. J.; Pavanelli, C. S. (2018). Peixes da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná e áreas adjacentes: revised, annotated and updated. Neotropical Ichthyology 16(2): e170094.Annotated list of species of the upper Paraná River, indicating native and non-native ones. Open access; species name checked in the text.
