The bicuda-dourada belongs to the family Ctenoluciidae, with an elongated body and a long snout full of teeth. It reaches 43 cm standard length and up to 640 g. It occurs in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, in Brazil and Venezuela. It lives in midwater, in tropical waters of 23 to 27 degrees, with a pH between 6 and 7.2. It is a fish predator, like other bicudas. In fishing it has commercial use and is also displayed in public aquariums.
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 golden pike-characin; in the meantime, see the similar species.
how to recognize it
identification
The base of the dorsal fin lies well ahead of the anal fin line, which separates it from almost all bicudas, except the bicuda (Boulengerella cuvieri). It has a dark spot on the tail fin and pigment on the body, which help tell it apart from the bicuda. It reaches 43 cm.
how golden pike-characin fishing looks
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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.
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.
Occurs in Brazil and Venezuela, in the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
Habitat: Amazonian and Orinoco rivers, in midwater.
native to the basins
Amazon
what the law says
rules for the golden pike-characin
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 Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
piracema closures in the basins where the species lives
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.
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.
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.
It has sharp teeth in its snout. Hold it behind the head and take the hook out carefully.
calculator
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00372, b = 3.17; 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
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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.
