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.
catalog
Cichlidae · predator
bigeye cichlid
Acaronia nassa
Big-eyed cichlid of the Amazon and the Guianas, which lives alone in streams of amber water and slow current. It shows up on the line and is also sold for the aquarium.
Also called: ciclídeo-olhudo, bigeye cichlid
- maximum
- 16 cm
- record/max.
- 0.2 kg
overview
who is the bigeye cichlid
The ciclídeo-olhudo (big-eyed cichlid) belongs to the family Cichlidae and reaches 16 cm and up to 190 g. It lives alone, in streams of amber water, slow current and mud bottom, at about one meter deep. It feeds on shrimp, aquatic insect larvae and small fish. Males are larger than females. The female guards the eggs, and the male defends the territory. It occurs in the Amazon basin, in the Negro and Branco rivers, in Amapá, and in the Oiapoque basin, in French Guiana, and the Essequibo basin, in Guyana. In fishing it turns up on the line now and then and is sold for the aquarium.
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 bigeye cichlid; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It was found together with other Amazonian cichlids, such as Pterophyllum scalare, Heros efasciatus, Hypselecara temporalis and Mesonauta guyanae.
how to recognize it
identification
Large eye, which gives the species its name. Body compressed sideways, like a cichlid's, with a spiny dorsal fin. To tell it apart from the acará (Cichlasoma bimaculatum), which occurs in the upper Branco River, look at the eye: the big-eyed cichlid has a large eye, while the acará has two dark spots on the flank.
how bigeye cichlid 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.
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.
distribution
open on the large map where found
Occurs in the Amazon of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil, in the Negro and Branco rivers, in Amapá, and also in the Oiapoque basin, in French Guiana, and the Essequibo basin, in Guyana.
Habitat: Shallow streams of amber water and slow current, with a mud bottom, at about one meter deep.
native to the basins
AmazonTocantins-AraguaiaWestern Northeast Atlantic
rules for the bigeye cichlid
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.
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 Maranhão basins
01/12 to 30/03MA
Allowed: Recreational fishing from a boat or from shore with handline or rod, up to 5 kg or 1 fish. Transport only within the municipality. Competitions prohibited.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 85/2003
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.
The dorsal fin has spines that can prick. Hold it by the body, carefully, and remove the hook quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0302, b = 3.06; 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.
- scientific FishBase: Acaronia nassa (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Acaronia nassaNames by country and language.
- 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)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
