Prochilodus nigricans
The curimbatá of the Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia. A major migrant, the base of commercial fishing and food for peacock bass, pirarara and surubim.
Also called: curimatã, curimatá, curimba, papa-terra, grumatã, curimbatá-da-amazônia
A mud and detritus eater, the curimatã is one of the most fished species in the Amazon basin and the Tocantins-Araguaia. It lives in schools that make long migrations: they run up the rivers to spawn at the start of the flood and then spread into flooded areas to feed. In the dry season the schools gather in channels and lake mouths, and that is where large predators follow them. On the hook, it is caught with dough and a small hook, over groundbait; once hooked, it makes strong runs. It is sold fresh and salted throughout the region and is increasingly raised in ponds.
Sturdy, deep body, silver to grey, with dark-edged scales forming fine lines on the flank. Fleshy sucker mouth. Grey dorsal and caudal fins with faint dark spots, without the bold bands of the jaraquís. Very similar to the southern curimbatá (Prochilodus lineatus); the separation is mostly by the basin where it was caught.
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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.
The whole Amazon basin and the Tocantins-Araguaia: white and clear-water rivers, várzea lakes and reservoirs such as Tucuruí.
Habitat: Muddy bottom of várzea lakes, slack water, channels and lake mouths; rapids and river channel during migration.
native to the basins
states
Amazonas, Pará, Amapá, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Goiás, Maranhão
Best in falling water and the dry season (July to November across most of Amazonia), with the fish concentrated in the channels. In the piracema (spawning closure), from November to February, the fish run upriver to spawn and fishing is regulated.
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Feeds during the day, stirring the bottom; schools move earlier and in the late afternoon.
Cold snaps (friagem) leave the school still on the bottom.
Little effect.
Little known effect.
The first heavy rains and the rising river trigger the migration.
Falling water concentrates the school in channels and lake mouths.
Tolerant, but the school sinks when a motor is nearby.
Little effect.
Bottom, 1 to 6 m.
natural baits
accessories
Soft dough in the feeder, with small hooks hidden in the dough. Set the hook gently: the mouth is weak.
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).
In PA and AP the curimatã (Prochilodus nigricans) is in Annex II of the ordinance, with fishing prohibited from Nov 15 to Mar 15. Under art. 2 of the ordinance, anglers fishing with a handline or pole, line and hook are exempt from this ban, unless a stricter state rule applies; during the period the angler's limit is 5 kg + 1 fish.
In the rivers of Marajó Island, curimatã is on the fishing ban list from Jan 1 to Apr 30. Under art. 2 of the ordinance, anglers fishing with a handline or pole, line and hook are exempt from this ban, unless a stricter state rule applies; during the period the angler's limit is 5 kg + 1 fish.
The MT law sets 30 cm for the curimbatá Prochilodus nigricans in the Amazon and Araguaia-Tocantins basins (Annex II) and 35 cm in Annex IV, specific to the Araguaia-Tocantins: the larger size applies there. In MT, anglers may only kill for consumption on site (up to 2 kg or 1 fish, art. 19-C); the rule applies to that kill.
In Tocantins the curimatã (papa-terra, curimba) may only be kept between 25 and 40 cm. In TO anglers may not transport fish until Feb 28, 2029, except 1 native fish; they may consume up to 3 kg on site (Naturatins Ordinance 44/2026).
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 47/2026, Annex I, as amended by Portaria nº 105/2026
Above 40 cm the curimatã must be returned to the water in Tocantins.
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 47/2026, Annex I, as amended by Portaria nº 105/2026
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.
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 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.
Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with on-site consumption. Subsistence: 5 kg + 1 fish. State rules may be stricter.
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
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
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
Allowed: Subsistence fishing only.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Allowed: See the exceptions in Portaria 48/2007 and the state rules for each bank.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Delicate mouth: remove the hook carefully and release quickly, holding the fish horizontally.
Fatty, tasty meat with many bones. Grilled over coals, in thin fried steaks, salted or smoked.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01862, b = 2.97; FishBase). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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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.
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