Prochilodus brevis
The curimatã of the rivers and dams of the Northeast. A net and cast-net fish of the sertão, found in markets from Ceará to Paraíba.
Also called: curimatã, curimatá, curimatã-comum, curimbatá
A smaller curimatã, typical of coastal rivers and the semi-arid dams of the Northeast. It eats mud and detritus and breeds in the rainy season, when the rivers run again and the dams fill. It is one of the most valuable species in artisanal dam fishing, along with tilapia, pescada and trahira, and it was widely studied by DNOCS in dams such as Pereira de Miranda, in Pentecoste (CE). On the hook it is caught rarely, with dough and a small hook over groundbait. In inland markets it is sold fresh and salted.
Tall, silver body with fine dark lines formed by the scale edges. Fleshy sucker mouth. Greyish fins, without strong bands. It is the only Prochilodus in the coastal rivers of the eastern Northeast; the larger curimatã-pacu is from the São Francisco.
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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.
Small and medium coastal rivers of the eastern Northeast and semi-arid dams, such as those on the Jaguaribe (CE), Piranhas-Açu (RN/PB) and Apodi.
Habitat: Dams, intermittent and perennial rivers, slack water with muddy bottoms.
native to the basins
states
Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco
famous destinations
Available all year in the dams. In the rains (February to May in Ceará) the schools move to spawn, and there is a closed season for nets.
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Feeds during the day; most active early and late in the afternoon.
Little effect from the Northeast's climate.
Little effect.
Little known effect.
The first rains and rising rivers trigger spawning.
A low dam concentrates the fish; a full dam spreads it out.
Sinks with movement along the bank.
Strong wind on a large dam hinders float fishing.
Bottom, 1 to 4 m.
natural baits
accessories
Groundbait the spot one day ahead and use soft dough with a small hook hidden in it.
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 the Ceará basins, mesh gear and trade in curimatã (and in piau, sardinha, branquinha, piaba and tambaqui) are prohibited from Feb 1 to Apr 30. Angling with a handline or pole is outside the ban.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 04/2008
The curimatã is on the closed-season list for the Rio Grande do Norte basins, from Dec 1 to Feb 28. We did not check the angler exceptions in the text of the rule: confirm with Ibama.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 209/2008
The curimatã is on the closed-season list for the Paraíba basins, from Dec 1 to Feb 28. We did not check the angler exceptions in the text of the rule: confirm with Ibama.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 210/2008
Allowed: Recreational fishing with handline or rod is outside the prohibition.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 04/2008
Delicate mouth: remove the hook carefully and release it quickly.
Tasty meat with bones. Fried, grilled or in caldeirada; widely sold salted in the sertão.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01514, b = 3.0; 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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