Prochilodus lacustris
The curimatã of the Parnaíba and Mearim rivers, in Piauí and Maranhão. A spawning-run fish (piracema) and mud eater, very common on riverside tables.
Also called: curimatã, curimatá, curimatã-do-parnaíba
Prochilodus species from the Parnaíba (PI and MA) and Mearim (MA) basins, a relative of the curimbatá do Sul and the curimatãs of the São Francisco and eastern Northeast. It eats mud and organic matter from the bottom, scraping rocks and logs with thick lips, and forms shoals that run upriver to spawn at the start of the rains, in the piracema. FishBase records up to 34 cm standard length and 1.1 kg. In recreational fishing it is caught in numbers with dough and plant baits on small hooks, and it fights well for its size. It is protected by the piracema closures of the Parnaíba and the Maranhão rivers.
Tall, silvery body, rough scales, suction mouth with thick lips and rows of small teeth, facing forward. Dorsal and tail with dark spots or bands, as in other curimatãs. Told apart by area: it is the curimatã of the Parnaíba and the Maranhão rivers; the curimatã-comum (P. brevis) lives in the rivers of the eastern Northeast, the curimatã-pacu (P. argenteus) in the São Francisco and the curimatã (P. nigricans) in the Amazon.
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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.
Parnaíba River (Piauí and Maranhão) and Mearim River (Maranhão) basins.
Habitat: Rivers, backwater lagoons and farm ponds (açudes); banks with mud, rocks and logs.
native to the basins
states
Piauí, Maranhão
Outside the spawning run (piracema), from mid to late dry season, with fish concentrated in pools and lagoons. During the piracema shoals run upriver to spawn and fishing closes.
Daytime. Feeds by day, scraping the bottom; more active early and late in the afternoon in heat.
Little relevance in the Northeast.
Little effect.
Little known effect.
The first rains trigger the upstream run to spawn.
In the dry season it stays in pools, lagoons and açudes.
Moderate; the shoal is spooked by noise.
Little effect.
Mid-water and bottom, 0.5 to 3 m.
natural baits
accessories
Small dough bait near the bottom, where the shoal is scraping. The bite is subtle: use a sensitive float.
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 of threatened species (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026). Other curimatãs on the list: Prochilodus britskii, P. harttii and P. vimboides.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
Allowed: Recreational fishing from a boat or from shore with handline, rod, spinning or baitcasting reel, up to 5 kg + 1 fish per day. Prohibited within 1,500 m of dams, waterfalls and rapids. Competitions prohibited.
Source: IN MMA nº 40/2005
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
Handles quick handling well. Wet your hands and release it quickly.
Tasty flesh with bones; roasted, fried or in fish stew.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02138, b = 2.99; 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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