catalog Prochilodontidae · detritivore

curimatã-pacu

Prochilodus argenteus

Freshwater

Brazil's largest curimatã, endemic to the São Francisco. A piracema fish from Três Marias and food for the dorado and surubim.

Also called: curimatã-pacu, curimatá-pacu, curimatã, grumatã, xira

forecast for curimatã-pacu where found

Scientific illustration of Curimatã-pacu

common size: 35–55 cm
maximum: 60 cm
common weight: 1–3.5 kg
record/max.: 6.8 kg
depth: 0.5–8 m
ideal water: 24–30 °C

overview

who is the curimatã-pacu

Found only in the São Francisco basin, the curimatã-pacu is the largest in its family and exceeds 6 kg. It eats mud and organic matter from the bottom and forms large migratory schools that run upriver to spawn at the start of the rains. It is one of the most important species in the river's commercial fishing, alongside the curimatã-pioa. Studies at Três Marias showed that, inside the reservoir, the species' breeding process collapses: like other migrants, it depends on stretches of free-flowing river to spawn. On the hook, it is caught with dough and a small hook, over groundbait; it fights hard and needs a well-set drag.

fun facts

It is the largest member of the family Prochilodontidae.
The species' breeding studies were done in the São Francisco river just below the Três Marias dam and inside the reservoir.

how to recognize it

identification

Tall, silver body with a bluish back and dark-edged scales forming fine lines. Sucker mouth. It grows larger and has a taller body than the curimatã-pioa (Prochilodus costatus), which shares the river with it. In the São Francisco, a sucker-mouthed fish over 40 cm is almost always curimatã-pacu.

how curimatã-pacu 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.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Endemic to the São Francisco basin, from the upper river in Minas Gerais to the lower course. FishBase records introductions in rivers of the Northeast.

Habitat: River channel, slack water with muddy bottoms, oxbow lakes and reservoirs; rapids during migration.

native to the basins

São Francisco

introduced in

Eastern Northeast Atlantic

states

Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe

famous destinations

São Francisco River — Ibotirama

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of yearbest: Oct–Nov

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Concentrated at the start of the rains, when the river rises to spawn (the piracema, a spawning closure, runs from November to February). Otherwise it is good on groundbait in the warm months.

best time of day

Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Feeds during the day on the bottom; schools move most early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the curimatã-pacu
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Strong cold keeps the fish still on the bottom.

atmospheric pressure

Little effect.

moon

Little known effect.

rain

The first heavy spring rains trigger the migration.

water level

A rising river pulls the school upriver.

noise

Tolerant, but it sinks with a motor nearby.

wind

Little effect.

depth

Bottom, 1 to 6 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Natural bait on the bottom Natural bait with float Fishing pond

rod: 6' to 7', medium action, 12 to 25 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: spinning reel 3000 to 4000
line: monofilament 0.30 to 0.40 mm
leader: optional
hook: #1 to 2/0, short shank

natural baits

flour dough and cornmeal
bread dough
feed dough

accessories

spring feeder for dough
bran chum

tip from an angler

Steady groundbait at the same spot and firm dough. Big fish: set the drag before you start.

what the law says

rules for the curimatã-pacu

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).

MG: minimum 40 cm

40 cmMGSão Francisco

Minimum size for the curimatã-pacu in Minas Gerais (the IEF table cites Prochilodus marggravii, the former name of P. argenteus).

Source: Portaria IEF-MG nº 111/2003 (IEF minimum size table)

piracema closures in the basins where the species lives

Spawning closure (piracema) in Minas Gerais (state rule)

01/11 to 28/02MG

Allowed: Only exotic or hybrid species, 3 kg + 1 fish per day, with handline, rod, simple pole, or spinning or baitcasting reel. Nets prohibited. Keep the minimum distances from dams and reservoirs.

Source: Portarias IEF nº 154/2011 (São Francisco), 155/2011 (East) and 156/2011 (Grande/Paranaíba)

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.

Source: IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, arts. 8º to 11

Spawning closure (piracema) in the São Francisco River basin (rivers and reservoirs)

01/11 to 28/02MGBAPEALSEGODF

Allowed: Recreational fishing from a boat or from shore with handline, rod, spinning or baitcasting reel, up to 5 kg + 1 fish. Prohibited within 1,000 m of dams, waterfalls and rapids, and within 500 m of confluences. Floodplain lakes have a longer closed season (see next item).

Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 50/2007

São Francisco: floodplain lakes

01/11 to 30/04MGBAPEALSEGODF

Allowed: No fishing in the floodplain lakes during the period.

Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 50/2007

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.

Heavy fish with a delicate mouth: use a landing net, support the belly and release it quickly.

in the kitchen

Fatty, tasty meat with bones. Whole, grilled over coals or in fried steaks.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.01445, b = 2.97; FishBase). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

—

sources and references

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.