guapote
Parachromis dovii
The largest cichlid in Central America, an aggressive predator of lakes and rivers in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It attacks crankbaits and mid-water lures along logs and rocks.
Also called: guapote, guapote-lagunero, wolf cichlid, rainbow bass
- common size
- 30–50 cm
- maximum
- 72 cm
- common weight
- 0.8–3 kg
- record/max.
- 6.8 kg
- depth
- 0.5–10 m
- ideal water
- 25–30 °C
who is the guapote
A predatory cichlid over 70 cm and 6 kg, the largest in Central America. It lives in lakes, reservoirs and rivers of lowland and mid-elevation areas on both slopes, from Honduras to Costa Rica. It ambushes prey along logs, rocks and banks and eats mostly fish, plus crustaceans and insects. It digs burrows in the bottom, where the pair guards its eggs and young. It is a classic sport fishing target in lakes such as Arenal in Costa Rica and Lake Nicaragua. It fights hard and tries to return to its burrow, so tackle must hold the first run. It has also been tested as a tilapia control in ponds.
fun facts
- It is a digger: the pair dig burrows in the bottom and guard eggs and young.
- It has been studied as a predator to control excess tilapia in farms.
identification
Tall, robust body, large mouth with a projecting lower jaw and canine teeth. Juveniles and females have a horizontal dark stripe and spots; adult males are green-gold to yellowish, covered in dark spots, with long, pointed fins. The tiger guapote (Parachromis managuensis) is smaller and has a band of large black blotches on the flank.
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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.
where found
Does not occur in Brazil. Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica: Atlantic slope from the Aguán River (Honduras) to the Moín River (Costa Rica) and Pacific slope from the Yeguare River (Honduras) to the Bebedero River (Costa Rica). Includes Lake Nicaragua and the Arenal reservoir.
Habitat: Lakes, reservoirs and slow rivers; submerged logs, rocks, cut banks, vegetated edges and drop-offs.
when to fish
best season
Fished all year. Usually best in the dry season (December to April), with clearer water and stable lake levels.
best time of day
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Attacks by day, peaking at dawn and late afternoon near the banks; in strong sun it retreats to deeper cover.
what affects the guapote
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
Rare in the region; prolonged cold rains reduce activity.
atmospheric pressure
Stable weather helps.
moon
Small effect; during breeding the pair defends its burrow and strikes lures out of territoriality.
rain
Heavy rain muddies the banks and scatters fish.
water level
In a reservoir, stable levels and log-lined shores are best.
noise
Moderately sensitive; approach quietly near cover.
wind
Light wind on the rocky shore gathers small fish and helps.
depth
1 to 6 m near logs and rocks; drops deeper at midday.
how to fish
- rod
- 6' to 7', fast action, 12 to 25 lb
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- low-profile baitcasting reel or spinning reel 3000 to 4000
- line
- braid 20 to 30 lb
- leader
- fluorocarbon 25 to 30 lb (teeth and logs)
- hook
- reinforced treble hooks 1 to 2/0; single hooks 2/0 to 4/0 on live bait
lures
- medium-diving crankbait
- jerkbait 9 to 12 cm
- spinnerbait
- swimbait 10 cm
- popper at dawn
natural baits
- live baitfish, where permitted
accessories
- long-nose pliers
- boga-grip
- polarized glasses
tip from an angler
Tap the lure against the log or rock and stop: the guapote strikes as it moves off. Hold the first run firmly so it does not get back into its burrow.
rules for the guapote
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
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.
Hold it by the mouth with a lip grip (watch the teeth) and support the belly. Release it near the structure it came from.
in the kitchen
White, firm flesh, much prized in the region, as fillets or roasted.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02455, b = 3.09; FishBase). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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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.
- scientific FishBase — Parachromis dovii (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship, country list and references. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific IUCN Red List — Parachromis dovii (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 05/06/2019)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
- technical CABI Compendium — Parachromis dovii (wolf cichlid). (2019).Species data sheet. DOI checked in Crossref.
- scientific Valverde Moya (2025). Uso del guapote lagunero Parachromis dovii (Günther 1869) como biocontrol de la sobrepoblación de tilapia azul Oreochromis aureus. AquaTechnica 7(1): 39-51.DOI checked in Crossref.
- scientific Bussing, W. A. (1998). Peces de las aguas continentales de Costa Rica. 2ª ed. San José: Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica. 468 p.Printed work; the URL is the bibliographic record on FishBase, which cites this work for the species.