A catfish endemic to the São Francisco basin, with a short, flattened body and a very broad head that looks like a toad's. It sits motionless on sand and stone bottoms, camouflaged, and swallows fish that pass within reach of its mouth. It is listed nationally as Vulnerable, and the IEF-MG table already listed it as Vulnerable in the 2014 list. For that reason, capture, transport and sale of wild specimens are prohibited. It is raised in fish farms, and farmed fish with a license are not covered by the ban. If you hook one by accident, release it immediately.
fun facts
Lophiosilurus means catfish resembling the anglerfish (Lophius).
The species is raised in fish farms, including for reproduction studies and restocking.
how to recognize it
identification
Huge, flattened head, wider than the body, very large mouth with a projecting lower jaw and small eyes on top of the head. Smooth skin, brown to grey, with irregular dark blotches that mimic the bottom. Short barbels. No other catfish in the São Francisco has this toad shape.
how pacamã 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.
Endemic to the São Francisco basin, in Minas Gerais and in the middle and lower parts of the river.
Habitat: Sand, gravel and stone bottoms in rivers and reservoirs; it lies buried or against cover.
native to the basins
São Francisco
states
Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe
calendar and clock
when to fish
best season
time of year
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
No season: fishing for this species is prohibited. The weights are only there to alert bottom anglers that it may turn up.
best time of day
Nighttime. Ambush predator, most active at night.
weather, water and behavior
what affects the pacamã
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
Cold reduces activity.
atmospheric pressure
Little known effect.
moon
Little known effect.
rain
Little effect.
water level
Little known effect.
noise
Not very sensitive; it stays put on the bottom.
wind
Little effect.
depth
Bottom, 1 to 8 m.
technique, gear and bait
how to fish
rod
not applicable: capture prohibited
spinning / baitcasting reel
not applicable
line
not applicable
leader
not applicable
hook
A circle hook without a barb helps release it unharmed if it bites by accident.
accessories
long-nose pliers for release
tip from an angler
If you fish the bottom on the São Francisco with natural bait, it may bite. Cut the line close to the hook if it is deep and return the fish without taking it out of the water.
what the law says
rules for the pacamã
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: Threatened species already listed before 2026: capture, transport and trade prohibited (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026, art. 3). Global IUCN assessment: Vulnerable (VU). Caught it by accident? Release it immediately.
Vulnerable species: capture prohibited
capture, transport, storage and trade prohibitedSão Francisco
Pacamã is listed nationally as Vulnerable (VU). VU, EN and CR species have full protection: capture, transport, storage and trade are prohibited. Specimens from licensed aquaculture are not covered by the ban, and a fish caught by accident must be released alive on the spot. The IEF-MG size table still shows 40 cm, with a note that the species is Vulnerable: the national ban applies.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Mandatory. Do not take it out of the water: cut the line close to the hook if it is deep and let the fish go.
in the kitchen
Not applicable: capture in the wild is prohibited.
calculator
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01148, 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.
