Size window in Tocantins
20 cm (maximum 45 cm)TOTocantins-Araguaia
In Tocantins the white pescada may only be kept between 20 and 45 cm.
Source: Portaria NATURATINS/GABIN nº 47/2026 (annexes amended by Portaria nº 105/2026)
catalog
Sciaenidae · predator
south american silver croaker
Plagioscion squamosissimus
Freshwater
Freshwater croaker from the Amazon and Parnaíba, now common in reservoirs of the Paraná and the Northeast. Bites well in the afternoon and at night.
Also called: pescada, pescada-branca, corvina de água doce, curvina
- common size
- 25–45 cm
- maximum
- 80 cm
- common weight
- 0.4–1.5 kg
- record/max.
- 4.5 kg
- depth
- 2–20 m
- ideal water
- 24–30 °C
overview
who is the south american silver croaker
The pescada-do-piauí is a freshwater croaker, a relative of the sea pescadas. It is native to the Amazon, Araguaia-Tocantins and Parnaíba basins, and was introduced to Northeastern reservoirs and to the Paraná and São Francisco reservoirs, where it adapted very well. It lives in open, deep water near the bottom and hunts shrimp and small fish, mostly in late afternoon and at night. It forms schools over rocky stretches, channels and reservoir headwaters. It produces a grunting sound with its swim bladder. It is a popular food fish and fun on light tackle, with natural bait or jigs.
fun facts
- Makes an audible grunt with its swim bladder, especially during spawning.
- It has large otoliths, the "stones" of the head typical of croakers.
how to recognize it
identification
Elongated, silvery body, greyish back and two dorsal fins, the first with spines. Dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Lateral line extending onto the tail, which is pointed. Large, oblique mouth. The sea croaker has small chin barbels and oblique stripes. The yellow pescada lives in the sea and estuaries, much larger and yellowish in tone.
how south american silver croaker fishing looks
Loading the next 7 days…
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
open on the large map where found
Native to the Amazon, Araguaia-Tocantins and Parnaíba. Introduced into reservoirs in the Northeast and into Paraná reservoirs (Tietê, Grande, Paranapanema, Itaipu) and the São Francisco.
Habitat: Open water and channels of rivers and reservoirs, rocky stretches and deep submerged brush piles, reservoir headwaters.
native to the basins
AmazonTocantins-AraguaiaParnaíbaWestern Northeast Atlantic
introduced in
ParanáSão FranciscoEastern Northeast AtlanticEast Atlantic
states
Amazonas, Pará, Amapá, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Bahia, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Sergipe, Alagoas
when to fish
best season
time of yearbest: Sep–Dec
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
In Southeastern reservoirs, spring and summer produce more. In the Amazon, the dry season concentrates schools in channels.
best time of day
Night and twilight. Best from late afternoon into the night; by day it bites on the bottom, in channels and rocky stretches.
what affects the south american silver croaker
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
A cold front on a reservoir greatly reduces activity.
atmospheric pressure
Stable pressure helps.
moon
Full-moon nights tend to produce at the surface of reservoirs.
rain
Little effect.
water level
In the Amazon, a falling river concentrates fish in channels.
noise
Moderate.
wind
Strong wind makes it harder to control the lure on the bottom.
depth
3 to 15 m by day; rises at night.
how to fish
- rod
- 6'0'', medium action, 10 to 20 lb
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- spinning reel 2500 to 3000 or baitcasting reel 100
- line
- braid 15 to 20 lb or mono 0.30 mm
- leader
- fluorocarbon 20 to 25 lb
- hook
- 1/0 to 3/0
lures
- jig head with silicone shad
- feather jig 1/4 to 1/2 oz
- skirted mid-water lure
- colher
natural baits
- live lambari or tuvira
- shrimp
- minhocuçu
accessories
- alicate
- sonar to find schools
tip from an angler
Find the school on the sonar and work the jig vertically, with short taps near the bottom.
ready-made kit
peacock bass in reservoirs (southeast and center-west)
Boat fishing in large reservoirs in SP, MG, GO, MS and PR, where blue and yellow peacock bass were introduced. Clear water, pressured fish and plenty of submerged structure.
guidebasic sonar: how to read the fishfinder
Understand how sonar sees underwater, what each mark on the screen means, and how to adjust the unit to find bottom, structure and fish.
rules for the south american silver croaker
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). Non-native in the Paraná, São Francisco and eastern Northeast basins.
Closed season in the Madeira (RO)
fishing banned15/11 to 15/03ROAmazon
In the Madeira River basin in Rondônia, pescada is on the list of species with fishing banned from Nov 15 to Mar 15.
Amazon basin closed season in Rondônia
15/11 to 15/03ROAmazon
On the Madeira River, the closed season protects pescada, surubim, caparari, pirapitinga and jatuarana. In the Guaporé-Mamoré sub-basin it applies to all species, except those listed in the rule.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Minimum size: 30 cm (max. 40 cm)
GOTocantins-Araguaia
Source: IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, Annex I, Araguaia-Tocantins basin (on-site consumption only; zero transport)
Minimum size: 20 cm (max. 45 cm)
TOTocantins-Araguaia
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 47/2026, Annex I, as amended by Portaria nº 105/2026
Minimum size: 32 cm
GOTOPAMAMTTocantins-Araguaia
Source: INIs MPA/MMA nº 12/2011 (Araguaia) and 13/2011 (Tocantins), minimum size annexes
piracema closures in the basins where the species lives
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.
Spawning closure (piracema) in Mato Grosso (all basins)
01/10 to 31/01MT
Allowed: All fishing modalities are prohibited in rivers, including catch and release (Law 9.096/2009, art. 19-A). Exceptions: subsistence fishing from shore (3 kg or 1 fish, no transport or sale) and scientific fishing. Law 13.159/2025 now allows licensed sport fishing in UHE/PCH hydropower reservoirs, natural lakes and border rivers, subject to a scientific study and a license from the environmental agency. We have not confirmed whether these licenses are already being issued.
Spawning closure (piracema) in the Araguaia River basin
01/11 to 28/02GOTOPAMT
Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with handline, rod, or spinning or baitcasting reel. Fish may only be eaten on site, not transported. Competitions prohibited. Subsistence: 3 kg + 1 fish. State rules (GO and TO) may be stricter.
Spawning closure (piracema) in the Tocantins and Gurupi river basins
01/11 to 28/02TOPAMAGO
Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with on-site consumption. Subsistence: 5 kg + 1 fish. State rules may be stricter.
Spawning closure (piracema) in Tocantins (state rule)
01/11 to 28/02TO
Allowed: In 2025/26: catch and release with barbless hooks and recreational fishing card; subsistence fishing on foot or from a rowboat, with simple pole or handline.
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 244/2025 (2025/26 season); INIs MPA/MMA nº 12 and 13/2011
Spawning closure (piracema) in the Parnaíba River basin
15/11 to 16/03PIMACE
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
Closed season in the Maranhão basins
01/12 to 30/03MA
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
Closed season in the rivers of Marajó Island (PA)
01/01 to 30/04PA
Allowed: The same recreational-angler exceptions as in Portaria 48/2007 apply (handline or rod, 5 kg + 1 fish), unless a stricter state rule applies.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Closed season in the Amazon basin in Amapá
15/11 to 15/03AP
Allowed: Recreational anglers with handline or rod, line and hook are outside the Annex II prohibitions, with a bag limit of 5 kg + 1 fish, unless a stricter state rule applies.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Closed season in Roraima
01/03 to 30/06RR
Allowed: Subsistence fishing only.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Border rivers MT/RO and MT/PA
05/11 to 28/02MTROPA
Allowed: See the exceptions in Portaria 48/2007 and the state rules for each bank.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
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.
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.
A fish hauled up from depth can suffer decompression; release it quickly. Where it is non-native, keeping it for food is a good option.
in the kitchen
White, soft, tasty flesh, as fried fillets, baked or in moqueca. Widely sold in markets in the North and Northeast.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00871, b = 3.08; FishBase (bayesiano, dados da espécie)). 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 — Plagioscion squamosissimus (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship and references. Page checked on October 13, 2026.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026 — Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)Most recent national list. The species is not on it (search by scientific name in the text published in the DOU, checked on October 13, 2026).
- official ICMBio/SALVE — Ficha de Plagioscion squamosissimus (avaliação nacional do risco de extinção)ICMBio national assessment, published in 2025. DOI checked on Crossref.
- scientific IUCN Red List — Plagioscion squamosissimus (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 30/07/2019)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
- scientific Casatti, L. (2005). Revision of the South American freshwater genus Plagioscion (Teleostei, Perciformes, Sciaenidae). Zootaxa 1080: 39–64.
- scientific Ota, R. R.; Deprá, G. C.; Graça, W. J.; Pavanelli, C. S. (2018). Peixes da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná e áreas adjacentes: revised, annotated and updated. Neotropical Ichthyology 16(2): e170094.Annotated list of species of the upper Paraná River, indicating native and non-native ones. Open access; species name checked in the text.
