Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
The largest catfish in the Amazon. Juveniles are called filhote; adults exceed 100 kg and are Brazil's great trophy catfish.
Also called: piraíba, filhote (jovem)
The piraíba is the largest leather catfish in South America. Juveniles, with lighter, spotted skin, are called filhote and have very prized flesh. Adults live in deep pools of large rivers, below rapids and waterfalls, and eat whole fish. The species makes long migrations: it spawns in the headwaters, and larvae and juveniles drift down to the Amazon estuary to grow. Dams and intense fishing of the young are the main threats. In sport fishing, a fight with an adult can last over an hour and requires heavy gear. The largest should be released.
Huge catfish with a broad, flattened head, dark grey to nearly black back and pale belly. Juveniles (filhote) are lighter, with dark spots, very long barbels and the upper tail lobe extended into a filament. The dourada has a golden body and grey head. The redtail catfish has a red tail and yellow band. The jau is thick, brown and mottled.
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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.
Amazon main channel and large tributaries, down to the estuary, and the Araguaia and Tocantins rivers. Adults sought in the Araguaia, Tocantins, Xingu, Tapajós, Teles Pires and Madeira rivers.
Habitat: Deep pools, channels and backwaters below rapids and waterfalls; juveniles in whitewater rivers and the estuary.
native to the basins
states
Amazonas, Pará, Amapá, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Rondônia, Acre, Roraima, Goiás, Maranhão
Dry season, June to October, concentrates the big fish in pools below rapids.
Night and twilight. Feeds most in late afternoon and at night, but in a deep pool it also bites during the day.
Moderate effect; the temperature at the bottom varies little.
Moderate effect.
Many anglers prefer dark nights, from new moon to waning moon.
Little effect.
Low water concentrates them in pools; repiquete can trigger feeding.
Moderate; avoid anchoring right over the pool.
Little effect.
Pool bottom, 5 to 30 m.
lures
natural baits
accessories
Let the piraíba take the bait, then tighten the drag. With a circle hook, don't set the hook; just reel in firmly.
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). Dams on the Madeira and Tocantins cut the migration route.
Until Dec 31, 2028, piraíba caught in rivers of Mato Grosso may not be transported, stored or sold. Recreational anglers may only practice catch and release.
Source: Lei estadual nº 12.434/2024 (MT), arts. 19-B and 19-C of Lei 9.096/2009
In Tocantins the filhote/piraíba may only be kept between 100 and 180 cm. Fish over 180 cm must go back into the water.
Source: Portaria NATURATINS/GABIN nº 47/2026 (annexes amended by Portaria nº 105/2026)
In Acre the piraíba is on the list of species with banned fishing from Nov 15 to Mar 15.
In the Madeira River basin in Rondônia, during the closed season from Nov 15 to Mar 15, filhote and dourada may only be caught if they measure over 65 cm without the head. Rondônia also issues its own ordinances: confirm with Sedam.
Annual closed season in AC for the species in Annex II: dourada, piraíba, pirapitinga, caparari, aruanã, jaraqui, mapará, sardine, matrinxã and pacu. On the Acre River, the closed season applies to all species (IN IBAMA 205/2008).
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007; IN IBAMA nº 205/2008 (Acre River)
Transport, storage and sale are fully prohibited for 5 years from Jan 1, 2024 for: cachara, caparari, dorado, jaú, matrinchã (Brycon spp.), pintado/surubim (Pseudoplatystoma spp.), piraíba, piraputanga, pirarara, arapaima (pirarucu), trairão and peacock bass (tucunaré, Cichla spp.). For recreational anglers: catch and release only. These 12 species may not even be eaten on site, since the 2 kg or 1 fish limit excludes the art. 19-B list. The law cites jaú as Zungaro zungaro; we also include the Pantanal jaú (Z. jahu) out of caution. The list may still change: § 2 (exotic and predatory species), § 3 (review through study) and the 3-year assessment planned for 2027. A TJMT news report of Jun 2, 2026 confirms the 12 prohibited species. The STF denied a preliminary injunction in the ADIs against the law in 2024; we found no merits ruling.
Catching, sale and transport of dorado (Salminus brasiliensis) and piraíba (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) are prohibited in Mato Grosso. The rule is permanent, added by Law 9.794/2012, and independent of Zero Transport.
Source: Lei estadual MT nº 9.096/2009, art. 17-A (Lei nº 9.794/2012)
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 47/2026, Annex I, as amended by Portaria nº 105/2026
Source: INIs MPA/MMA nº 12/2011 (Araguaia) and 13/2011 (Tocantins), minimum size annexes
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.
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.
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.
Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with on-site consumption. Subsistence: 5 kg + 1 fish. State rules may be stricter.
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
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
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
Allowed: Subsistence fishing only.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Allowed: See the exceptions in Portaria 48/2007 and the state rules for each bank.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Don't lift a large piraíba out of the water or by the gill cover. Keep it in the water alongside the boat, take the photo quickly and release it facing into the current until it swims off on its own.
The filhote has white, highly prized flesh, in fried steaks, stew or moqueca. Large, old fish accumulate more mercury: avoid eating them often.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00211527, b = 3.12; FishBase (bayesiano, espécie + forma do corpo da família); coeficiente a ajustado ao porte máximo registrado). 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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