Pygocentrus piraya
The largest piranha there is, native to the São Francisco. Yellow-orange belly, razor teeth and a strong fight on medium tackle.
Also called: piranha, piranha-amarela, piranha-caju, piranha-rodoleira, chupita
Considered the largest piranha, Pygocentrus piraya is native to the São Francisco basin and common in oxbow lagoons and reservoirs. In the Barragem da Pedra reservoir, on the Contas River (BA), its diet was dominated by fins, fish and shrimp. It attacks meat, fish and artificial lures in groups and cuts line easily. Outside its home basin it was moved to Northeast reservoirs, with records in the Jaguaribe River (CE) since the 1960s, and Goiás rules list it as allochthonous in the Paranaíba. In sport fishing it can exceed 3 kg.
Tall, sturdy body, greenish-grey back and silvery flank with golden reflections; belly, throat and lower fins yellow-orange. Short, blunt snout, projecting lower jaw and sharp triangular teeth. The São Francisco pirambeba (Serrasalmus brandtii) is smaller, flatter and has a more pointed snout.
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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.
Native to the São Francisco basin, including the large reservoirs. Also recorded in the Contas River (BA), the Jaguaribe (CE) and, as an allochthonous species, in the Paranaíba in Goiás.
Habitat: Eddies, oxbow lagoons, reservoir shores and submerged timber; schools in mid-water.
native to the basins
introduced in
states
Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Ceará, Goiás
Active in the warm months, September to March; slows down in the depths of winter.
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Active by day, with more attacks early and in late afternoon.
Cold water makes the school sluggish.
Little effect.
Little effect.
Little effect.
Low water concentrates schools in pools and lagoons.
Not very sensitive; noise in the water may even attract them.
Little effect.
Mid-water, 0.5 to 4 m.
lures
natural baits
accessories
Long-shank hook and wire leader. Never put your hand near the mouth.
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).
In the Paranaíba basin in Goiás, piranha caju (Pygocentrus piraya) is in Annex II of the state rule, which lists allochthonous species with free capture and transport.
Source: IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, art. 5º and Annex II (exotic, allochthonous and hybrid species)
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)
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: 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
Allowed: No fishing in the floodplain lakes during the period.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 50/2007
Use long-nose pliers and a lip grip. Release quickly, keeping your hand away from the mouth.
White, tasty flesh with bones; broth and fried fish are traditional.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02239, b = 3.14; FishBase). 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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