Galeocharax gulo
The humpbacked toothy fish of the upper Paraná and Tocantins-Araguaia reservoirs. Small, aggressive, and a good target for light artificial lures.
Also called: saicanga, peixe-cadela, dentudo, cacunda, peixe-cachorro
A predatory fish with an arched back and a large toothed mouth, which hunts small fish in reservoirs, eddies and rivers. Until 2017 the upper Paraná population was called Galeocharax knerii; the genus revision merged that form with G. gulo, which also occurs in the Tocantins-Araguaia, the Amazon (except the Negro and Xingu rivers) and the Orinoco. It does not occur in the São Francisco basin. It is common in reservoirs in São Paulo, Minas and Paraná, where it attacks small spoons, spinners and lambari. Small, but it fights well on ultralight tackle.
Tall body with an arched back just behind the head (humpbacked), silvery to yellowish, with a silver stripe along the flank. Dark spot behind the head, oval and elongated vertically. Transparent fins and a very long anal fin. Large toothed mouth. The peixe-cachorro is longer and has a horizontal tail spot.
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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.
Upper Paraná, Tocantins-Araguaia and Amazon basin (except the Negro and Xingu rivers); outside Brazil, the Orinoco. Does not occur in the São Francisco.
Habitat: Reservoirs, eddies and river banks; mid-water near lambari schools.
native to the basins
states
São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Pará, Amazonas
Spring and summer; in southeastern winter it eats little.
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Hunts by day, peaking at dawn and dusk.
Strong cold shuts down activity.
A cold front shuts down biting.
Little effect.
Murky water hampers visual hunting.
Little effect in reservoirs.
Moderately sensitive.
Light chop helps.
Mid-water, 1 to 4 m.
lures
natural baits
accessories
Look for lambari schools in the reservoir: the saicanga is nearby. Fast retrieve with pauses.
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 Tocantins the saicanga (Galeocharax gulo) may only be kept at 12 cm or longer. In TO recreational anglers may not transport fish until Feb 28, 2029, except one native fish; they may eat up to 3 kg on site (Portaria Naturatins 44/2026).
Source: Portaria Naturatins nº 47/2026, Annex I, as amended by Portaria nº 105/2026
Allowed: Recreational fishing only for non-native species and hybrids (peacock bass, tilapia, black bass, carp, croaker, etc.; piauçu remains prohibited), with handline, simple pole, or rod with spinning or baitcasting reel, up to 10 kg + 1 fish. In rivers, from shore only; in reservoirs, from a boat or from shore. Prohibited: floodplain lakes, aquatic-animal bait, within 1,500 m of dams and waterfalls, and within 500 m of confluences. Tournaments only in reservoirs and only with non-native species.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 25/2009
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: 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
Remove the treble hook with pliers and release quickly; it loses scales easily.
Small, bony fish; fried whole.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00912, b = 3.2; 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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