brazilian menhaden
Brevoortia aurea
Fish of coastal schools in southern and southeastern Brazil, which filter plankton and have a commercial fishery. It is rarely hooked on a rod.
Also called: savelha, lacha, saraca, brazilian menhaden
- maximum
- 34 cm
who is the brazilian menhaden
Fish of the family Alosidae, up to 34 cm. It forms schools in coastal marine waters, from Rio de Janeiro to probably the mouth of the River Plate in Argentina. It is a filter feeder that eats mostly phytoplankton. It has a commercial fishery and is not prominent in sport fishing. It is a relative of the northern hemisphere menhadens, and the name savelha is the most used for it in Brazil. It lives in schools along the coast, between the waters of southeastern and southern Brazil, and is not a sport-fishing species.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the brazilian menhaden.
fun facts
- It feeds on phytoplankton, filtering water through its gills.
identification
Elongated, compressed silvery body, with visible scutes along the belly and a dark spot behind the gill opening, with no spots along the flank. The upper jaw has a notch in the middle, and the pelvic fin has a straight, oblique rear edge. It has no spines in the dorsal and anal fins.
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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.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
It occurs in the southwest Atlantic, in Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro southward, probably to the mouth of the River Plate in Argentina and Uruguay.
Habitat: Schools in coastal marine waters and on the continental shelf.
coast
rules for the brazilian menhaden
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 Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
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.
Harmless to anglers, with no dangerous spines or teeth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00468, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Brevoortia aurea (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Brevoortia aureaNames by country and language.
- 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)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.