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fishing forecast

bagre-coriáceo

Trachelyopterus coriaceus · Auchenipteridae · omnivore

Freshwateressential profile

Small catfish from coastal rivers of Guyana and Brazil, and from the Amazon basin. It reaches 18 cm, is uncommon in catches, and has commercial and aquarium use.

Also called: bagre-coriáceo, bagre

Scientific illustration of Bagre-coriáceo
maximum
18 cm
record/max.
0.0 kg
location

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period

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the species

everything about the bagre-coriáceo

overview

who is the bagre-coriáceo

The bagre-coriáceo is of the family Auchenipteridae and reaches 18 cm, weighing up to 40 g. It occurs in coastal rivers of the Guianas and Brazil and also in the Amazon basin, in fresh water, near the bottom. The specimens caught came from swamps and tidal stretches of the rivers. It is uncommon in catches, partly because it is confused with another catfish from the same area and because, without spines, it is hard to catch in nets. It has commercial and aquarium use.

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 bagre-coriáceo; in the meantime, see the similar species.

how to recognize it

identification

Small catfish with smooth, leathery skin, as the scientific name coriaceus suggests, and no fin spines. It lives in the same swamps and tidal stretches as Trachelyopterus galeatus, with which it is easily confused. The lack of spines helps tell it apart from other catfish of similar size.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Coastal rivers of the Guianas and Brazil and the Amazon basin, in fresh water.

Habitat: Swamps and tidal stretches of rivers, near the bottom.

native to the basins

Amazon
what the law says

rules for the bagre-coriáceo

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.

piracema closures in the basins where the species lives

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.

Source: IN Interministerial MAPA/MMA nº 10/2017; Resolução Cepesca-MT nº 1/2026; Lei estadual MT nº 9.096/2009, arts. 19-A and 27 (Leis 12.434/2024 and 13.159/2025)

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

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.

Small fish with no spines: take the hook out carefully and release it.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00891, b = 3.03; 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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Trachelyopterus coriaceus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Trachelyopterus coriaceusNames by country and language.
  3. 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.
don't confuse

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