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fishing forecast

cascudo-bicudo

Spectracanthicus murinus · Loricariidae · detritivore

Freshwateressential profile

Small armored catfish, up to 9.7 cm, endemic to Brazil and known from the Tapajós basin.

Also called: cascudo-bicudo, bicudo

Scientific illustration of Cascudo-bicudo
maximum
10 cm
location

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period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the cascudo-bicudo

overview

who is the cascudo-bicudo

The cascudo-bicudo belongs to the family Loricariidae, the armored catfish: small, elongated and covered in bony plates, with a suckermouth on the underside. It reaches 9.7 cm. It is endemic to Brazil and known from the Tapajós River basin. It lives on the bottom of freshwater rivers, in tropical waters. The species belongs to the genus Spectracanthicus, of Amazonian armored catfish, and is known by the common name bicudo. Being so small, it is not big enough for sport fishing.

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 cascudo-bicudo.

how to recognize it

identification

Small armored catfish with an elongated body covered in bony plates and a suckermouth on the underside. It reaches 9.7 cm. Being endemic to Brazil, its restriction to the Tapajós basin is the best aid to identifying it: it does not exist outside it.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Endemic to Brazil, known from the Tapajós River basin.

Habitat: Bottom of tropical freshwater rivers.

native to the basins

Amazon
what the law says

rules for the cascudo-bicudo

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.

Not dangerous. It is small and has plates on the body: handle it carefully, holding it by the trunk, and return it to the water quickly.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01096, 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: Spectracanthicus murinus (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 Spectracanthicus murinusNames 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.