Skip to content
Illustration of Bigeye cichlid
fishing forecast

bigeye cichlid

Acaronia nassa · full profile

location

Sample location: choose yours to see the forecast for where you fish.

period

Loading the forecast…

the species

everything about the bigeye cichlid

how to recognize it

Large eye, which gives the species its name. Body compressed sideways, like a cichlid's, with a spiny dorsal fin. To tell it apart from the acará (Cichlasoma bimaculatum), which occurs in the upper Branco River, look at the eye: the big-eyed cichlid has a large eye, while the acará has two dark spots on the flank.

Also called: ciclídeo-olhudo, bigeye cichlid

don't confuse with:

We don't have tips on season, bait or technique for this species yet.

Where to look: Shallow streams of amber water and slow current, with a mud bottom, at about one meter deep.

Occurs in the Amazon of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil, in the Negro and Branco rivers, in Amapá, and also in the Oiapoque basin, in French Guiana, and the Essequibo basin, in Guyana.

native to the basins

AmazonTocantins-AraguaiaWestern Northeast Atlantic

rules for the bigeye cichlid

Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.

We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.

piracema and closed seasons

Each bar is the period when fishing is prohibited or restricted. The green line is today. Tap the name to see what is still allowed.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Closed season in Goiás (state rule)
01/11 to 28/02GO

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.

Source: IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, arts. 8º to 11

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)

Spawning closure (piracema) in the Araguaia River basin
01/11 to 28/02GOTOPAMT

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.

Source: IN Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 12/2011

Spawning closure (piracema) in the Tocantins and Gurupi river basins
01/11 to 28/02TOPAMAGO

Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with on-site consumption. Subsistence: 5 kg + 1 fish. State rules may be stricter.

Source: IN Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 13/2011

Spawning closure (piracema) in Tocantins (state rule)
01/11 to 28/02TO

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

Closed season in the Maranhão basins
01/12 to 30/03MA

Allowed: Recreational fishing from a boat or from shore with handline or rod, up to 5 kg or 1 fish. Transport only within the municipality. Competitions prohibited.

Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 85/2003

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

Closed season in Roraima
01/03 to 30/06RR

Allowed: Subsistence fishing only.

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

Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

estimated weight

—

how we calculate

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0302, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

more about the bigeye cichlid

The ciclídeo-olhudo (big-eyed cichlid) belongs to the family Cichlidae and reaches 16 cm and up to 190 g. It lives alone, in streams of amber water, slow current and mud bottom, at about one meter deep. It feeds on shrimp, aquatic insect larvae and small fish. Males are larger than females. The female guards the eggs, and the male defends the territory. It occurs in the Amazon basin, in the Negro and Branco rivers, in Amapá, and in the Oiapoque basin, in French Guiana, and the Essequibo basin, in Guyana. In fishing it turns up on the line now and then and is sold for the aquarium.

Family: Cichlidae · predator

fun facts

  • It was found together with other Amazonian cichlids, such as Pterophyllum scalare, Heros efasciatus, Hypselecara temporalis and Mesonauta guyanae.

similar species

sources and references (3)

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: Acaronia nassa (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 Acaronia nassaNames 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.