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fishing forecast

madalena

Roeboides myersii · Characidae · predator

Freshwateressential profile

Freshwater characin from the Amazon, the Orinoco and the Parnaíba basin, with commercial use in fishing. Reaches 22 centimeters.

Also called: madalena, zé do ó, denton, dientón

Scientific illustration of Madalena
maximum
22 cm
record/max.
0.1 kg
location

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period

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the species

everything about the madalena

overview

who is the madalena

The madalena belongs to the family Characidae, the same as the lambaris, and has a characin body, compressed from side to side. Reaches 22 centimeters and up to 116 grams. It occurs in the Amazon, Orinoco and Parnaíba basins, in Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. It lives between the bottom and midwater. The Spanish names denton and dientón refer to its large teeth, a trait of the genus Roeboides. In fishing it has commercial use, but it hardly ever shows up on the line of a sport angler.

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 madalena.

how to recognize it

identification

Body compressed from side to side, with the adipose fin typical of characins, a small fleshy fin between the dorsal and caudal fins. Reaches 22 centimeters. The names denton and dientón, used in Peru and Ecuador, point to the large teeth in its mouth. It occurs in the Amazon, the Orinoco and the Parnaíba.

distribution

where found

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It occurs in the Amazon, Orinoco and Parnaíba basins, in Brazil, Peru and Venezuela.

Habitat: Freshwater, from the bottom to midwater.

native to the basins

AmazonParnaíba
what the law says

rules for the madalena

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)

Spawning closure (piracema) in the Parnaíba River basin

15/11 to 16/03PIMACE

Allowed: Recreational fishing from a boat or from shore with handline, rod, spinning or baitcasting reel, up to 5 kg + 1 fish per day. Prohibited within 1,500 m of dams, waterfalls and rapids. Competitions prohibited.

Source: IN MMA nº 40/2005

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.

It has no spines or venom. Be careful with its teeth when removing the hook from its mouth.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01259, b = 3.08; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). 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: Roeboides myersii (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 Roeboides myersiiNames 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.