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Illustration of Pirambeba
fishing forecast

pirambeba

Serrasalmus humeralis · full profile

location

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period

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the species

everything about the pirambeba

how to recognize it

A piranha with a tall body flattened from side to side and strong, sharp teeth, typical of the family Serrasalmidae. It also lives in brackish water, in estuaries, which helps identify it by location. In the Amazon it can be confused with the black piranha and other flat-bodied piranhas; its small size, up to 20 cm, and its habit of eating the fins of other fish help set it apart.

Also called: pirambeta, piranha, pirambeba

don't confuse with:

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

Where to look: Rivers and estuaries of fresh and brackish water, from the bottom to midwater.

It lives in the Amazon basin, in rivers and estuaries of Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, in fresh and brackish water. In Brazil there are also records in the Tocantins-Araguaia basin.

native to the basins

AmazonTocantins-Araguaia

coast

North Coastcoastal

rules for the pirambeba

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 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 = 0.0138, b = 3.16; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

more about the pirambeba

A fish of the family Serrasalmidae, the piranhas, with a tall body flattened from side to side. Reaches 20 cm. It lives in the Amazon basin, in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, in rivers and estuaries, in fresh and brackish water. It eats the fins of other fish. It has strong, sharp teeth, but it is not dangerous to people. When it gets into a net, it attacks the fish caught in it, so it is best to release it quickly. It cannot tolerate water below 11 °C. It has commercial use and is used in the aquarium hobby.

Family: Serrasalmidae · predator

fun facts

  • Among the few piranhas that escaped from aquariums in the US, it was the only one that formed a breeding population in Florida, which was eliminated in 1981.

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: Serrasalmus humeralis (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 Serrasalmus humeralisNames 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.