Skip to content
fishing forecast

piranha-mafura

Pristobrycon striolatus · Serrasalmidae · predator

Freshwater

Small piranha from the headwaters of the large rivers of the Amazon, the Orinoco and the Guianas, up to about 20 cm. FishBase says it is rare in catches.

Also called: piranha-mafura, piranha

Scientific illustration of Piranha-mafura
common size
12–18 cm
maximum
20 cm
common weight
0.0–0.1 kg
record/max.
0.2 kg
depth
0.5–5 m
ideal water
25–29 °C
location

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

period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the piranha-mafura

overview

who is the piranha-mafura

Small piranha, up to 20.1 cm and 230 g, from the headwaters of the main rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins and of the northern and eastern rivers of the Guiana Shield. FishBase describes it as rare in catches and records a stomach full of seeds, with fewer fin pieces, which indicates a mixed diet. It is on FishBase's list as a sport fish, but we found no reports of fishing targeted at the species. The classification of the genus Pristobrycon is debated, and intermediate forms complicate identification, according to aquarists.

fun facts

  • The genus name comes from Greek: pristis, 'saw', and bryko, 'to bite'.
  • It was described by Steindachner in 1908 and is now in another genus, as FishBase indicates with the author's name in parentheses.
how to recognize it

identification

Small piranha with a short, tall, disc-shaped body, a relatively small head in adults, triangular cutting teeth in one row and a serrated keel on the belly. According to aquarists, males have a hooked anal fin and females have a straight-edged one. Telling it apart from other small piranhas (Serrasalmus, other Pristobrycon) requires counts and comparison of specimens; in the field, treat it as a piranha.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Amazon basin and rivers of the Guiana Shield, in Brazil; outside Brazil, the Orinoco, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Venezuela.

Habitat: Headwaters and upper stretches of the main rivers, in mid-water and near the bottom.

native to the basins

Amazon

states

Amazonas, Pará, Amapá, Roraima

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of yearbest: Jul–Oct
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Estimate: low river and dry season concentrate shoals in the headwaters and channels.

best time of day

0h6h12h18h sunrise ~6amsunset ~6pm

Daytime. No timing studies. Like other piranhas, it should feed by day (estimate).

weather, water and behavior

what affects the piranha-mafura
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Cold snaps reduce activity.

atmospheric pressure

Little known effect.

moon

Little effect.

rain

Little effect.

water level

Dry season concentrates fish in the upper stretches.

noise

Not very sensitive.

wind

Little effect.

depth

Mid-water and bottom, 0.5 to 4 m.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

rod
cane pole or 5'6" to 6' rod, 8 to 15 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel
spinning reel 1000 to 2500
line
monofilament 0.25 to 0.30 mm
leader
fine steel leader, 15 cm, crimped
hook
No. 2 to 1, long shank

natural baits

  • piece of fish
  • seeds and fruit from the bank
  • minhoca

accessories

  • long-nose pliers
  • cloth to grip

tip from an angler

Rarely caught; if one comes up, take the care you would with any piranha: steel leader and long-nose pliers, because the teeth cut both line and hand.

what the law says

rules for the piranha-mafura

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.

Long-nose pliers, and no hands near the mouth. Hold it with a damp cloth and release it quickly.

in the kitchen

Too small to have a known market; we found no preparation notes for the species.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01698, b = 3.14; 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

—

sources and references

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

  1. scientific FishBase: Pristobrycon striolatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight relationship, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked on October 13, 2026. The common sizes and weights on this card are editorial estimates, calculated from the length-weight relationship.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pristobrycon striolatusNames 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.
  4. technical Aquarium Glaser: Pristobrycon striolatusDisc-shaped adult, anal fin dimorphism and doubts about the genus classification. Aquarium source, not scientific; page checked on October 13, 2026.
don't confuse

similar species