Federal minimum size (30 cm) in the Southeast and South
30 cm (TL)ESRJSPPRSCRSSoutheast CoastSouth Coast
Prohibited to fish for, keep on board or land peva snook under 30 cm total length on the coast of ES, RJ, SP, PR, SC and RS.
fishing forecast
fat snook
Centropomus parallelus · Centropomidae · predator
EstuarySea
The most common snook in estuaries. A classic for night fishing with live shrimp, and excellent on shrimp lures and jig heads.
Also called: robalo-peva, robalo-peba, camurim (Nordeste), robalo-gordo (Centropomus mexicanus, sinônimo)
- common size
- 25–50 cm
- maximum
- 72 cm
- common weight
- 0.3–2 kg
- record/max.
- 5.0 kg
- depth
- 0.5–10 m
- ideal water
- 23–28 °C
fishing forecast
the right time
the right time
to be on the water
Choose the place and the species. The index, from 0 to 100, combines weather, sun, moon and tide with each fish's habits. Up to 28 days, with each day's confidence.
Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…
0—
index Score from 0 to 100 for the fishing conditions of each hour. It reads weather, sun, moon, tide and the species' habits. It doesn't promise fish: it tells you when the water is on your side. 0–24 poor · 25–44 fair · 45–64 good · 65–84 very good · 85–100 excellent.
today
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confidence —
confidence How much you can trust the weather forecast for the day. It drops with distance and when the models disagree. It is not the chance of catching fish.
models and trend Up to 16 days, three global weather models (the European ECMWF, the American GFS and a high-resolution blend) read hour by hour; when they disagree, the light band on the chart widens. Beyond that it's a trend: 31 runs of the American GEFS model. Confirm when it's 1 week out.
window Consecutive hours with the index near the day's peak and no danger alert. It is the time to have the bait in the water.
hour by hour
slide your finger or mouse over the chart to see each hoursee hour-by-hour table
why this index at —?
next 7 days
chart: bar height = day's index · line = variation between models · striped = trend · fainter = less confidencechoose the day
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
4-week calendar
the fishing month at a glance
plan a trip
what's the best window for the crew?
Choose how many fishing days. We compare each stretch by its average index, discount days with a warning or closed season, and show the 3 best.
trend for the coming weeks
Line: the middle value of 31 simulations of the American GEFS model. Band: where 8 out of 10 fall. Narrow, firm trend; wide, high uncertainty.
the species
everything about the fat snook
overview
who is the fat snook
The peva snook is the most common snook in estuaries and the most fished by recreational anglers. Smaller and sturdier than the fleche, it lives in mangroves, coastal rivers, channels, marinas and under bridges, going well into fresh water. It forms loose groups at current and shade spots and eats shrimp, small fish and crabs. It is the classic night fishing with live shrimp under a float, but it also responds very well to shrimp lures and jig heads worked slowly. Fish of 1 to 2 kg are already good; over 3 kg are rare. The fight is short and strong, with head shakes, and it seeks roots and pilings to cut the line.
fun facts
- It is the snook that tolerates fresh water best: it lives for months in coastal rivers.
- It is also a protandric hermaphrodite, like the fleche.
- It is the snook species most used in aquaculture research in Brazil.
how to recognize it
identification
Deeper and more compact body than the fleche, smaller head and large eye. The same black lateral line down to the tail. Grey-olive to brown back, silver flanks with a golden sheen, small scales. Difference from the fleche: the peva is more "pot-bellied", with a short snout, and rarely exceeds 60 cm and 3 kg; the fleche is long and slender and passes 1 m.
distribution
open on the large map where found
The whole coast from Amapá to Santa Catarina, with great abundance in the estuaries of the Southeast and Paraná (Cananéia-Iguape, Santos, Paranaguá, Guaratuba). It goes up coastal rivers and does well in fresh water.
Habitat: Mangrove creeks and channels, coastal rivers, marinas, bridge pilings and jetties, shaded rocky edges.
native to the basins
Western Northeast AtlanticParnaíbaEastern Northeast AtlanticSão FranciscoEast AtlanticSoutheast AtlanticSouth Atlantic
coast
North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coastcoastal
states
Amapá, Pará, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina
when to fish
best season
time of yearbest: Oct–Apr
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
In the Southeast and South the best period runs from spring to autumn. In winter it concentrates in deeper channels and rivers, and fishing becomes slow but possible on stable days. In the Northeast, all year. Paraná has a closed season in November and December.
best time of day
Night and twilight. Bites well at night, especially at spots with light on the water, and at dawn and dusk. By day, fish in the shade of bridges, roots and rocks, with the tide running.
what affects the fat snook
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
A cold front shuts it down for 2 to 3 days; look for deep channels and upriver, where the water warms more slowly and stays steadier.
atmospheric pressure
Steady pressure favors it. A drop before the front gives a short window of good bites.
moon
Big-tide moons move more shrimp. A clear full moon makes the fish wary in shallow water; prefer spots with shade.
rain
Light rain doesn't bother it and even helps. A flood with very muddy water shuts it down.
water level
A high river pushes the peva down toward the inlet; in drought it moves up the river.
noise
Very sensitive to a flashlight in the water and to hull noise. Approach quietly and fish from a distance.
wind
Wind disrupts the drift of the float and the reading of the bite; look for sheltered banks.
tide
Fish with the tide running. On the rising tide it enters the mangrove and the creeks; on the falling tide it waits for shrimp at the mouths of the channels and at the pilings. The start of the falling tide is usually the best time. At slack water the bites drop off sharply.
depth
Shallow, 0.5 to 3 m along the edge; 4 to 8 m in channels and holes in cold weather and strong sun.
how to fish
- rod
- 6'0" to 6'6", fast action, 8 to 17 lb
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- 2500 to 3000 spinning reel or small baitcaster
- line
- braided line 12 to 20 lb
- leader
- fluorocarbon 20 to 30 lb, 1 m
- hook
- fine short-shank hook 1 to 2/0 for live shrimp; jig head with a strong hook
lures
- shrimp 7 to 9 cm
- jig head 1/8 to 1/4 oz with 2 to 3 inch shad
- small mid-water minnow 7 to 9 cm
- fly imitating shrimp
natural baits
- live shrimp
- live anchovy
- lambari or piaba (freshwater stretches)
- corrupto
accessories
- cork or glow float
- alicate
- small boga-grip
- red-light lantern
tip from an angler
Set the float so the bait sits a hand's width off the bottom, and let it drift with the tide close to the piling or root. On the shrimp, work it slowly, almost still: the peva takes it on the fall.
ready-made kit
snook in mangroves and estuaries
Boat or kayak fishing in mangroves, channels, brackish rivers and under bridges, with artificial lures and live shrimp, following the tide.
guidespinning reel: setting up, adjusting and caring for it
From a properly filled spool to drag set with a scale: the basics for the reel to work for you and last for years.
guidefly fishing in brazil: first steps
How to choose gear by its number, rig the backing, line, leader and tippet, make a basic cast, and which flies to use for peacock bass, golden dorado and snook.
guidetides and moon in fishing
Spring and neap tides, high and low tide, slack water, rising and falling tide, tide tables and solunar theory: what really matters and how to use it without fanaticism.
rules for the fat snook
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 national list of threatened species (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026).
Paraná: closed season, size window and quota
killing and keeping prohibited in November and December01/11 to 31/12PRSouth Coast
On the coast and in the inland waters of Paraná, it is prohibited to kill and keep fleche snook (robalo-flecha) and peva snook (robalo-peva) in November and December. Outside the closed season, peva snook may only be kept between 40 and 50 cm (recreational), and the recreational quota is 7 fish per species. Professional: minimum 40 cm.
Source: Resolução CEMA nº 91/2013 (State Environment Council of Paraná)
Espírito Santo: snook closed season
fishing prohibited from May 1 to June 3001/05 to 30/06ESSoutheast Coastconfirm with the agency
Snook fishing is prohibited on the coast and in the inland waters of Espírito Santo from May 1 to June 30. Dates taken from a summary of the text; confirm with Ibama-ES before fishing.
Bahia: state snook closed season
ends on 31/07BANortheast Coastconfirm with the agency
The Bahia government announces a snook closed season running to July 31. It was not possible to confirm the start date or the rule number: confirm with the competent agency (SEMA/INEMA-BA).
Source: Government of Bahia (official notice; rule not confirmed)
Gulf of Mexico (MX): snook closed season, July 1 to August 15
fishing prohibited from July 1 to August 1501/07 to 15/08
In federal waters off the coast of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche, catching prieto snook, fleche snook (robalo blanco) and peva snook (chucumite) is prohibited from July 1 to August 15 each year, during spawning. The sport fishing rule prohibits fishing in closed areas and seasons, so the rule also applies to recreational anglers.
Snook (robalo) closed season in Bahia
15/05 to 31/07BANortheast Coast
Catching, transporting and selling snook (robalo) in Bahia are prohibited.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 49-N/1992; 2026 closed-season calendar of Sema-BA
Snook (robalo) closed season in Espírito Santo
01/05 to 30/06ESSoutheast Coastconfirm with the agency
Snook (robalo) closed season in ES for any gear. Tournaments targeting snook are prohibited from May 1 to Aug 31. In April, July and August, only the gear listed in the IN may be used.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 10/2009
Minimum size: 30 cm
ESRJSPPRSCRSSoutheast CoastSouth Coast
Source: IN MMA nº 53/2005 (coast from ES to RS; total length)
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.
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.
Lip grip, hand under the belly, no finger on the serrated gill cover. Release quickly, facing the current.
in the kitchen
White, tender and very tasty meat. Fried fillet, grilled or in moqueca.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00813, b = 3.05; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana, comprimento total)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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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.
- scientific FishBase — Centropomus parallelus (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship and references. Page checked on October 13, 2026.
- 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)Most recent national list. The species is not on it (search by scientific name in the text published in the DOU, checked on October 13, 2026).
- official ICMBio/SALVE — Ficha de Centropomus parallelus (avaliação nacional do risco de extinção)ICMBio national assessment, published in 2025. DOI checked on Crossref.
- scientific IUCN Red List — Centropomus parallelus (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 29/06/2018)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
- scientific Rivas, L. R. (1986). Systematic review of the perciform fishes of the genus Centropomus. Copeia 1986(3): 579–611.
- scientific Carpenter, K. E. (org.) (2002). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 2: Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Roma: FAO.Chapter Centropomidae (Orrell, T. M.).
- scientific Menezes, N. A.; Buckup, P. A.; Figueiredo, J. L.; Moura, R. L. (orgs.) (2003). Catálogo das espécies de peixes marinhos do Brasil. São Paulo: Museu de Zoologia da USP. 160 p.List of the marine species recorded in Brazil. Printed work; the URL is the bibliographic record in FishBase, which cites the catalogue for the species.
similar species
how we calculate
where each number comes from
The weather comes from three independent global models, cross-checked hour by hour: when they agree, confidence goes up; when they diverge, the band between them shows on the chart. Beyond 16 days, we use the GEFS ensemble of 31 simulations: if 20 of the 31 predict rain, the chance of rain is 65%. Sun and moon are calculated astronomically, with no uncertainty.
The index adds up, weighted for each species: time of day (species curve anchored to real sunrise and sunset), moon (transits, rise and set, phase), pressure (3 h trend and 24 h swing), water temperature (in rivers, estimated from air temperature; at sea, estimated by an ocean model), wind, rain, clouds, tide and the month in the species' cycle.
sources for this lookup
how accurate the forecast is
Accuracy measured in the reference project (4 regions, 93 days, forecast vs. observed): maximum temperature is off by 0.6 °C on average the next day and 1.7 °C at 7 days; rain of 5 mm or more is detected 76% of the time the next day and 57% at 7 days. Detection isn't everything: the false alarm rate isn't published here yet, and 93 days in 4 regions is still a small sample. We now also measure every day, at the app's destinations: