Gear allowed for recreational anglers (federal rule)
Handline; simple pole; rod with spinning or baitcasting reel; speargun or crossbow (any propulsion and bolt); manual suction pump for bait; crab landing net (puçá-de-siri); slingshot only in floodplain lakes; natural and artificial bait. Gaff (bicheiro), landing net (puçá) and pliers only to hold the fish, not to catch it. Net or sieve up to 50 cm mouth circumference, only for ornamental species. Anything not on this list is prohibited for recreational anglers.
Source: Portaria SAP/MAPA nº 616/2022, arts. 4º and 5º
Nets, cast nets (tarrafa), longlines, pots (covo) and traps: prohibited for recreational anglers
Nets of any kind, cast nets (tarrafa), longlines, pots (covo), corrals (cercado), pari and other fixed devices are not part of the recreational angler's gear. Some states expressly prohibit them, such as MS (cast nets, longlines, harpoons, arrows and any gillnet gear) and PR (unlisted gear is seized without return). Bait cast nets are for professional fishers, where the rule allows them.
Source: Portaria SAP/MAPA nº 616/2022, art. 4º; Decreto MS nº 15.166/2019, art. 12, §2º; Portaria IAT-PR nº 650/2025, art. 7º
Explosives, toxic substances and electric shock
Fishing with explosives, or with substances that produce a similar effect in water, and with toxic or chemical substances is prohibited. Electrical, sound or light devices used to attract or catch fish are also prohibited (e.g., MS). Fishing with explosives or poison is an environmental crime.
Source: Lei nº 11.959/2009, art. 6º, §1º; Lei nº 9.605/1998, arts. 34 and 35; Decreto MS nº 15.166/2019, art. 12
Spearfishing: breath-hold only
Using artificial breathing apparatus (tank, hookah, compressor) for spearfishing is prohibited. The support boat may not carry compressed air, unless required by the maritime authority. On the federal license, spearfishing requires the from-a-boat category. In the Paraná basin, crossbows are allowed only for exotic and allochthonous species, and artificial lighting is prohibited. In MS, spearfishing is allowed only for exotic species.
Source: Portaria SAP/MAPA nº 616/2022, art. 4º, §§3º and 4º; IN IBAMA nº 26/2009, arts. 2º and 7º; Decreto MS nº 15.166/2019, art. 4º, §5º-A
Snagging (lambada), batida and garatéia
Hooking fish on the body with garatéia (treble hook), barb or hook by jerking (lambada, batida, rela) is prohibited in the Paraná basin, in MS and in PR. In PR (Portaria IAT 650/2025): only a simple hook with a single barb, garatéia only if factory-mounted on an artificial lure, loose garatéia prohibited, no more than 3 rigs in the water per angler, and corrico prohibited. In MS, the "cavalo de pau" (spinning the boat with the motor running) is also prohibited.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 26/2009, art. 2º; Decreto MS nº 15.166/2019, arts. 4º, §7º, and 12; Portaria IAT-PR nº 650/2025, art. 6º
Minimum distances from dams, waterfalls and confluences
Paraná basin (IN IBAMA 26/2009): fishing is prohibited in floodplain lakes, within 200 m of waterfalls and rapids, within 500 m of effluent outlets, confluences and river mouths, within 1,000 m of hydroelectric dams, and within 1,500 m of fish ladders and fish-passage mechanisms. MS: 200 m from waterfalls, rapids and springs; 1,000 m from dams and heronries (ninhais). PR: 1,000 m from dams, plus bridges and culverts. Amazon basin: 200 m from waterfalls, rapids and confluences (Portaria IBAMA 8/1996). During the piracema, distances increase in several basins (e.g., 1,500 m in the Paraná and Parnaíba, 1,000 m in the São Francisco).
Source: IN IBAMA nº 26/2009; Decreto MS nº 15.166/2019, art. 10; Portaria IAT-PR nº 650/2025, art. 5º; Portaria IBAMA nº 8/1996, art. 4º; spawning closure (piracema) rules by basin
Transporting fish
Fish must be transported whole, with head and tail fin, to allow measurement and identification: steaks, fillets or headless fish are prohibited. Live fish may only be transported for ornamental purposes, as bait, or in catch-and-release competitions. Recreational anglers' catch may not be sold. Carry the license: it serves as proof of origin. MT, GO and TO have zero-transport rules (see "bag limits").
Source: Portaria SAP/MAPA nº 616/2022, arts. 6º, 12 and 13
Live bait and chum
Using ornamental species as bait is banned (federal). In Goiás (GO) it is illegal to use chum (feed, broken corn) and to use live exotic or non-native species from the basin as bait; in Araguaia-Tocantins, INI 12/2011 bans bait of exotic or non-native origin. In Paraná (PR) it is prohibited to use live non-native organisms from the basin as bait, and native fish below the minimum size. In Amazonas, live bait is banned for peacock bass fishing.
Source: Portaria SAP/MAPA nº 616/2022, art. 11; IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, art. 7º; INI MPA/MMA nº 12/2011; Portaria IAT-PR nº 650/2025, art. 6º, §4º; Lei AM nº 6.647/2023, art. 17
Boat and documents
For recreational fishing, the boat must be in the sport and recreation category and registered with the maritime authority. The operator needs a boating license (Arrais-Amador or higher). Carry photo ID and a valid fishing license.
Source: Portaria SAP/MAPA nº 616/2022, art. 17; Decreto MS nº 15.166/2019, art. 4º, §2º; Portaria IAT-PR nº 650/2025, art. 5º
