The Pantanal, Brazil Fishing Guide

The Pantanal is one of the world's largest wetlands and a major freshwater fishing area for dourado, pacu and big catfish like pintado. Most anglers fish from lodges or boat hotels in the dry months, when falling water concentrates fish in rivers and lagoons. The two states have different rules: Mato Grosso is catch-and-release only for amateurs, and Mato Grosso do Sul allows one native fish but protects dourado, so check both before you go.

📍 The Pantanal wetland in southwestern Mato Grosso (MT) and northwestern Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil, bordering Bolivia and Paraguay. Main fishing rivers include the Paraguai, Miranda, Cuiabá, Aquidauana and Taquari. Corumbá on the Paraguai River is a main base in MS; Miranda and Bonito are on the Miranda River side.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Amazon & Pantanal (Brazil) map →

Quick facts

The Pantanal covers about 14 million hectares; its 187,818-hectare Pantanal Conservation Area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
In 1997 Embrapa data, sport anglers took 81% of the recorded MS Pantanal catch; pacu led by weight, followed by pintado, piavuçu and dourado.
The Paraguai River gave about 59% of the 1997 MS sport catch and the Miranda River about 25%.
Mato Grosso's 2026-27 closed season (piracema) runs October 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
Dourado cannot be kept in Mato Grosso do Sul; an extension approved in March 2025 runs to March 31, 2027, with catch-and-release allowed.

What you can catch

Dourado (golden dorado)
Top sport fish; catch-and-release only in MS until at least March 2027, and on MT's no-transport list.
Pacu
Largest sport catch by weight in the 1997 MS records.
Pintado (surubim)
Big spotted catfish; on MT's no-transport list.
Cachara
Large catfish related to pintado; on MT's no-transport list.
Piavuçu
Heavily fished in the MS Pantanal.
Barbado
Catfish common in MS sport catches.
Jaú
Giant catfish; on MT's no-transport list.
Piranha
MS allows up to 5 piranhas in addition to the native-fish quota.

Month by month

January	MT closed through Jan 31. MS closed (piracema); in 2025-26 only catch-and-release on the Paraguai and Paraná rivers.
February	MT reopens Feb 1. MS closed through end of February.
March	MS season opens March 1.
April	Open in both states; high water.
May	Dry season starts (about May-Sep); falling water concentrates fish.
June	Dry season fishing.
July	Dry season; angler numbers start to peak (Jul-Oct).
August	Dry season; good fishing.
September	Peak sport catch month in MS records.
October	MS peak month. MT closed from Oct 1.
November	MT closed. MS piracema started Nov 5 in recent seasons.
December	Both states closed (piracema).

Tips

Get the right license: MS requires the state Carteira de Pescador Amador from Imasul (website or MS Digital app); for MT and the federal license, check with SEMA-MT and gov.br.
Plan for catch-and-release; in MT amateurs cannot kill or transport fish except small amounts eaten on site.
Release every dourado in MS; keeping one is illegal until at least March 31, 2027.
In MS, do not fish within 200 m of waterfalls, rapids or springs, or within 1,500 m of hydroelectric dams.
Check the piracema dates for the state you are in; they differ (MT Oct 1 - Jan 31, MS from Nov 5 in recent seasons).

Rules and license

Imasul / Semadesc (Mato Grosso do Sul); SEMA-MT and Conselho Estadual de Pesca - Cepesca (Mato Grosso); Ministério da Pesca e Aquicultura (federal license) · Official rules page ↗

MS: amateur license (Carteira de Pescador Amador) required, issued by Imasul or the MS Digital app. Fee: check current rules.
MS quota: 1 native fish plus up to 5 piranhas; no limit on exotic species (tucunaré, tilapia, corvina, African catfish). Fish outside size limits must be released.
MS dourado: no capture, transport or sale; catch-and-release allowed. Extension approved in March 2025 runs to March 31, 2027 (check it is still in force).
MS piracema 2025-26: November 5 to end of February, reopening March 1; only catch-and-release on the Paraguai and Paraná rivers during it. 2026-27 dates: check current rules.
MT Law 12.434/2024 (5 years from Jan 1, 2024): amateurs may only catch-and-release, except up to 2 kg or 1 fish eaten at lodges, boat hotels or camps within 500 m of the river. Challenged in Brazil's Supreme Court (STF), not decided as of June 2026.
MT bans transport and sale of 12 species, including dourado, pintado, cachara, jaú, piraputanga and pirarara.
MT piracema: October 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; all sport fishing banned.
Pantanal Matogrossense National Park and the Acurizal, Penha and Doroche reserves are protected areas: check rules before fishing near them.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 0 boat ramps and 3 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Marina Barão
Marina de Cáceres
Porto Geral

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.