Freshwater

South American silver croaker (pescada, corvina de río)

Corvina de río (pescada, curvinata)

Plagioscion squamosissimus

FreshwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

1–4 lb.

Depth

10–50 ft.

Best time

Late afternoon and night.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A freshwater drum: silvery body with a gray back, a slightly arched profile, a long two-part dorsal fin and a big mouth with small teeth; it makes a drumming sound.
Typical size: 1–4 lb.
Maximum size: About 2½ ft and 10 lb.
Diet: Small fish and shrimp.
Behavior: Schools along drop-offs and channels; feeds near the bottom and moves shallower at night.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Amazon & Pantanal, The Guianas, Venezuela & Colombia Rivers, Amazon Mouth (Belém, Marajó & Amapá), Brazil Lakes & Rivers and Paraná & Uruguay Rivers. Big rivers, lakes and estuaries of the Amazon, Orinoco and the Guianas; stocked in many reservoirs of northeast and southeast Brazil (where it's called corvina).
Habitat: Big rivers, lakes and estuaries of the Amazon, Orinoco and the Guianas; stocked in many reservoirs of northeast and southeast Brazil (where it's called corvina).
Depth: 10–50 ft.
Fishing depth: 10–30 ft near the bottom.
Best season: All year; best in the dry season in rivers.
Best time: Late afternoon and night.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live shrimp, small live fish and cut fish.
Best artificial lures: Jigs, jigging spoons and soft plastics bounced near the bottom.
Tackle setup: Medium spinning or baitcasting rod.
Hook size: 1/0–3/0.
Line: 15–30 lb braid.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Big rivers, lakes and estuaries of the Amazon, Orinoco and the Guianas; stocked in many reservoirs of northeast and southeast Brazil (where it's called corvina).
Rig up: Medium spinning or baitcasting rod. 20–30 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live shrimp, small live fish and cut fish. Lures: Jigs, jigging spoons and soft plastics bounced near the bottom.
Fish it: Find a school on the depth finder along a drop-off and jig or fish bait just off the bottom.
Time it: Late afternoon and night. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Find a school on the depth finder along a drop-off and jig or fish bait just off the bottom.
BigJoe's tip: Where you catch one, keep fishing — they travel in schools.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: White, flaky, mild meat — one of the best eating fish of the Amazon, fried or in stews.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp gill cover and dorsal spines.
Regulations: Brazil and other countries set minimum sizes; check local rules. Every country requires a fishing license (in Brazil, the Licença de Pesca Amadora), each Argentine province and Brazilian state adds its own rules, and most rivers close during the spawning season. Indigenous lands and strict reserves are closed to outside anglers without permits.
Conservation: Introduced in many reservoirs, where it can compete with native fish.

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Sources & photo credits