Fish

Southern black drum (corvina negra, miraguaia)

Corvina negra (burriqueta grande, miraguaia)

Pogonias courbina

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

10–40 lb.

Depth

5–60 ft.

Best time

Dusk and night.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Big, deep, high-backed drum with many short barbels on the chin, gray to black color (young fish have dark vertical bars) and strong crushing teeth in the throat. The South American cousin of the North American black drum.
Typical size: 10–40 lb.
Maximum size: Over 4 ft and well over 50 lb.
Diet: Clams, mussels, crabs and shrimp.
Behavior: Feeds by crushing shellfish on the bottom; makes loud drumming sounds; big fish gather in bays and estuaries in spring and summer.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina and Southeast Brazil. Beaches, bays and estuaries from Rio de Janeiro to northern Patagonia, including Lagoa dos Patos, the Río de la Plata and Bahía Samborombón.
Habitat: Beaches, bays and estuaries from Rio de Janeiro to northern Patagonia, including Lagoa dos Patos, the Río de la Plata and Bahía Samborombón.
Depth: 5–60 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom in 5–30 ft.
Best season: Spring and summer.
Best time: Dusk and night.
Best tides: Moving tide.
Best weather / conditions: Calm to moderate seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

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: Beaches, bays and estuaries from Rio de Janeiro to northern Patagonia, including Lagoa dos Patos, the Río de la Plata and Bahía Samborombón.
Rig up: Heavy surf rod. 50–80 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Crabs, clams (berberecho), mussels and shrimp. Lures: Rarely.
Fish it: Fish crab or clam baits on the bottom from the beach or a boat in bays and estuary mouths.
Time it: Dusk and night. Moving tide.

Fishing techniques: Fish crab or clam baits on the bottom from the beach or a boat in bays and estuary mouths.
BigJoe's tip: Fresh crab is the bait big corvina negra can't resist.
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: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Smaller fish are good eating; big ones are coarse and often have worms.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Heavy fish with sharp spines; use gloves.
Regulations: Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil set limits; many anglers release the big breeders. Brazil requires the amateur fishing license (Licença de Pesca Amadora); Argentina's coastal provinces and Uruguay set their own sport fishing rules. Several species have minimum sizes, bag limits or closed seasons — check local rules before you keep fish.
Conservation: Big old fish are slow to replace; release the giants.

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Sources & photo credits