Sport fishing in the Pantanal
The Pantanal is a popular destination for sport fishers. The Pantanal has at least 263 species of fish and now and then a new species is discovered. Some important species for sports fishing are the Cascudo (catfish; Ancistrus sp), Dourado (Salminus maxillosus), Jaú (Paulicea luetkeni), Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), Pintado (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans), Piranha (Serrasalmus Scapularis) and the Surubim (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans).
Fishers often rent a barco-hotel (hotel-boat, plural is: barcos-hotéis) which is equiped with everything needed for a successful fishing trip into the Pantanal (ask the details before departure!). The best places to rent a barco-hotel are Cáceres, Corumbá and Poconé.
The annual rhythm of flooding and drying does not only affect the live of land animals, the life of water animals is also adapted to this cycle. Many fish species migrate upstream for spawning between October and March. This period is know as piracema. Fishing is not allowed during the piracema.
Many other laws are in force to preserve the fish stocks and many of these are local laws. Some rivers have a fish quota meaning that a fisher may keep a limited number of fish. In the Aquidauna river, fishing is only allowed when the fish is released (“catch and release”).
Fishing is only allowed outside the wildlife reserves and with the required licences: a national fishing license that is issued by IBAMA (Licença para Pesca Amadora) and a fishing license for the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul (Licença de pesca estadual). That means that you have to visit two organisations before you have the licenses required. There is an exception for some rivers that are entirely within one State: in this case, the licença de pesca estadual is enough.
A national fishing license that is valid for one year is issued by the Brazilian Environmental Institute IBAMA. The application form is available at the agencies of the Banco do Brasil and on the website of IBAMA. The fishing license can be paid at the office of the Banco do Brasil. There are two types of national fishing license. Most people on a fishing trip in the Pantanal fish use a boat and need a Category B license. A you do not use a boat for fishing, a Category A license is enough.
In addition to a fishing licence issued by the national government, you’ll need a licence that is issued by SEMA and FEMA, two organisations of the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. If you’ll use a boat, you’ll need a license for pesca embarcada (fishing with boat), otherwise the license for pesca desembarcada (fishing without a boat) will be enough. The licença de pesca estadual is issued at the offices of Banco Bamerindus and is valid for 3 months.
Do not use a ‘second hand license’as this is illegal.
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