Pescada
A silvery, bottom-hugging member of the drum family native to South American river systems, the pescada is a staple of Amazonian sport and small-scale commercial fishing.
While peacock bass draw most of the attention on Amazonian trips, a big pescada pulled from a deep river hole on jigging gear is a serious fish — and one of the best-eating species in the basin.
Scientific Name: Plagioscion squamosissimus
Also known as Silver Croaker, South American silver croaker, Corvina, Curvina, Pescada-do-piauí
- Bright silver flanks with a pewter-blue back; the overall impression is a clean, mirror-like fish that's easy to spot in the water.
- A large black blotch at the base of the pectoral fin is the quickest field mark — look for it when distinguishing pescada from other silver-bodied species in the same water.
- Large, oblique mouth angled upward, built for intercepting prey from below; the prominent lateral line runs clearly from gill to tail.
- Reaches up to about 80 cm (roughly 31 inches) and can exceed 14 lbs, though most fish caught run considerably smaller.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to South America, with its core range across the Amazon and Orinoco basins and other lowland river systems; not found in North America or elsewhere outside its native range.
- A versatile species that moves through freshwater and brackish water alike, turning up in everything from slow floodplain lakes to high-gradient rivers — though most commercial and sport catches come from whitewater river floodplains.
- Tolerates a wide range of conditions, which partly explains its abundance across so many different river types throughout the continent.
Specific Spots
- The deepest holes in a river system are the most reliable address — pescada hug the bottom in oxygenated deep water, using depth as cover the way other predators use structure.
- Lagoon mouths where current meets still water concentrate both forage and pescada; fish the deeper side of the transition, away from the shoreline.
- In high-gradient rivers, slow pockets and deep pools tucked behind current breaks hold fish that have moved out of the main flow to feed near the bottom.
Pescada FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Pescada?
Jigs tipped with shad-style soft plastic bodies are the most consistent producers, worked slowly along the bottom, they match both the depth pescada hold at and the baitfish and shrimp they're eating.
What do Pescada eat?
Adults eat fish and freshwater shrimp (particularly Macrobrachium prawns), which is why deep-running lures that imitate baitfish or shrimp profiles, jigs with shad-style plastic bodies, swimming plugs, are the go-to presentations.
Where do Pescada live?
Native to South America, with its core range across the Amazon and Orinoco basins and other lowland river systems; not found in North America or elsewhere outside its native range.
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