Fishing near Balsas, Maranhão

Balsas sits in the southern reaches of Maranhão, the largest município in the state, set on the cerrado plateau at around 283 metros elevation. The city takes its name from the Rio das Balsas, which runs directly through the area and anchors the local freshwater fishing scene. Surrounding tributaries — including the Rio Maravilha, Rio Cachoeira, Ribeirão Jenipapo, and more distant waters like the Rio Parnaíba — give anglers a wide network of rivers and ribeirões to explore across this expansive inland region.