Bagre-amarelo
The piraíba is the largest catfish in the Amazon basin — a deep-channel predator that can exceed 2 meters and 150 kilograms.
In Brazil it's targeted by both commercial fishermen and sport anglers, particularly in the upper Amazon near the Colombian and Peruvian borders.
Smaller fish, called filhote, are the more common catch; true piraíba-sized specimens above 50 kg are a serious undertaking on any tackle.
Scientific Name: Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Also known as Piraíba, Filhote, Cadete, Piratinga, Bagre-branco
- Elongated, scaleless body typical of large pimelodid catfish; grey to brownish above, paler below; juveniles show dark spots or blotches that fade with age.
- The single outermost ray of the tail fin extends into a long filament — a reliable field mark that separates this species from other large Amazonian catfish.
- Maxillary barbels are exceptionally long, often reaching past the dorsal fin and sometimes to the tail on young fish.
- Common catches run 20–50 kg; fish over 1.6 m and 50 kg earn the local name piraíba, while adults can reach 2–2.5 m and over 150 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Amazon basin in Brazil, including the main river channel, its major white-water tributaries, and the Amazon estuary region.
- Strongly tied to deep, flowing main-channel water in white-water (nutrient-rich, sediment-laden) river systems; rarely found in smaller tributaries or nutrient-poor black-water rivers.
- Juveniles exploit the Amazon delta during the wet season, when rising freshwater pushes into the estuary and opens up feeding grounds rich in invertebrates and smaller fish.
- The Brazilian-Colombian-Peruvian border stretch of the upper Amazon accounts for the majority of recorded catches; the Central Amazon and Lower Amazon also hold fish.
Key Locations
- Upper Amazon near the Brazilian-Colombian-Peruvian border — the stretch accounting for the largest share of recorded piraíba catch in Brazil.
- Central Amazon main channel — a secondary concentration area for both commercial and sport catches.
- Lower Amazon and the Amazon estuary — important seasonal habitat for juveniles and sub-adults during the wet season freshwater push.
Specific Spots
- Deep main-channel runs and river bends hold the largest fish — piraíba use current breaks along the bottom of these deep slots to rest between feeding forays.
- Confluences where white-water tributaries meet the main Amazon channel concentrate baitfish schools, which in turn draw piraíba.
- During the wet season, the Amazon estuary and lower-river delta areas attract juveniles and sub-adults feeding on the invertebrate and fish life that floods in with the freshwater push.
Bagre-amarelo FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Bagre-amarelo?
Large whole or cut fish is the most reliable bait, local baitfish species fished on the bottom with heavy sinkers in deep channel water is the traditional commercial and sport approach.
When is the best time to fish for Bagre-amarelo?
Wet season (roughly November–April): juveniles and sub-adults concentrate in the Amazon estuary and lower river as freshwater expands into the delta, making this a productive period in those areas.
How do you catch Bagre-amarelo?
Most anglers in Brazil target piraíba from boats anchored or drifting over deep main-channel water, fishing large cut or whole baitfish hard on the bottom with heavy conventional gear. Filhote-sized fish are more accessible and are commonly caught alongside other large catfish species on the same rigs.
What do Bagre-amarelo eat?
Adults feed almost exclusively on other fish, smaller catfish, characins, and whatever baitfish species are schooling in the channel. Large whole fish or cut bait presented on the bottom is the standard approach.
Where do Bagre-amarelo live?
Native to the Amazon basin in Brazil, including the main river channel, its major white-water tributaries, and the Amazon estuary region.
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