Corvina de río
Plagioscion ternetzi is a freshwater croaker native to the Paraguay and lower Paraná river basins, including the Brazilian side of the Pantanal.
A bottom-oriented fish in the drum family (Sciaenidae), it draws modest but consistent attention from local subsistence and artisanal anglers. Smaller and less commercially prominent than its Amazonian cousin P.
squamosissimus, it fills a similar ecological role in its river system.
Scientific Name: Plagioscion ternetzi
Also known as corvina de rio, pescada
- Silvery body typical of the drum family, with a slightly compressed profile and a subtly oblique mouth — the feature behind the genus name Plagioscion.
- Belongs to the Sciaenidae family; like all croakers, it has a distinctive lateral line and can produce audible sounds using its swim bladder.
- A medium-sized freshwater fish; the species falls in the 40–100 cm length category, though most individuals encountered by anglers are on the smaller end of that range.
- Distinguished from the more common P. squamosissimus by range: P. ternetzi is restricted to the Paraguay–Paraná–Uruguay drainages, not the Amazon proper.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Paraguay and lower Paraná river basins; in Brazil, this means the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul and adjacent drainages.
- A freshwater, bottom-oriented (benthic) species that favors the main channels and floodplain waters of large river systems.
- Classified as potamodromous — it makes local migrations within river systems, generally under 100 km, rather than long-distance runs.
- Prefers tropical freshwater environments; not found in the Amazon basin proper, which separates it from the more widespread P. squamosissimus.
Key Locations
- Rio Paraguay (Mato Grosso do Sul) — the primary Brazilian range for this species, within the broader Pantanal floodplain system.
- Lower Paraná drainage tributaries in southwestern Brazil, where the species has been documented in sampling studies.
Specific Spots
- Near the bottom of main river channels and deeper floodplain pools — this fish feeds and rests close to the substrate.
- Current breaks and deeper bends in the Paraguay River and its tributaries, where slower water concentrates prey near structure.
- Flooded margins during high water, where shrimp and small fish concentrate among submerged vegetation and debris.
Corvina de río FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Corvina de río?
Live or cut freshwater shrimp (camarão) is the most direct match for the natural diet and a reliable choice for bottom fishing. Small to medium jigs (1/4–1/2 oz) with soft-plastic bodies, shrimp or paddle-tail minnow profiles, worked slowly along the bottom cover the crustacean and baitfish sides of the diet.
When is the best time to fish for Corvina de río?
Spawning occurs across multiple seasons, so fish are present year-round rather than concentrated in a single window. High-water periods in the Pantanal (roughly November–March) push fish into flooded margins and may concentrate feeding activity around newly inundated areas.
How do you catch Corvina de río?
Local and artisanal anglers in the Pantanal region target this fish from the bank or small boats using bottom rigs baited with shrimp or cut fish, working deeper channels and floodplain pools. It is not a major sport-fishing target but is caught regularly as part of mixed-species bottom fishing.
What do Corvina de río eat?
Feeds primarily on fish and freshwater shrimp (camarão) near the bottom, a crustacean-leaning predator by trophic classification. Small jigs, soft-plastic shrimp imitations, and live or cut shrimp are the logical starting points.
Where do Corvina de río live?
Native to the Paraguay and lower Paraná river basins; in Brazil, this means the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul and adjacent drainages. A freshwater, bottom-oriented (benthic) species that favors the main channels and floodplain waters of large river systems.
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