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Curimatá

Curimatá

The curimatã is the backbone of the Amazon's commercial and subsistence fishery — IBAMA ranks it third by weight among all fish landed in the Brazilian Amazon.

Native to the Amazon and Tocantins basins, it travels in large schools and feeds on bottom sediment and detritus. Anglers and net fishers alike target it for the table, where it has a reputation as the best-tasting of the detritus feeders.

Scientific Name: Prochilodus nigricans

Also known as Curimatã, Curimata, Curimatá, Curica, Papa-terra, Papaterra, Curimba, Corimatá, Giriúna, Grumatã, Lambe-lambe, Lambreta

Physical Characteristics:
  • Silvery, deep-bodied fish with a blunt snout and fleshy, scraping lips adapted for grazing on bottom sediment — the mouth is the key ID feature.
  • Scales are large and clearly defined; the back is darker, fading to a pale silver-white belly; no bold lateral stripe.
  • Most fish run under 40 cm, but the species can reach nearly 50 cm and close to 3 kg; females grow larger than males.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native to the Amazon Basin and Tocantins River basin in Brazil, including tributaries of the Madeira River near Porto Velho and the Machado River drainage.
  • Abundant in whitewater (várzea) and clearwater rivers; largely absent from blackwater rivers like the Rio Negro.
  • A bottom-oriented, schooling fish that uses river channels, floodplain lakes, and flooded forest margins depending on the season.
  • The Central Amazon and lower Tocantins are among the most productive regions for this species within Brazil.

Key Locations

  • Central Amazon — the most productive Brazilian region, accounting for roughly 30% of estimated potential yield for the species.
  • Tocantins River basin — a significant fishery zone for curimatã within Brazil, separate from the main Amazon drainage.
  • Madeira River tributaries near Porto Velho — confirmed presence and fished commercially and by subsistence anglers.
  • Lower Amazon and the estuary region — additional productive zones where schools are intercepted during seasonal migrations.

Specific Spots

  • River channels are the place to intercept schools during spawning migrations — fish move in tight groups through the main current at the start of rising water.
  • During low water, schools concentrate in deeper pools and channel edges where detritus and organic material accumulate on the bottom.
  • Flooded forest margins and floodplain lake entrances hold fish during high water as they disperse to feed on submerged organic matter.

Curimatá FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Curimatá?

Fermented manioc (mandioca) paste and plant-based dough baits are the traditional and most effective offerings, match what the fish naturally grazes on. Small pieces of fruit, vegetable matter, or commercial catfish-style dough baits also work when presented on the bottom with a light sinker.

When is the best time to fish for Curimatá?

Rising water (roughly November–February in much of the Amazon): peak season as large schools migrate through river channels, the most reliable time to intercept fish.

How do you catch Curimatá?

Most fishing for curimatã in Brazil is done from small boats or canoes along river channels and floodplain lake edges, using bottom rigs baited with fermented dough or manioc paste.

What do Curimatá eat?

Feeds almost entirely on bottom sediment, algae, and decomposing organic matter, a true detritivore. Because it doesn't chase prey, conventional lures rarely work; most anglers target it with natural baits like fermented manioc paste or dough baits placed on or near the bottom.

Where do Curimatá live?

Native to the Amazon Basin and Tocantins River basin in Brazil, including tributaries of the Madeira River near Porto Velho and the Machado River drainage. Abundant in whitewater (várzea) and clearwater rivers; largely absent from blackwater rivers like the Rio Negro.

See it in the app

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