Jatuarana
The jatuarana (Brycon amazonicus) is a characin native to the Amazon Basin that pulls double duty as a commercial food fish and a sport target. Along the Madeira River and its tributaries, it supports active subsistence and commercial fisheries.
Sport anglers encounter it as a bonus species on multi-species Amazon trips, where it mixes with peacock bass, payara, and pacu in the same river systems.
Scientific Name: Brycon amazonicus
Also known as Matrinxã, Matrinchã, Slender Brycon
- Elongated, torpedo-shaped body typical of the Brycon genus — silver-sided with a faint yellowish or brassy tint along the flanks.
- Forked tail and a relatively large mouth with well-developed teeth, reflecting its varied diet across plant matter and animal prey.
- Commonly caught in the 1–3 kg range in the Madeira River fishery; larger individuals exist but are not well-documented in sport-fishing sources.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Amazon River and its main tributaries in Brazil, including the Madeira, Negro, and Solimões river systems.
- Also recorded in the Orinoco and Essequibo basins; a non-native occurrence has been documented in Maranhão state in northeastern Brazil.
- A freshwater, benthopelagic species — found throughout the water column in tropical river systems, from main channels to smaller tributaries and igarapés.
Key Locations
- Rio Madeira and its tributaries — the core of the documented commercial and sport fishery for this species in Brazil.
- Rio Negro and Rio Solimões — both confirmed as habitat, with fish collected from these systems in scientific studies.
- Rio Aripuanã (southern Amazon Basin, Amazonas state) — listed as a target species on multi-species sport-fishing expeditions operating out of Manaus.
- Lago Jatuarana and Igarapé Jatuarana (Amazonas state) — named waters in the region associated with the species.
Specific Spots
- Confluences where smaller tributaries or igarapés meet main river channels concentrate feeding fish, especially during falling water when baitfish and fruit get funneled into tighter areas.
- Flooded forest margins during high water — jatuarana move into the trees to feed on fallen fruit and insects, making the forest edge a productive zone.
- Current breaks behind submerged logs or rock formations in mid-river, where fish hold without fighting the full flow while waiting for food to drift past.
Jatuarana FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Jatuarana?
Surface poppers and small to medium crankbaits that imitate baitfish work well when fish are actively feeding near the surface or along flooded forest edges. Natural baits, fruit pieces, cut fish, and small whole fish, are the go-to in the traditional subsistence fishery and remain effective for sport anglers too.
What flies work for Jatuarana?
Streamers that imitate small baitfish, Clouser Minnows (weighted flies that sink and mimic fleeing baitfish) and similar patterns in white, chartreuse, or natural colors, are a solid starting point.
When is the best time to fish for Jatuarana?
Mid-July to mid-September, a productive window on the Rio Aripuanã system, coinciding with lower water levels that concentrate fish in main channels. Mid-November to mid-December, a second fishable window before the full wet season raises and disperses water across the floodplain.
How do you catch Jatuarana?
Most sport anglers encounter jatuarana as part of multi-species Amazon trips, fishing from small boats with local guides on the Madeira, Aripuanã, and surrounding tributaries. Working flooded forest edges during high water and current breaks in main channels during low water are the two primary approaches.
What do Jatuarana eat?
Omnivorous and opportunistic across seasons, eats fruit, seeds, insects, and smaller fish depending on what's available. During high water, fallen fruit from flooded forest is a major food source, making surface presentations near the tree line worth trying.
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