Pacú
Pacú (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is one of the most important sport and table fish in Brazil's Pantanal and Paraná-Paraguay basin. Native to the Paraguay River drainage, it draws anglers to the wetlands of Mato Grosso do Sul and beyond.
Its unusual fruit-and-seed diet makes it a genuinely different target — one that rewards anglers who think like a forager rather than a predator hunter.
Scientific Name: Piaractus mesopotamicus
Also known as pacu, pirapitinga, Paraná River pacu, small-scaled pacu
- Deep, laterally compressed silver body with a rounded profile — looks almost disc-shaped from the side, which separates it immediately from most other large Brazilian river fish.
- Human-like molar teeth built for crushing hard seeds and nuts — not the blade-like teeth of its piranha relatives. A key ID feature when you look in the mouth.
- Silvery flanks, often with faint darker shading toward the back; belly can show yellowish or orange tints, especially on larger fish.
- Common catches run 2–5 kg; fish over 10 kg are taken in the Pantanal, and the tambacu hybrid (pacu × tambaqui) can push well past 15 kg in stocked lakes.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Paraguay River drainage in Brazil — its core range covers the Pantanal of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, one of the largest wetland systems on earth.
- Also present in the broader Paraná-Paraguay basin, including rivers of southern Brazil; widely stocked in pay-to-fish lakes and aquaculture ponds across the country.
- Prefers large rivers, floodplain lakes, and seasonally flooded forests — the kind of connected wetland habitat the Pantanal provides in abundance.
- During high water, moves into flooded forest margins where falling fruit and seeds are available; pulls back to river channels and deeper lakes as water drops.
Key Locations
- Pantanal of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul — the heart of wild pacú fishing in Brazil, especially along the Paraguay River system and the Touro Morto River.
- Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul — a hub for both sport and commercial pacú fishing on the Paraguay River, with a long history of targeting this species.
- Pay-to-fish lakes and fishing parks across southern and southeastern Brazil — widely stocked with pacú and the tambacu hybrid, accessible to anglers of all experience levels.
Specific Spots
- Flooded forest edges during the wet season — pacú move under overhanging trees specifically to intercept falling fruit and seeds dropping into the water.
- Deeper river pools and channel bends in the dry season, where fish concentrate as floodplains drain and food sources shift.
- Current breaks near submerged structure — fallen timber, root masses, and undercut banks give pacú a place to hold while watching for food drifting past.
- In stocked lakes and pay-to-fish parks, look for shaded areas near the bank and any structure that mimics natural cover.
Pacú FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Pacú?
Fruit and seeds are the most effective natural baits, figs, palm fruit, and corn are all proven; match whatever is falling from the trees along the bank you're fishing.
What flies work for Pacú?
The nut fly, a buoyant foam or cork imitation of a seed or small fruit, is the signature pattern for pacú on the fly; fish it on or just under the surface near overhanging riverside trees.
When is the best time to fish for Pacú?
Wet season (roughly November–March), fish spread into flooded forest and feed heavily on fruit; this is the most productive window for targeting pacú near tree lines.
How do you catch Pacú?
In the Pantanal, most anglers fish from small boats, positioning under or near fruiting trees along flooded forest edges and presenting fruit or dough bait on a float rig. Fly anglers use the same approach, casting nut flies tight to the bank and waiting for the surface take.
What do Pacú eat?
Primarily fruits, seeds, and nuts that fall from riverside trees, this is the core of their natural diet, which is why anglers use actual fruit (figs, palm fruit, corn) or rubber/foam nut imitations as bait. Also eat aquatic plants, algae, and invertebrates, especially when fruit isn't available.
See it in the app
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onWater shows you Pacú.
- 01 · Species map filter
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- 03 · Angler Intelligence
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