Prochilodus reticulatus
Bocachico to Colombian fishers, the Netted prochilod is a cornerstone of artisanal riverine fisheries in northern South America — native to the Magdalena River basin and the Lake Maracaibo system, and unusual among its relatives for tolerating mildly brackish water.
It makes predictable mass migrations that have sustained fishing communities for generations, and its abundance is widely read as a barometer of floodplain river health.
Scientific Name: Prochilodus reticulatus
Also known as Bocachico, Coporo
- The reticulated (net-like) scale pattern — fine dark edges on each scale creating a mesh effect across the silvery body — is the clearest field mark and the source of the common name.
- Fleshy, protrusible lips set it apart from most other fish sharing its river systems; these are purpose-built for scraping detritus from soft substrates.
- Maximum reported length is 28 cm standard length, with growth data indicating an asymptotic length around 41 cm for the largest individuals.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Restricted to tropical lowland river systems in northern South America — the Magdalena drainage in Colombia and the Catatumbo/Lake Maracaibo basin in Venezuela, between roughly 1°N and 9°N latitude.
- Floodplain rivers and their associated wetlands (locally called cienagas) are the core habitat — shallow, seasonally inundated systems where organic detritus accumulates in soft-bottomed margins.
- Unlike most of its prochilodontid relatives, this species tolerates mildly brackish conditions, giving it access to a broader range of floodplain and estuarine-edge habitats.
Specific Spots
- River channels and tributary mouths become natural bottlenecks during the low-water migration run (the 'subienda'), concentrating fish in predictable locations where artisanal fishers intercept them.
- When floodwaters rise and spread across the plain, fish move into shallow cienagas and soft-bottomed margins where decomposing plant material and fine sediment accumulate — the richest feeding ground for a detritivore.
Prochilodus reticulatus FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Prochilodus reticulatus?
Organic and plant-based baits on simple bottom rigs are the traditional approach in wetland and river settings; nets remain the dominant method during migration runs. The detritivorous diet means there is no established lure category for this species.
What do Prochilodus reticulatus eat?
Detritus, decomposing plant matter, algae, and fine organic sediment, scraped from the bottom with specialized fleshy lips makes up virtually the entire diet.
Where do Prochilodus reticulatus live?
Restricted to tropical lowland river systems in northern South America, the Magdalena drainage in Colombia and the Catatumbo/Lake Maracaibo basin in Venezuela, between roughly 1°N and 9°N latitude.
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