Bom dia, this is Artificial Lure with your Pantanal fishing report.
We’re in the dry season now, and the rivers are running clearer and a bit lower, perfect for stalking big predators in the channels and along the flooded forest edges. Skies today are mostly clear and hot, with afternoon air temps pushing the mid‑30s Celsius and only a slight chance of a quick thunderstorm. Light east to southeast winds should keep things pleasant on the water early and late in the day. Sunrise comes just after 6, with sunset a little before 6 in the evening, so you’ve got solid low‑light windows on both ends.
Without ocean influence, “tides” here are really river pulses, and they’re stable at the moment – no major rise or fall – which means fish are holding tight to structure: submerged timber, cutbanks, and the first drop off outside the sandbars.
Recent outings around the main channels of the Rio Cuiabá and Rio Paraguai have produced good numbers of **pacu**, **piranha**, **jacundá**, and of course the stars, **dourado** and **tucunaré**. Guides are reporting steady action on school‑sized dorado in the 3–6 kg range, with a few heavier fish hooked and lost close to the boat. Peacock bass are running smaller on average but very aggressive around laydowns and flooded grass pockets.
Fish activity has been best at first light and in the last two hours of the day. Midday, the bite slows on artificials, but bait fishermen soaking cut fish or worms in the deeper holes are still picking up catfish, including pintado and cachara.
For lures, the locals are leaning on:
- Medium to large **minnow plugs** in gold, firetiger, or sardine patterns for dourado worked fast in the current seams.
- **Topwater stickbaits and prop baits** for tucunaré over shallow points and submerged logs during the early morning.
- Compact **spinnerbaits and jigs** in white or chartreuse for probing around structure when the sun gets higher.
For natural bait, you can’t beat:
- Fresh **cut fish** strips for catfish and piranha in deeper eddies.
- **Corn, fruit, or dough balls** for pacu under overhanging trees where nuts and fruit drop.
- Live or fresh **small baitfish** drifted in the current for bigger dorado.
Two hot spots to keep in mind:
First, the bends and islands just downstream of **Porto Jofre** on the Cuiabá. The mixing currents there carve out deep holes and strong seams where dorado like to ambush. Work your lures across the seams and let them swing; many strikes are coming right at the edge of the faster water.
Second, the confluence area near **Corumbá** on the Rio Paraguai. There, the combination of rocky bottom, sandbars, and slow pockets is holding a mixed bag: pacu on lighter tackle closer to the bank, with heavier gear for pintado and cachara in the deeper slots. Evening has been especially productive as the heat backs off.
Water clarity is good but not gin‑clear, so slightly louder, brighter lures have an edge, especially in the tannin‑stained side channels. Go with strong leaders; dorado teeth and piranha nips are claiming plenty of offerings right now.
That’s the situation in the Pantanal: hot days, steady river, and plenty of action for those who hit the low‑light windows and fish tight to structure with the right mix of metal, plastic, and fresh bait.
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