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Pousada Asa Branca

São Miguel do Araguaia, GO · Rio Araguaia

Pousada Asa Branca
Pousada Asa BrancaPousada Asa BrancaPousada Asa BrancaPousada Asa Branca

Site oficial — Pousada Asa Branca

Best months
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Water
Freshwater

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Pousada Asa Branca operates in two parts: Asa Branca II, at Porto Fio Velasco, which serves as a road-access support point with paid parking, and Asa Branca I, the actual fishing base, 72 km downriver, right at the confluence of the Araguaia River with the Cristalino River, near Bananal Island. It's a traditional heavy catfish fishing spot on the Araguaia, not a roadside resort — the trip there is already part of the experience.

What you catch there

  • Piraíba (also called filhote) — the biggest target, bottom-fished in deep holes of the main channel
  • Redtail Catfish (pirarara) — same bottom technique, holes and river bends
  • Jaú — deep holes, alongside piraíba and redtail catfish
  • Flatwhiskered Catfish (barbado/bargada) — bottom fishing in channels
  • Peacock bass (tucunaré-azul) — artificial lure casting along the banks and lagoons near the Cristalino
  • Silver arowana (aruanã) — topwater or mid-water artificials in the same areas as the peacock bass

Best time

The fishing season on the Araguaia runs from March to October, with a closed season (fishing ban) from November to February. May and June mark the falling-water period, when catfish move out of the flooded areas into the channels and holes — a good start of the season for piraíba and redtail catfish. From July to September the river is lower, sandbars form, and fish concentrate in the central channels: this is peak season for both big catfish and for peacock bass and arowana in clearer water. October marks the end of the window, as the rains return.

Techniques and baits

  • Piraíba, redtail catfish and jaú: heavy tackle (in the 50 to 80 lb range), thick line, anchored bottom fishing in deep holes and bends of the main channel, using live tuvira, piranha fillet or a piece of stingray
  • Peacock bass and silver arowana: light to medium tackle, topwater and mid-water artificial lures (poppers, plugs, spoons) along vegetated banks and lagoons near the Cristalino River

Facilities and prices

Asa Branca I has 17 suites accommodating up to 4 people each, air conditioning, hot water and 220V outlets — but according to the official website itself, and confirmed by other sources, there is no heated pool at the lodge. Meals are full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with drinks included, and the aluminum boats are fitted with 25HP engines, an ice box and a live-bait well — not 40/50HP as sometimes reported elsewhere. Exact prices are not listed on the official website; specialized fishing tourism sources cite 3- to 5-day fishing packages ranging from R$ 4,500 to R$ 11,000 per angler, though figures vary from source to source.

How to get there

Access is via São Miguel do Araguaia (GO), which has an airport with a runway over 1,800 m (code SQM) and paved highways from Goiânia and Brasília. From there, a dirt road of about 75 to 90 km leads to Porto Fio Velasco (Asa Branca II) — during the dry season, via Frigorífico Araguafrigo and the Verde River; during the rainy season, via the Luiz Alves alternate route. At the port, the vehicle is left parked and the final leg to Asa Branca I is made by boat, heading down the Araguaia River for approximately 72 km.

What you can catch

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Sources

Pousada Asa Branca, São Miguel do Araguaia, GO — fishing lodge guide · FishNerd