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Pesqueiro Santa Rita dos Gigantes

Santana da Vargem, MG

Pesqueiro Santa Rita dos Gigantes
Best months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Water
Freshwater

Santa Rita dos Gigantes is located in Santana da Vargem, MG, and is a pay-to-fish spot geared toward big fish and sport fishing with catch-and-release, not for those who want to take fish home. Warning: there is another fishing spot with an almost identical name in Bragança Paulista, SP (Instagram @pesqueirosantaritagigantes, over 50 thousand followers) — it's a different place, with its own phone number and address. The information on this page is only about the Minas Gerais location, confirmed via the official Instagram @santaritadosgigantes.

What you can catch

  • Pirarucu / Arapaima — the same fish known as 'Arapaima', a huge air-breathing fish, specimens from 1.5m to 2.5m+.
  • Heavy redtail catfish (pirarara) — this is the same species we already had as 'Redtail Catfish' (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus), not an additional fish.
  • Tambacu (tambaqui-pacu hybrid) — present and active year-round, according to angler reports.
  • Jau catfish (jaú) — mentioned by competitors and fishing guides, but not confirmed by an official source from the spot itself; treat as possible, not guaranteed.

Best season

This information is genuinely uncertain. The original claim points to November through March as peak season for big pirarucu; meanwhile, general arguments about the species (not specific to this spot) suggest the opposite — the dry season from April to September, with cooler water and more concentrated fish. No official source from Santa Rita dos Gigantes confirms a specific period. For now, it's worth calling ahead and asking how the lake is during the week of your trip.

Techniques and baits

  • Pirarucu: live bait on the surface (small tilapia or pirapitinga 20-30cm), circle hook without barb, 0.80mm+ mono line, round-profile baitcasting reel — do not use braided line.
  • Heavy redtail catfish: bottom fishing with 100-200g sinker, live bait or fresh fish fillet, 0.70mm+ mono line, reinforced 8/0 to 12/0 hook.
  • Tambacu: chum float or bottom fishing with compacted dough/feed bait, 0.45-0.60mm line — the hookset is usually quick and the fight short compared to the giants.

Structure and prices

The site has reinforced platforms to withstand heavy fish, a bar with full meals and its own shop selling heavy-duty gear (thick lines, reinforced hooks, live bait). There is no confirmed official website — the contact channel is Instagram. Regarding price: the R$ 120-180/day range that originally appeared was not confirmed by an official source; recent angler reports (2024) mention R$ 150-250 per person for the regular day rate and R$ 300-500 for access to the pirarucu lake by appointment — but this comes from social media and reports, not from a published official price list. Confirm the price and catch-and-release rules directly via WhatsApp before going.

How to get there and contact

Official social media: Instagram @santaritadosgigantes.

Video

What you can catch

Social media

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