FISHING IN THE JABOATÃO RIVER
The Jaboatão River can provide a very dynamic and relatively technical fishing experience. This is because it is possible to fish in several ways, targeting different species.
In addition to tarpon, it is a river that has many snook, both the snook and the snook. We can find snook along the various mangrove branches on the river banks and also larger specimens along deep channels and structures, just by changing the technique and types of bait.
This river also offers excellent tarpon fishing. Although we do not always find schools of fish in large numbers, it is often possible to catch good-sized tarpon specimens.
For those who have already visited the Capibaribe River or even other destinations, the Jaboatão River is one of the options that is also worth visiting, being perfectly accessible both for those staying in Recife or even in Porto de Galinhas and the region.
Where the Jaboatão is Located
The mouth of the Jaboatão River, which is the stretch where we fish, is located between the boundaries of the municipalities of Jaboatão dos Guararapes and Cabo de Santo Agostinho-PE.
We can consider that the Jaboatão River is between Recife and Porto de Galinhas, since it is halfway between them. Being less than half an hour from Boa Viagem beach and approximately 40 minutes from Porto de Galinhas, it is a fishing spot considered a good option for those staying in both the city of Recife and Porto de Galinhas, not requiring long distances to travel to carry out the sport fishing activity.
Our departure point for the sport fishing activity is from the Acqua Mariner marina, whose address is below:
Acqua Mariner (Departure point and marina)
R. José de Souza Marmelo, 360 - Barra de Jangada, Jaboatão dos Guararapes - PE, 54495-760.
Location link: https://goo.gl/maps/6HWSn1hnsvAQFY9f9
The fishing structures and translucent water of the Jaboatão River
The scenery of this river appears to be located in a transition zone between the urban area and more natural areas of mangroves.
Although it is still very close to large cities, this urban context is hardly felt when sailing and fishing in its waters.
There are few large buildings that can be seen from the interior of this river. Instead, nature and its resilience draw our attention much more with its natural landscapes around its banks.
There are several marinas and restaurants near the mouth of this river, providing good access infrastructure, allowing fishermen to take a lunch break or even cool off in the pool.
With its large mangrove trees, the idea of being part of a more preserved environment makes fishing very pleasant.
It is a river with many rocks at the bottom, forming fishing structures and also helping the water to become more translucent on summer days, making fishing even more attractive, as it allows for greater visibility of fish attacks on artificial baits.
River arms, tributaries and mouth
The Jaboatão River is home to several river arms and tributaries, the largest of which is the Pirapama River. It is also possible to fish for tarpon and snook in the Pirapama River. In fact, on every fishing trip we do on the Jaboatão River, we also check the Pirapama River, in search of tarpons rolling at certain strategic points on the river.
Its mouth is located at Barra de Jangada Beach. Near the mouth is the so-called Ilha do Amor (Love Island), where it is even possible to stop and disembark on the sand to take a dip and cool off while fishing.
Fish Species and Sizes
The species we usually target most frequently are tarpons, which weigh an average of 2 to 6 kg, and we can catch even larger specimens, weighing more than 10 kg.
Another great attraction on the Jaboatão River is the snook. It is a river with many opportunities to catch the lovely snook, both arrow and peva. Many of them are caught in the branches, with fish averaging 1 kg, and in the deeper channels, drops and submerged structures, they can weigh over 6 kg.
With some luck, you can also catch yellow jacks while fishing for snook in the canals. Guaiviras (tibiros) are also caught sporadically in this river, making fishing more dynamic.
Interestingly, some catfish attack artificial baits quite frequently in the branches, including in the middle of the river, while searching for tarpon.
Fishing in the Jaboatão River
Fishing is done on a boat, without the possibility of wading. The fishing trip and access to the river are done through a marina that offers all the support infrastructure, such as a restaurant, bathrooms and even a swimming pool, which can accommodate families who do not want to fish all day.
During the fishing trip, it is possible to focus on both tarpon and snook fishing, and it is even possible to catch one or the other using the same techniques.
Tarpon can be seen, most of the time, making breathing movements on the surface (rollings) and so we fish by sight, casting in the direction of their surface movement. When they are not giving away their presence, we can also catch them by casting “blindly” in the direction of branches and structures. With this technique and the same bait, we can also catch the two most common species of snook.
When the focus is on snook, in addition to searching for them among the branch structures and on the shore, we can insist on using jig heads and pindocas in deeper channels with submerged structures and drops, targeting larger individuals.
Dynamics of the Jaboatão River
As in other spots and locations, the dynamics of the tides and phases of the moon influence the activity of the fish in this river.
The period of greatest activity of the tarpons in this location generally occurs during the ebb tide period, more precisely from the middle to the end of the ebb tide. When the tide starts to rise and the river covers the roots of the mangroves, it is common for the tarpons to disperse, due to the volume of water supplied.
For snook, the ideal is for the tide to also be ebbing, but during the phases of the first or last quarter moon, since the tide does not flow as quickly.
We recommend that you consult with the guide to plan your fishing in this river according to the best times of tide and fish activity.
Fishing Seasonality
The Jaboatão River is a river that receives water from a large tributary, the Pirapama River. Therefore, the high incidence of rain can cause the water to change color and become more muddy in the event of large amounts of consecutive rain.
That is why we recommend that this fishing be done mainly during the summer and periods with less rain, such as September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May.
If you plan to visit this region during other months of the year, there are other fishing spots that are worth exploring.
Equipment Used in the Jaboatão River
The equipment used in the Jaboatão River is the same as that used in most rivers in our region, very similar to the equipment used in fishing for peacock bass in inland waters.
Fly fishing equipment:
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Rods measuring between #8 and 9#, 8’ to 10’ long and preferably with medium-fast action;
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Floating or intermediate lines;
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Fluorocarbon leaders weighing 50 to 60 pounds, which can be solid (without knots);
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Small flies such as streamers and clousers, as well as poppers and divers.
Baitcasting equipment (reel or spinning reels):
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Rods measuring between 5’ and 6’ long, preferably with medium-fast action;
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Low-profile reels with a capacity of 100m of multifilament line;
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Reels between 2500 and 3500, with good multifilament line capacity;
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30-pound multifilament lines;
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40- to 60-pound fluorocarbon leader;
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Small artificial lures, preferably no longer than 10 cm;
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Mid-water lures, poppers and sticks
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Small jigs, shads and even shrimp with jig heads.