Open Sea Fishing Time Brazil

Deep Sea Fishing Time (Brazil)

A typical offshore sportfishing day in Brazil starts around 06:00 to 18:00, roughly 12 hours. But you lose 2 to 3 hours of cruising in each direction just getting to the productive grounds, which sit 30 to 60 nautical miles out. So the fishing time you actually get works out to total_hours − 2 × (distance_nm / cruise_speed_kt). Most modern sportfishing boats cruise somewhere in the 18 to 25 knot range.

Off the Brazilian coast you'll be after dourado (Coryphaena hippurus / mahi-mahi), yellowfin and bigeye tuna, blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and dogtooth tuna. ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes) enforces species quotas, and there's also the 2022 IATTC tuna moratorium that hits bigeye stocks. Check the current rules before you keep anything.

Applications

A few of the better-known charter circuits: Vitória (ES) for marlin and dourado out at the continental shelf break, Ilhabela (SP) for tuna and wahoo, Búzios and Cabo Frio (RJ) for sailfish and bonito, and Salvador (BA) for billfish. Chartering a sportfishing boat runs about R$ 1.500–5.000/day for a group of 4 to 6 anglers, with crew, fuel, and basic tackle thrown in.

FAQ

Do I need a fishing license? Yes. Recreational saltwater fishing in Brazil needs the SisRGP license from the Ministry of Agriculture, which is free for amateurs and good for 2 years. Charter boats normally sort out the group permits for you.

What is the best season for billfish? In southeast Brazil blue marlin peaks from November to March. Sailfish runs October to April off Vitória. Dourado shows up all year but is strongest in summer, roughly December to March.

Catch-and-release rules? Under Brazilian law (IN MMA 09/2012), billfish such as marlin, sailfish and swordfish have to go back in the water alive. Tuna quotas depend on the species, and bigeye is restricted at the moment.