Fish

Acoupa weakfish (pescada amarela)

Corvina amarilla (pescada amarela)

Cynoscion acoupa

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

5–15 lb.

Depth

3–60 ft.

Best time

Moving tides, especially dawn and dusk.

Found in

7 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Big, long weakfish with a silvery-gold body, yellowish fins, a big mouth with two canine teeth up front, and no spots.
Typical size: 5–15 lb.
Maximum size: About 3½ ft and close to 40 lb.
Diet: Fish and shrimp.
Behavior: Schools over muddy bottoms near river mouths; the young live in brackish and fresh water.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Amazon Mouth (Belém, Marajó & Amapá), The Guianas, North & Northeast Brazil, Southeast Brazil, Colombia & Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago and Central America. Estuaries, river mouths and muddy coastal waters from Panama to Brazil, especially the Amazon mouth and the coasts of Pará, Maranhão and the Guianas.
Habitat: Estuaries, river mouths and muddy coastal waters from Panama to Brazil, especially the Amazon mouth and the coasts of Pará, Maranhão and the Guianas.
Depth: 3–60 ft.
Fishing depth: On or near the bottom in 5–40 ft.
Best season: All year; varies by area.
Best time: Moving tides, especially dawn and dusk.
Best tides: Moving tide, especially the first of the falling tide.
Best weather / conditions: Calm weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Lures Hooks Rig

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Estuaries, river mouths and muddy coastal waters from Panama to Brazil, especially the Amazon mouth and the coasts of Pará, Maranhão and the Guianas.
Rig up: Medium-heavy spinning or baitcasting rod. 40–60 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live shrimp and small live fish. Lures: Jigs, soft plastics and deep-diving plugs.
Fish it: Fish live shrimp or bounce jigs along channel edges and river mouths on a moving tide.
Time it: Moving tides, especially dawn and dusk. Moving tide, especially the first of the falling tide.

Fishing techniques: Fish live shrimp or bounce jigs along channel edges and river mouths on a moving tide.
BigJoe's tip: Soft mouth — use a smooth drag so the hook doesn't tear out.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: White, mild and flaky; one of Brazil's favorite fish, fried, baked or in moqueca.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp canine teeth and gill covers.
Regulations: Listed as vulnerable (IUCN); Brazil sets size limits — check local rules and release big breeders. Every country requires a fishing license (in Brazil, the Licença de Pesca Amadora), each Argentine province and Brazilian state adds its own rules, and most rivers close during the spawning season. Indigenous lands and strict reserves are closed to outside anglers without permits.
Conservation: Its swim bladder is sold at very high prices in Asia, which drives heavy (and sometimes illegal) fishing.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits