Piraíba (lau-lau, kumakuma catfish)

The giant catfish of the Amazon: long gray to brown body with a white belly, small eyes, a big wide mouth and long whiskers (very long in young fish). Young fish up to about 130 lb are called filhote.

20–150 lb.

Over 9 ft and 400 lb.

Fish, including big catfish and other large river fish.

Lives deep in the main river channels, often in deep holes below rapids and at the meeting of big rivers; migrates long distances.

Found from Amazon & Pantanal, The Guianas, Amazon Mouth (Belém, Marajó & Amapá), Venezuela & Colombia Rivers and Bolivia & Peru Lakes & Rivers. Big rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guianas, from the Andean foothills down to the estuary.

Big rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guianas, from the Andean foothills down to the estuary.

20–100 ft in deep channels and holes.

On the bottom in 20–60 ft.

Dry season, when the rivers drop and fish hold in deep holes.

Late afternoon and night.

No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Stable low water.

Whole or cut fish (2–10 lb baitfish for the big ones).

Rarely; mostly a bait fish.

Very heavy rod and reel (80–130 lb class), like big-game saltwater gear.

10/0–16/0 circle hooks.

100–150 lb braid or mono.

200–400 lb mono or cable.

Anchor above a deep hole and drop a big bait to the bottom; when the fish takes, let it move off, then set the hook and pull it away from snags.

Fish the deepest hole below a big rapid or where two rivers meet.

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.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

The young fish (filhote) are among the most prized eating fish in the Amazon — firm white steaks, grilled or stewed.

A huge, heavy fish that can pull a person off a small boat — use a harness, and never wrap line around your hands.

Minimum sizes and closed seasons apply in Brazil; many lodges release all big fish. 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.

Dams and overfishing threaten its long migrations.