Piraíba (Adult Goliath Catfish)
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Local / Portuguese name
Piraíba
Scientific name
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Typical size
Can exceed 300 lbs and reach up to 12 ft; verified world record catches around 341 lbs.
Habitat
Deep river channels and estuarine waters; undertakes one of the longest freshwater migrations of any fish, moving thousands of miles between river-mouth nursery grounds and upstream spawning sites.
More Detail
This is the big one — South America's largest catfish and one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet, full stop. A mature Piraíba is a true deep-water giant: massive head, long trailing barbels, and the kind of size and stamina that turns a fight into an hours-long standoff. Landing an adult Piraíba is a holy-grail moment even for anglers who've fished the Amazon for years.
Ready to fish the Piraíba (Adult Goliath Catfish)
We don't run trips. Our partner Infinity Angling holds the exact water, the dates and the operator — they'll build it for you.