The Redtail Catfish: A Quick Overview
The Redtail Catfish (know as Pirarara in Brazil) can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. Its distinctive reddish-orange tail and large, paddle-like fins set it apart from other catfish. Found primarily in the Amazon Basin, these fish thrive in slow-moving rivers and floodplains.
Grady Field with a Rio Aripuanã Red Tail
The Current IGFA was caught in 2010 in the Rio Amazonas, Brazil. It weighed 123 pounds (1).
Best Times to Fish
It really depends on the location. Smaller tributary rivers often fish better when water rises whereas lower elevation/flood pulse rivers fish better when the water is at its lowest and the redtails are more concentrated (and not in the flooded forest. More on that later).
Many anglers claim that early morning and late afternoon are the best times to target Redtails. However, I have seen them landed during the day as well.
Gear and Tactics
When it comes to gear, a sturdy rod paired with a high-capacity reel filled with 100 lb braided line is needed. These catfish often lurk near boulders, fallen trees, and other underwater obstructions so a heavy braided line is a must. The line is run through an egg sinker and then attached to a swivel, cable, circle hook combo.
If water levels and clarity allow, Red Tails can also be caught on lures (2). If you spot one in a clear or blackwater river, try running a sinking minnow or jig a few feet away from the Red Tails head.
Unique from other Giant Catfish
According to book Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco and Guianas Redtail catfish belong to the family Pimelodidae-Long Whiskered Catfish. Many of the popular large catfish species the Amazon is famous for also belong to this family such as the: Piraiba, Jau, and Surubim. (3)
While many of these larger catfish are carnivorous the diet of a Redtail also includes fruits. An educated guess leads me to believe that falling fruits coincide with their movements into flooded forest habitat per page 305, “One of the few species of giant catfishes frequently found in flooded forest. Consumes a large variety of food types, including fish, crabs, and fruits.” (3)
Josh Wilhelmsen with a Rio Aripuanã Red Tail
Catch One Yourself
If you want to catch a Redtail we recommend a Multi-Species destination such as the Rio Aripuanã. These giants are powerful and a fun challenge for anglers. They are beautiful fish and holding one while releasing it back to its native waters is a thrill for all anglers.
Resources
2024 IGFA World Record Game Fishes. Print Edition. Page 155.
CATFISHNOW. https://catfishnow.com/pluggin-the-amazons-redtail-catfish/
Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, & Guiana. Sleen, Peter & Albert, James. Pages 299 & 305.
