Baía Formosa spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

• fat snookmin 30 cm
  Centropomus parallelus · 0–15 m · legal
  State closed seasons: BA 15 May–31 Jul; ES 1 May–30 Jun; PR 1 Nov–31 Dec; SP — none.
• common snookmin 50 cm
  Centropomus undecimalis · 0–15 m · legal
  State closed seasons: BA 15 May–31 Jul; ES 1 May–30 Jun; PR 1 Nov–31 Dec; SP — none.
• dusky groupermin 47 cm
  Epinephelus marginatus · 8–40 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
  ⚠️ Closed season 1 Nov–28 Feb (national). Size 47–73 cm. Vulnerable — go easy.
• gag groupermin 30 cm
  Mycteroperca microlepis · 5–40 m · legal
• black groupermin 45 cm
  Mycteroperca bonaci · 5–40 m · legal
• comb groupermin 23 cm
  Mycteroperca acutirostris · 3–30 m · legal
• snowy grouper
  Hyporthodus niveatus · 20–60 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
  ⚠️ Closed 1 Sep–31 Oct (SE/S). Deepwater grouper.
• bluefishmin 35 cm
  Pomatomus saltatrix · 0–20 m · legal
• whitemouth croakermin 25 cm
  Micropogonias furnieri · 2–25 m · legal
• black drummin 65 cm
  Pogonias cromis · 2–25 m · legal
• lebranche mulletmin 35 cm
  Mugil liza · 0–12 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
  Managed by annual quotas/seasons. Min 35 cm; estuary bars may be restricted in season.
• king mackerel
  Scomberomorus cavalla · 2–30 m · legal
• serra Spanish mackerel
  Scomberomorus brasiliensis · 1–25 m · legal
• mahi-mahi
  Coryphaena hippurus · 0–30 m · legal
• greater amberjack
  Seriola dumerili · 5–40 m · legal
• crevalle jack
  Caranx hippos · 0–25 m · legal
• silver porgy
  Diplodus argenteus · 0–15 m · legal
• lionfish
  Pterois volitans · 3–40 m · invasive — target
  Invasive, spreading in NE Brazil. Culling encouraged. Venomous spines — careful; flesh edible.
• Atlantic goliath grouper
  Epinephelus itajara · 1–30 m · 🚫 no-take
  🚫 Full moratorium since 2002, indefinite (CR, Portaria MMA 148/2022). Do not take, release it. Fine R$700–100,000 + gear seizure.

• ✓A recreational fishing licence is required (category B – boat covers apnea spearfishing), issued on gov.br by the MPA. Exempt: under-18 accompanied, men 65+/women 60+.
• ✓Apnea only: spearing on a tank/scuba is banned (artificial breathing apparatus prohibited — IBAMA rule).
• ✓Goliath grouper (mero, Epinephelus itajara): total moratorium since 2002, renewed (in force 2026+). Never a legal target — capture/transport/sale is an environmental offence.
• ✓Closed seasons (vary by state): true grouper & badejo in the N/NE 1 Aug–30 Sep; bluefish in the S/SE ~1 Dec–31 Mar; robalo reopens after 31 Jul (state-dependent). Mind minimum sizes.

• ⛔ 🚫 Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) — indefinite moratorium (CR). Not a legal target: do not take, release.
• ⛔ Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini/zygaena) and angel sharks (Squatina spp.) — red list, take banned. Don't shoot.
• ⛔ Sea turtles, whales/dolphins, seahorses — protected, taking/disturbing prohibited.

Rules change and vary by state. Before heading out, check on gov.br (recreational licence, MPA) and the state closed seasons/sizes; apnea only, goliath grouper is banned.

• Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
• Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
• Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
• Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
• Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
• Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
• UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
• Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.