Costão de Fora (Couves)Ubatuba
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Ubatuba spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras
5.3
wave 0.9 m head-on
visibility3m
Today — right on the edge — wave, wind and visibility.
Sources: IPMA · NDBC · Copernicus — high confidence · data 13:57
Sources & confidence
- Sources
- IPMA · NDBC buoys · Copernicus Marine
- Method
- Model consensus, read per window
- Freshness
- Re-read every hour, per coast
Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine
The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.
How we score the water
Our own model
Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.
- Swell & wave memory
- Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
- Wind & gusts
- Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
- Tide phase
- Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
- Water temperature
- Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
- Currents & outflow
- Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
- Rain runoff & air clarity
- Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
- Coast shape & exposure
- How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.
Safety gates
- Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
- An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
- Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
- Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
- Night hours — forced red; the window is closed after dark.
It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.
A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.
Where to get in, where to hunt
Entry points with coordinates
Seabed relief — promising ground
Surface
Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.
spearo.app
calmupdated 13:57
Ubatuba — solo, off the rocks
caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site · calm conditions: swell, wind and visibility all normal
wave 0.9 m head-onwind 10, gusts 25 km/hvisibility ~5 mwindow 12:00–18:00
today, best window 15:00–18:00
fish · Visibility 5 m · Water 22.8°C
confidence low · verdict for the selected day
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
Selected day
Windows, hours
and the day's trends.
The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.
Wednesday · today2026-07-22
06:39–17:33 · first quarter
▼ 02:00▲ 06:00▼ 12:00▲ 13:00▼ 15:00▲ 18:00 · 0.3 m
Hours (06→20)
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide0.03 m
Wave0.80 m
Wind1 km/h
Water22 °C
fish activity: moonset 00:46 · moderate · moon underfoot 06:20 · high · moonrise 11:57 · moderate · moon overhead 18:50 · high
Conditions window12:00–15:00
caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site fish
Hs 1.02 mperiod 6 s head-onwind 5→18surge 1.1viz 3 m
1.02 mup to ~2.04 · 95° head-on
6 sswell moderate
5→18gusts 18 km/h
1.1weak surge
0.11m/s
3 mrecent swell
22.6°C5 mm + hood
▼15:00tide turn near
Atmosphere23 kmlandmarks visible
moderatemoonrise
- calm conditions: swell, wind and visibility all normal
- forecast models disagree (on wave, wind) — lower confidence in this window
- just after high water
confidence lowday
The water column
Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.
What it is
A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.
spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.
Now live: 1152 spots across 189 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
See all spotsThe seabed
Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.
On the rock
The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.
The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.
Entry points
Where to get in
off the rocks.
Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.
Open the seafloor map
Ilha CompridaUbatuba
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Ilhote das Couves – Face OesteUbatuba
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Paredinha das MiriquitesUbatuba
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Pedra da CachorraUbatuba
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
SOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.
Surfacing
Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.
Live cameras, map & reference
Cameras · live
Look at the water
right now.
Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».
Reference
What's in season,
what the law says.
In season now
- fat snookState closed seasons: BA 15 May–31 Jul; ES 1 May–30 Jun; PR 1 Nov–31 Dec; SP — none.
- common snookState closed seasons: BA 15 May–31 Jul; ES 1 May–30 Jun; PR 1 Nov–31 Dec; SP — none.
- dusky grouper⚠️ Closed season 1 Nov–28 Feb (national). Size 47–73 cm. Vulnerable — go easy.
- gag grouper
- black grouper
- comb grouper
- snowy grouper⚠️ Closed 1 Sep–31 Oct (SE/S). Deepwater grouper.
- bluefish
- whitemouth croaker
- black drum
- lebranche mulletManaged by annual quotas/seasons. Min 35 cm; estuary bars may be restricted in season.
- king mackerel
- serra Spanish mackerel
- mahi-mahi
- greater amberjack
- crevalle jack
- silver porgy
- lionfishInvasive, spreading in NE Brazil. Culling encouraged. Venomous spines — careful; flesh edible.
- Atlantic goliath grouper🚫 Full moratorium since 2002, indefinite (CR, Portaria MMA 148/2022). Do not take, release it. Fine R$700–100,000 + gear seizure.
Law
- ✓A is required (category B – boat covers apnea spearfishing), issued on gov.br by the . 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.
Safety protocol
- 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.
Spearfishing in Ubatuba: spots, seasons and rules
Spearfishing in Ubatuba is a north-coast island and headland plan, but two limits come first. The national one: Brazil requires the MPA recreational licence, spearfishing is apnea only, and goliath grouper is under a total moratorium. The local one: Ilha Anchieta State Park is no-take, with hunting and fishing fully prohibited. The supported spots in the registry sit outside that park: Ilha Comprida, Costão de Fora (Couves), Ilhote das Couves – Face Oeste, Pedra da Cachorra and Paredinha das Miriquites. The local conditions note points to clear island water, roughly 20 m summer visibility and the best window from December to March, as long as the sea is calm and the float is visible.
TL;DR
- Headline Brazil caveat: goliath grouper, the Brazilian mero, is under a total moratorium and is not a legal target in Ubatuba.
- Ilha Anchieta State Park is no-take: hunting and fishing are fully banned. Keep any spearfishing plan outside the park.
- The supported verified spots are Ilha Comprida, Costão de Fora (Couves), Ilhote das Couves – Face Oeste, Pedra da Cachorra and Paredinha das Miriquites.
- The base data favours December to March in calm seas, with summer visibility around 20 m and winter around 10 m. A float is essential with speedboat traffic.
Best spearfishing spots in Ubatuba
This table uses only the five verified verified spots. The source provides name, coordinate, type and depth, but no desc_* prose by spot; the notes therefore avoid invented species, shelter or specific hazard claims. Check sea state, boat plan, GPS and distance from Ilha Anchieta State Park before diving.
| Spot | Type | Depth | Level | Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilha Comprida | Island/headland | 3-12 m | No local rating; shallow to mid-depth in the registry | Boat | Verified spot. Use the stated type and depth as the data limit; confirm face, current and pickup route on the day. |
| Costão de Fora (Couves) | Rocky headland | 5-15 m | No local rating | Boat to Couves | Verified spot. The registry does not describe shelter or fish by face, so wind, swell and exit control the dive. |
| Ilhote das Couves – Face Oeste | Wall | 12-23 m | No local rating; deeper in the registry | Boat to Couves | Verified spot. The west face and depth are supported by the name and registry; do not assume calm water without checking conditions. |
| Pedra da Cachorra | Reef slab | 3-18 m | No local rating | Boat | Verified spot. As a slab, it needs a high-visibility float and traffic awareness, but the registry gives no current or fauna detail. |
| Paredinha das Miriquites | Reef slab | 3-11 m | No local rating; shallow in the registry | Boat | Verified spot. Plan it as a shallow to mid-depth slab and confirm it is outside any local restriction on the day. |
Spearfishing Ubatuba conditions today
Ubatuba is more exposed than Ilhabela in the registry. The coast faces east-southeast, and the local bad sector runs from 150 to 220 degrees, with the worst direction near 190 degrees. When south to southwest sea is running, islands and slabs can be washed, exits can get poor and visibility can drop. The base data favours December to March in calm seas. The day call needs wind, swell, recent rain, boat route and traffic. In Ubatuba, a visible float is practical survival equipment, not a box-tick.
Underwater visibility in Ubatuba today
The local reference is strong for the São Paulo north coast: around 20 m in summer and near 10 m in winter. It changes quickly with rain, wind and bad-angle swell. Islands such as Comprida and Couves are often the reason to make the run, but clear island water comes with logistics: boat, buddy, contact with the pilot and pickup timing. If visibility drops, reduce range and depth. Rock and slab with speedboats nearby demand margin.
Spearfishing Ubatuba Ilha Comprida and Couves
Ilha Comprida is registered as island/headland in 3-12 m. Around Couves, the supported names are Costão de Fora, Ilhote das Couves – Face Oeste and Paredinha das Miriquites, ranging from 3-11 m to 12-23 m. Those numbers already separate a check dive, a headland session and a deeper wall. Because the registry gives no fish or shelter prose by spot, do not turn the name into a catch promise. Use the points as verified coordinates and finalise the call with someone reading that day's sea.
Ilha Anchieta State Park spearfishing allowed
No. The local note is direct: Ilha Anchieta State Park is no-take, with hunting and fishing fully banned. Clear water, underwater trails or recreational diving do not change that. Keep spearfishing outside the park and confirm the boundary before entering the water. Do not accept a vague boat plan sold as Anchieta-adjacent. Ask for the exact point, compare it with the park area and drop any plan inside the park.
Fish and rules in Ubatuba
The local summary names grouper, badejo, snook, leerfish and serra Spanish mackerel. The national table also includes fat snook, common snook, bluefish, croaker, mullet, king mackerel, mahi-mahi, amberjack, crevalle jack and porgy, each subject to any minimum size, closed season or regional rule that applies. True grouper has a closed season and size window. Goliath grouper is separate: total moratorium since 2002, with no recreational exception. If identification is not clean, do not shoot.
Spearfishing licence Ubatuba Brazil
Brazil's national frame applies in Ubatuba. The MPA recreational fishing licence is required for the category that covers apnea spearfishing. Using scuba or any artificial breathing device to spear fish is prohibited. Also check regional closed seasons, minimum sizes and protected areas before boarding. If a park boundary, exclusion area or enforcement question is unclear, confirm with the competent authority before entering the water.
FAQ
Where can you spearfish in Ubatuba?
The supported list is Ilha Comprida, Costão de Fora (Couves), Ilhote das Couves – Face Oeste, Pedra da Cachorra and Paredinha das Miriquites.
What is the underwater visibility in Ubatuba today?
It depends on rain, wind and swell. The base reference is around 20 m in summer and 10 m in winter.
What fish can you spear in Ubatuba?
The local summary names grouper, badejo, snook, leerfish and serra Spanish mackerel. Goliath grouper is prohibited by Brazil's moratorium.
Can you spearfish in Ilha Anchieta State Park?
No. The park is no-take, with hunting and fishing fully banned. Keep the plan outside the park boundaries.
When is the best season to spearfish in Ubatuba?
The base data points to December to March in calm seas. The day still depends on wind, swell and recent rain.
Do you need a licence to spearfish in Brazil?
Yes. The MPA recreational fishing licence is required for the category that covers apnea spearfishing.
Can you spearfish on scuba?
No. Spearing with scuba or another artificial breathing device is prohibited.
Sources
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