All fishermen dream about catching big fish whenever they go out on their adventures and expeditions.  Brazilian fishermen are not exceptions to the rule. As a matter, 9 out of 10 fishermen will state that the main reason to travell to Pantanal, Amazonia or La Plata Basin is to hook a lunker one (one or more, it must be said) and overcome all IGFA records or at least their own. 

From what I know, only in Japan the ritual of catching small fish is praised as a very honoured sport. Once I read an essay about "tanago" fishing in the central parts of Japan. A big tournment takes place in order to celebrate a very tiny fish, smaller than a minnow that can be put inside an aquarium bowl. The best prizes go to those fishermen with competence and skills to fish as many tanagos as they can in a certain period of time. 

In Brazil (I really do not know what goes on in other countries), the fishing of the lambari (Astyanax spp, Mimagoniates spp) can also be great fun. This species is used as natural bait for bigger fish and the guides usually use nets to catch as many as they can in order to serve the tourists in far-away fisheries. But to hook lambaris is really nice because it is a clever fish: it eats the pieces of spaghetti or worms and generally defies the most skillfull fishermen.

Brazilians love to eat fried lambari with a can of beer. The meat, after it is fried, gets kind of crispy, especially when it is covered with flour of manioc. After a tiresome fishing day, there is nothing better than eating fried lambaris and drinking glasses of cold beer.

I would say that lambari fishing depends on a lot of attention, concentration, many skiils and much patience of the fisherman. Whenever a school is found or whenever a school is gathered by the use of feeding or fattening, hundreds of lambaris start to jump out of the water and, of course, biting the tiny baits on the hooks, called, because of their size, "little mosquitoes" in many parts of Brazil. Anyway, one should be on the go: it is one bite after another and the fisherman, if the is really competent, will catch hundreds of them. A bucket should be put beside the fishermen so a not to waste time during the repeating battles.

Lambaris are found in every Brazilian basin, in lakes, dams and lagoons. There are many families of this small fish. But the fishing ritual is almost the same in all cases - a very light bamboo rod, thin line of the same size of the rod, small weight and a "mosquito" hook at the other end. Baits? Well, small pieces of cooked spaghetti or cheese, cuts of worms,  and/or special doughs will do.

Some friends of mine are specialists in this specific type of fishing. I must confess that my father taught me how to fish in lambari spots. I had good teachers for the learning of the skills I carry with me today: my father on the ground and, under the water, the clever lambari. 

In case you fish in Brazil and get somewhat tired of the big fish, try some lambaris. I am sure you are going to enjoy yourself. 

EZEQUIEL THEODORO DA SILVA is the editor of PESCARTE VIRTUAL MAGAZINE and the owner of this home page. 

ezequiel@pescarte.com.br