Lagoa Santa (GO) Fishing Festival

The Fishing Festival is the oldest event on Lagoa Santa's calendar: in 2026 it reaches its 22nd edition, which makes it practically the same age as the municipality, emancipated in 1997. It is a sport fishing tournament contested in pairs at the Clarito Pereira Campos Municipal Lake, with registration through the City Hall, and it brings together anglers from the town, from neighboring Itajá, Paranaíba and Cassilândia, and from further afield. This guide explains how it works, how to take part and what to bring.

What the festival is

Lagoa Santa is an anglers' town. The Aporé River, a few kilometers from the center, has rapids, calm pools and a good reputation among those who fish, and the thermal lagoon is full of visible fish (there, however, fishing is prohibited). The festival brings this tradition to a controlled setting: the Clarito Pereira Campos Municipal Lake, an urban lake where the City Hall also organizes fishing pools throughout the year and where Carnalagoa and other events take place.

The competition is in pairs. Each pair fishes from a marked spot on the shore, within the set time, and the ranking follows the rules of each edition, usually by the weight or size of the fish caught. There are prizes for the top places and, in several editions, extra prizes such as for the biggest fish. Besides the competition, the day usually has food stalls and music around the lake, which turns the tournament into a party for the whole family.

When: 2026 edition and beyond

The 22nd edition of the Lagoa Santa Fishing Festival is confirmed for 2026, in the pairs format. The exact date, time and registration fee were not in the information available when this page was written: check with the City Hall on (64) 3640-1303, WhatsApp (64) 99612-9341 or at lagoasanta.go.gov.br/noticias/. The same applies to the 23rd edition, in 2027.

An important detail for planning: the region's fishing tournaments take place outside the piracema, the fish breeding season when fishing is prohibited or restricted in the rivers of Goiás, generally between November and February (the exact dates are published each year by the environmental authorities; confirm). That is why the festival is usually held between March and October.

The fishing pools (bolões)

Besides the annual festival, the Municipal Lake hosts bolões de pesca: smaller, more frequent tournaments in which participants pay a share and the amount collected forms the prize, divided according to the rules (biggest fish, greatest total weight, etc.). They are a good way in for those who want to get to know the setting before taking on the festival. Dates and fees: check with the City Hall or the CIAT, the Tourist Information and Service Center, on (64) 3640-1224.

How to take part

1. Follow the announcements. The City Hall announces the date, rules and registration period on its website and social media, usually a few weeks in advance.
2. Register your pair at the City Hall (R. Valdomiro Teodoro Rios, Centro; Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Bring photo ID for both members and the registration fee, if any. Check whether registration by WhatsApp or online is available.
3. Read the rules. They set the start and end times, the type of bait allowed, the number of rods per pair, the measuring method and the tie-break criteria.
4. Arrive early on the day. The draw or choice of fishing spots on the shore usually takes place before the start, and the best places go first.

Usual rules in sport fishing tournaments

Each edition has its own rules, but tournaments of this kind follow a pattern worth knowing before you register:

• Catch and release: in many tournaments the fish is measured or weighed by an official and returned alive to the water. Bring lip-grip pliers and avoid touching the fish with dry hands.
• Measurement by an official: only fish measured or weighed by the organizers, on the official ruler or scale, within the competition time, count.
• Bait and equipment: the rules define whether natural bait, artificial lures or both are allowed, and the number of rods per participant. Barbless hooks are often required in catch and release.
• Recreational fishing license: to fish in public rivers and lakes in Brazil you need the Recreational Fishing License (Licença de Pesca Amadora), issued by the Federal Government (there are exemptions for some age groups and situations). At municipal lakes and organized events the requirement may vary; confirm with the City Hall, but keep the document up to date if you also plan to fish in the Aporé River.
• Minimum size and protected species: respect the minimum sizes per species set by law and the piracema rules.

What to bring

• Rods, spinning or baitcasting reel, spare line, sinkers and hooks according to the rules; plenty of bait.
• A chair, a beach umbrella or small tent, a cap, sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Plenty of water, snacks and a cooler with ice.
• Pliers, a hand scale (for your own checks), a ruler and a damp cloth for handling the fish.
• Photo ID and proof of registration.

Fishing outside the festival

Those who come to Lagoa Santa at another time can fish in the Aporé River, from the bank or by boat, with support from the waterfront guesthouses and the anglers' houses in the district of São João do Aporé. Everything about species, spots and seasons is on Fishing in Lagoa Santa.