Freshwater sport fishing: characterization of operations in the middle Negro River, Amazonas, Brazil

The present study aimed to characterize the sport fishing that occurs in the middle Negro River region. The data collection was carried out with the application of semi-structured questionnaires to sport fishing operators and sport fishers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 142 questionnaires was applied. The results obtained from the questionnaires indicated that most of the operators are male (97.62%), whose ages ranging from 24 to 57 years old (44.09 ± 10.14 years old). The average duration of the season was six months, during which the companies operate in five different types of fishing tourism. The boat-hotel is the most adopted form of accommodation by operators, as well as being the oldest. Transport for the fishing trips is carried out in a greater quantity with semi-flat-nosed boats equipped with a 30-hp engine. Fishing operations are carried out depending on the type of operation, and trips last for seven days, with six fishing days. Twenty-two rivers were identified as being used for catche of Cichla temensis as the target species, and the main channel, the Aracá, Demeni and Cuiuni Rivers, was the most used.