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Aerial record made in Garopaba shows thousands of mullets concentrated in the sea during the Santa Catarina harvest, while another catch in Imbituba reached a historic volume, according to local fishermen, in a period that boosts the economy and artisanal fishing on the coast of Santa Catarina.
Thousands of mullets formed a large dark spot in the crystal-clear sea of Praia da Vigia, in Garopaba, in the south of Santa Catarina, during a catch recorded on the morning of Monday (25).
According to the estimate attributed to resident Luiz Henrique da Silva, author of the aerial images, about 20,000 fish were surrounded by fishermen in the haul made near the sand strip.
In the record, the school appears concentrated in a circular shape, while the net surrounds the fish and mobilizes fishermen, residents, and people who followed the movement on the beach during the removal.
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Seen from above, the images show the contrast between the dark concentration of mullets and the transparency of the water, allowing the dimension of the encirclement formed during the fishing to be observed.
The catch in Garopaba occurred within the artisanal mullet fishing season in Santa Catarina, which started on May 1st, according to the calendar applied to the activity on the state’s coast.
In the state, the harvest involves families, fishing huts, restaurants, local commerce, and communities that have preserved practices associated with Azorean colonization for more than two centuries.
Giant school mobilizes fishermen in Garopaba
At Praia da Vigia, the fish were spotted in the sea before the encirclement, a necessary step to guide the fishermen’s action and determine the moment to cast the net.
After the watchmen’s warning, fishermen organized on the sand, entered the sea with the boat, and guided the net around the school to reduce the dispersion of the mullets.
The capture depends on a coordinated sequence between those observing the sea, those steering the boat, and those remaining on the sand strip to help retrieve the net.
At different points along the Santa Catarina coast, residents and visitors also usually participate in the haul, following the guidance of the fishermen responsible for the catch.
The images taken by Luiz Henrique da Silva captured the moment when the school of fish was concentrated in a visible area of the beach, near the section where the net was retrieved.
The visual effect described as a dark spot in the sea was caused by the large number of mullets gathered within the enclosure during the fishing operation.
Although the exact count of fish in captures of this size is difficult, the estimate released by the author of the images points to approximately 20,000 mullets in the Garopaba haul.
The information presents the approximate size of the capture but does not replace the technical measurement by weighing, a procedure frequently used when the quantity removed from the sea is high.
Historic mullet capture in Itapirubá Norte
Besides Garopaba, the season recorded another large volume result in the southern part of Santa Catarina, in an area also linked to artisanal mullet fishing.
At Itapirubá Norte Beach, in Imbituba, fishermen removed about 70 tons of mullet in two hauls, a quantity considered historic by workers in the activity.
In this case, the fish were not counted individually but weighed after being removed from the sea, according to the procedure used in large volume captures.
Weighing allows for a more feasible measurement of production when the quantity of fish is high and counting by unit does not meet the operational routine of the fishermen.
The result in Imbituba shows the economic relevance of mullet for the coastal cities of Santa Catarina, especially during the months of greater presence of schools along the coast.
During the season, the circulation of the fish supplies markets, fishmongers, restaurants, and direct sales, as well as generating income for artisanal fishermen and their families.
The concentration of large schools also alters the routine of the beaches, especially in areas where artisanal fishing occupies a regular space during the mullet season.
In some regions, ranches, boats, nets, and support teams remain on the sand strip during the periods when fish approach the coast.
Mullet season moves the Santa Catarina coast
The mullet appears in greater volume on the Santa Catarina coast during the reproductive migration, when schools leave the Lagoa dos Patos region in Rio Grande do Sul and head north.
This movement is associated with cold fronts and the search for waters suitable for spawning, a dynamic observed by fishermen during the species’ season.
Because of this behavior, fishermen monitor changes in wind, temperature, and tide before deciding on the possibility of entering the sea and casting the nets.
When conditions favor the approach of the schools, the lookouts begin to observe the sea from cliffs, dunes, or elevated points near the beach.
In Santa Catarina, the season reaches different coastal cities, with highlights in regions like Florianópolis, Bombinhas, Laguna, Garopaba, and Imbituba.
Each locality maintains its own forms of organization, but beach seining retains common elements, such as the lookout’s alert and the collective pulling of the net.
The 2026 season began with a higher capture limit in Santa Catarina, according to information released by the state government regarding the season’s rules.
For beach seining, a method associated with artisanal fishing, authorization was opened on May 1st and follows the calendar defined for fishery management.
Mullet fishing rules affect beaches and surfing
In Florianópolis, the presence of the schools also interferes with the practice of sports in the sea during the period of greatest activity of artisanal fishing.
The Municipal Law 10.020/2016 regulates surfing during the mullet season and was considered constitutional by the Court of Justice of Santa Catarina in a decision released in March 2023.
According to the rule analyzed by the TJSC, the reference period for mullet fishing on the Island of Santa Catarina runs from May 1st to July 10th.
The rule allows surfing at designated points and provides for the use of green or red flags on other beaches to indicate whether the activity is permitted or prohibited.
The restriction aims to reduce conflicts between fishermen and surfers during fishing operations, especially when schools of fish approach the coast and require rapid movement of the boats.
In areas where the red flag is installed, artisanal fishing operations take priority, as indicated by the signage adopted during the mullet season.
In the decision, the court noted that the regulation considers local interest, the subsistence of fishermen, the economy related to the activity, and the protection of cultural heritage.
The understanding also preserved the possibility of surfing in authorized areas and in locations without restrictive signage during the period the rules are in effect.
Artisanal fishing depends on lookouts and collective work
The fishing operation begins before the net touches the water, with the observation of the sea by lookouts positioned at strategic points on the beach or cliffs.
These observers watch for signs of the school, such as patches, ripples, and changes on the surface, to indicate to the fishermen the right moment to start the encirclement.
When the presence of mullets is confirmed, the alert reaches the fishermen who remain on standby on the beach, where boats and nets are prepared for departure.
After the alert, the boat takes the net to surround the fish and close the encirclement, in an action that must occur before the school disperses.
From this point, fishermen and helpers pull the ends towards the sand, in a task that can last hours depending on the size of the school and sea conditions.
In larger catches, such as those recorded in Garopaba and Imbituba, the retrieval requires coordination between the boat crew, the fishermen on land, and the supporters present on the beach.
This collective work is part of the harvest routine and combines economic production, the supply of fresh food, and the preservation of traditional practices of the Santa Catarina coast.
The participation of residents and onlookers in the net pulling also helps explain the presence of the public on the beaches during the mullet fishing operations.
Even when not part of the fishing teams, some people closely follow the work and assist in the retrieval, always under the guidance of the responsible fishermen.
At the end of the process, the fish are sorted, weighed, and destined for sale or consumption, according to the organization of each fishing camp.
In large catches, weighing replaces individual counting and allows for more precise operational recording of the harvest size.
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