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Mullet weighing about 7 kg was recorded in the largest haul of the season so far in Santa Catarina, on the morning of May 12, 2026, when fishermen caught approximately 13.7 thousand fish on Praia de Cima, in Palhoça, with the support of drones, canoes, and local artisanal dragnet.
The mullet became a highlight in Santa Catarina this Tuesday, May 12, 2026, after fishermen recorded a fish weighing approximately 7 kg during a mega-haul on Praia de Cima, in Palhoça, Greater Florianópolis. The catch occurred on the same day that about 13.7 thousand fish were taken from the sea in the largest haul of the season so far.
The episode drew attention not only for the size of the mullet, considered one of the largest of the season, but also for the scale of the artisanal operation. Drones helped locate two large schools of fish near the sand, while fishermen used canoes and a large dragnet to close the encirclement.
Giant mullet surprised fishermen during the largest haul of the season
The mullet weighing approximately 7 kg appeared among the large volume of fish caught on Praia de Cima. Its size drew so much attention that the record quickly circulated on social media, boosted by images published by Ramatis Ferreira Florêncio, linked to the SOS Naufragados page.
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According to the published reports, the fish was treated as possibly the largest specimen of the season so far. In a season marked by expectation, wind, monitoring, and tradition, a mullet of this size immediately becomes a symbol of the strength of the fish schools on the Santa Catarina coast.
The weight is impressive because mullet are usually closely monitored by fishermen during the season. When a large specimen appears in a numerous haul, it reinforces the perception that the fish schools have arrived in force in the region.
The case also gained visual appeal. The image of a mullet that “doesn’t fit in the basin” directly resonates with the type of scene that goes viral: simple, communal, unexpected, and linked to a very strong tradition in Santa Catarina.
Mega-haul gathered about 13.7 thousand fish in Palhoça
The haul recorded on the morning of May 12 occurred on Praia de Cima, in the Pinheira region, in Palhoça. According to the released records, the catch reached approximately 13.7 thousand mullets, a number that made the episode the largest of the season so far.
The movement was already expected by fishermen in the region, after signs of fish schools on beaches further south, such as Garopaba and Gamboa. This prior observation helped the workers prepare for a possible large haul in Palhoça.
Mullet fishing depends on reading the sea, collective experience, and quick action. When the fish schools approach the sand, the community needs to act together to position canoes, pull nets, and organize the removal of the fish.
Therefore, the mega-haul is not just a high number. It represents a coordinated operation, where artisanal fishermen combine tradition, physical strength, and technology to take advantage of the right moment for the passage of the fish schools.
Drones helped locate the fish schools near the sand
One of the most striking points of the operation was the use of drones. The aerial images showed the concentration of mullets in two large schools near the sand strip, which guided the encirclement made with canoes and a dragnet.
Technology does not replace the fishermen’s knowledge, but it expands their observation capacity. From above, it is easier to identify spots in the sea, fish movement, and the best time to start the haul.
This use shows how artisanal fishing is incorporating modern tools without abandoning community work. The drone points the way, but those who make the haul happen are still the fishermen on the sand, in the canoes, and with the net.
The combination of tradition and technology helps explain why the video gained so much repercussion. The scene mixes crystal clear sea, visible fish schools, dozens of workers, and a quantity of mullet difficult to ignore.
Praia de Cima entered the heart of the Santa Catarina mullet season
Praia de Cima, in Palhoça, became the center of attention after the big haul. The region was already on the fishermen’s radar due to the movement observed on nearby beaches, which indicated the possibility of schools of fish arriving at the coast.
The episode occurred almost two weeks after the official opening of the mullet season in Florianópolis, held on May 1st, in an event linked to the tradition of artisanal fishing on the Santa Catarina coast.
For the fishing community, these first large hauls are important because they signal the pace of the season. When the school of fish appears in significant volume, expectations for the coming fishing days increase.
The mullet season not only moves boats and nets; it also mobilizes culture, local economy, and community identity. In Santa Catarina, this fish is part of the table, tradition, and daily routine of many families.
Drag net and canoes keep tradition alive
Despite the use of drones, the basis of the haul remained artisanal. The operation involved canoes and a large drag net, used to encircle the schools of fish near the beach and guide them to the sand.
This type of fishing requires coordination among several people. Each stage matters: observing the sea, positioning the canoe, casting the net, closing the circle, and pulling the entire setup with enough force to bring the mullet to the sandy strip.
The scene of many fishermen gathered reinforces the collective nature of the activity. It is not an individual capture, but a shared effort, where the result depends on community organization.
It is precisely this unity that transforms a mullet haul into a popular spectacle. Those who watch see fish, but also tradition, hard work, and a practice passed down through generations on the coast.
Large mullet increases repercussion of an already awaited season
The giant 7 kg mullet further boosted news that would already be significant due to the volume of the mega haul. In a single morning, the episode brought together a high number of fish, monitoring technology, aerial images, and an unusual specimen.
This combination explains the repercussion on social media. The public is impressed by the quantity, but also by the contrast between the scale of the haul and the simplicity of beach fishing.
For fishermen, the catch has symbolic and economic weight. A large haul can represent relief, celebration, and recognition of the effort of those who follow the season from the first signs in the sea.
At the same time, the scene rekindles conversations about tradition, sustainability, and the future of artisanal fishing. The bigger the spectacle, the greater the attention on how the activity is carried out and how marine resources are preserved.
Mega haul shows the strength of artisanal fishing in Santa Catarina
The mullet season in Santa Catarina remains one of the most striking expressions of artisanal fishing in Southern Brazil. The Palhoça haul shows that the activity continues to mobilize fishermen, residents, visitors, and social media.
The presence of drones indicates an adaptation to new times, but the heart of the operation remains in collective work. Technology helps to spot the school of fish; the community does the rest.
In the end, the giant 7 kg mullet and the 13,700 fish caught in Praia de Cima transformed a morning of fishing into a memorable scene of the season. Do you think the use of drones strengthens artisanal fishing or changes an ancient tradition of the Santa Catarina coast too much? Share your opinion.
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