The fishing activity has a great importance to the socioeconomic development of Para coastal communities, as fishing is one of the main means of income for these communities. Thus, the present study is aimed to characterize the socioeconomic and technological aspects of fishing in Sao Joao de Pirabas, located on the coast of the state of Para, by carrying fifty semi-structured interviews with local fishermen. It was found that the fishing has been mostly an activity practiced by adult men (mean 45.6 years), coming from sixteen Para municipalities and five other Brazilian states, with an average time of residence in the region for about 31years. The respondents had a low level of schooling and, mostly, presented wives (56.0%) and about 3 children. The average number of residents per household was four people, with houses made of brick, wood or wattle-and-daub. Fishing was the main activity of income and livelihood of respondents. Seven gears were identified (network gill nets, hook and line, longline, fish corrals, cast net, basket trap and line net of tide canals), aimed at capturing at least 15 target species, especially mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla), serraspanish mackerel (Scomberomorus brasiliensis), king weakfish (Macrodon ancylodon), corvina (Cynoscion spp.), hake (Cynoscion spp.), catfish (Bagre bagre), and mullet (Mugil spp.). Fishing was performed throughout the year in the region. The fishermen used boats like canoes, motorized canoes, small-size boat and medium-size boat, to dislocate to fishing areas with distant of 2-300 miles; the travel time ranged from 0.33 to 72.0 hours and, fishing time ranged from 0.5 to 19 days.