AbstractThe spatio‐temporal patterns of three species of Prochilodontidae larvae that are intensely used as fishery resources in Central Amazonia are analysed. Sampling was conducted during 2011 at four stages of the hydrological cycle (flood, high water, falling and low water phases). Sixteen collecting stations were located in different habitats (mouths of lake channels, “barrancos,” sandbars and the main river channel) along the Solimões and Japurá rivers. A total of 4,322 Prochilodontidae larvae were collected during this investigation, with most captures occurring in the Japurá River (76.3% of larvae), while only 23.7% of the samples were caught in the Solimões River. Most captures occurred during rising water, indicating a strong reproductive seasonality in these three species. Rainfall and water level, along with dissolved oxygen, water temperature and electric conductivity, determined the larvae's spatio‐temporal distribution. These results confirm the importance of várzea areas along white water rivers for the conservation, preservation and maintenance of heavily used fishery resources in the Brazilian Central Amazonia.