Sport fishing is a growing segment in the fishing sector in Brazil. It is, however, an activity that depends upon young shrimp and fish offer to supply live bait demand, its extraction might result on overfishing and compromise natural stock. The intensive cultivation in water recirculation system is a worldwide trend for aquaculture, which, in addition to increasing productivity, minimizes the impact of effluent emission on the environment, reinforcing sustainability. This study analyzed the economic viability of establishing farms for the cultivation of lambari (Deutorodon iguape) in water recirculation system to meet the market demand of sport fishing for live baits. Twelve fiberglass tanks with a volume of 1500 L and a unit area of 1.32 m 2 (production units-PU) were installed in a total area of 130m 2. There were also six fiberglass tanks of 2,000 L capacity each, filled with water and 600 kg of clamshells acting as biological filter. Three production cycles were performed, each lasting 60 days. In each cycle 10,800 D. iguape fingerlings were added, acquired from local fish farming, at a 600 fish m-3 density, totalizing 900 fish per PU, with medium size and weight of 10 ± 1.2 mm e 1.1 ± 0.29 g. We used the following indicators: modified internal rate of return (MIRR), net present value (NPV), annualized net present value (ANPV) and payback period (PP). The best scenario, with 90% survival rate and unitary selling prices of US$ 0.30, showed MIRR 33.19%, NPV (10%) US$ 42,174.03, ANPV (10%) US$ 6,863.63 and PP 0.9 years, demonstrating be interesting the production of live baits in the conditions proposed in this study.