Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment. The main source of contamination is antropogenic, and oil spills are one of the main PAHs sources for the aquatic environment. This work evaluates the usage of PAH metabolites in fish bile (Mugil liza) as biomarkers in the aquatic environment. For this evaluation two distinct areas were monitores: Guanabara Bay, RJ, known for its chronic oil contamination, and Itaipu, Niterói, RJ, the control area. Physico-chemical measurements: pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and transparency were made in situ and fish varying from 35 to 50 cm were selected for sampling homogeneity and sexual maturity. In the laboratory, morphometric measures were taken and the fish bile was extracted. After optimizing the analytical method the samples were analysed by diluting each bile sample in ethanol 48% (1:2000 v/v) and fluorimetric measurements were made in excitation/emission wavelengths of 332 nm/383 nm. The mean total PAHs concentrations in the bile samples collected in the Guanabara Bay were significantly different from the control area, Itaipu. In the Guanabara Bay the means were 7,0 ± 3,4 (n=19) and 10,4 ± 6,4 (n=12) mg L-1 pyrene equivalents, in winter and summer, respectively. In Itaipu, the mean HPA concentration was 1,8 ± 0,7 (n=11) mg L-1 pyrene equivalents. These results indicate that this method can differentiate contaminated areas from non contaminated ones, making the fish Mugil liza one possible biomonitor in the Guanabara Bay, RJ. Additionally, this analytical method has advantages compared to other methods because it is less time consuming and is inexpensive and therefore could be used as a preliminary monitoring tool.