When you think of Argentina, things like the tango, wine, food, and soccer all come to mind quickly. What you might not know is that this country also features plenty of freshwater fishing opportunities. Diehard anglers can experience the sport in a whole new way here, especially when it comes to fly fishing in Argentina.
Fishing in the South
In the south, sportfishing is all about Brown Trout. Argentina is world-renowned for its sea-run Brown Trout fishing as well as being a top destination for river Brown Trout. As the fishery is so good in Argentina, you’ll find that many captains run multiple day trips. You can make the most of your trip and visit various rivers this way.
Tierra del Fuego (the “Land of Fire”) is the best place to target sea-run Brown Trout. These fish are strong, large, and put up a good fight. Experience is recommended to fish for them. September to March is the best time to target these saltwater fish, which can reach up to 20 pounds, much larger than their relatives inshore.
Head further north for freshwater Trout in the Lake District. You’ll also be able to target Steelhead and Brook Trout when fishing for Brown Trout.
You can catch Brown Trout here from spring to fall, which runs from November to May in this part of the world.
You can also target land-locked Salmon in North Patagonia, which is a subspecies of the Atlantic Salmon. Rainbow Trout is also a popular fish to catch in more mountainous areas. If you want to head offshore, target Yellowtail from February to May.
Fishing in the North
The top catch in the north is Golden Dorado. Head to Buenos Aires or the northeast of Argentina. You can fish on multiple rivers, including the Uruguay River, the Amazon Basin, the Rio de la Plata, and many more. Bigger Dorado can be found in the Rio de la Plata compared to the Amazon Basin.
These can reach up to 60 pounds, although they’re regularly 30 pounds or less. They should be released once you’ve taken your photo. The Golden Dorado is also called the “tiger of the river” and puts up a fight just like Tarpon – it jumps once caught and puts up an impressive and aggressive fight. Expect to get up to 20 hits a day, but you’ll probably only be able to bring half of these onto the boat!
When fishing gear isn’t included in your charter, you’ll want to bring 6–9 wt fly fishing rods. You’ll be ready to target Golden Dorado if you’ve tried fly fishing for Tarpon or Salmon before. Use your larger flies and you’ll be reeling in the fish in no time.
Dorado can be found throughout the year, but are best from September to June. Once winter hits the southern hemisphere, targeting these fish becomes more difficult.
Other species you can target when fishing for Dorado are a variety of Catfish. This includes Bagre Blanco (White Catfish) and Bagre Amarillo (Yellow Catfish), which can reach up to 45 pounds in Argentina. You’ll also be reeling in Tararira (Wolf Fish), Pacu (type of Piranha), Pejerrey (Silverside), and more. Offshore, you can target Mero. Close to shore this usually weighs 5 kilograms but can reach 120 kilograms further out.
What to Expect
You’ll usually find that fishing gear and tackle are included in the price of your charter, along with the fishing license for the day. The main stars of these waters are catch and release only, but there are some tasty fish that can be kept. The captain will let you know which fish you’re allowed to take home.
Trips can be anywhere from four hours to multiple days, depending on what you’re fishing for and how far off the beaten track you want to go. The longer trips are best suited for experienced anglers.
Traveling anglers will cherish their experience fishing in Argentina, testing their skills on the fly and breaking their personal bests for inshore fishing!