Fresh Argentina Fishing Reports

We had a wonderful day of fishing! We started the day with the Ain River rising. The water temperature was around 20 degrees Celsius, with a slight north/northeast turn. The first casts were at the mouths of streams that bring clear water and plenty of small fish, which are food for the golden dorado. We set some lines with natural bait (preferably pieces of yellowtail catfish caught locally) and eels. The clear water and the fish's constant predisposition allowed us to also fish with artificial lures. Until midday, we fished in this area and were able to land several small and medium-sized golden dorados and some permit and piranhas. As the tide began to change, we also changed locations and navigated to the banks and channels well out in the river. The wind was also changing and was now shifting to the east/southeast. In this area, we chose to drift fish. We used larger bait (sabalos and medium-sized yellowtails) on lines rigged with steel leaders and without any weights, so that our baits could work as freely as possible. During this second part of the day, we were able to land several dorados weighing between 5 and 7 kilos, which put up a tough fight. The oddity of the day was that spinning isn't usually done in the middle of the Rio de la Plata—the widest river in the world. The chances of landing dorado using this type of fishing are extremely low. Nevertheless, my client began casting, alternating lures and searching at different depths. The point was that we could see the golden dorado hunting quite close to our boat until one of them, about 6 kilos, fiercely took one of the lures. The golden dorado, with quick and powerful runs, forced the angler to completely circle the boat. This is the first time, in 37 years of guiding on the Rio de la Plata, that I've seen a golden dorado take a lure in the middle of the river, using the spinning method. Congratulations to the angler! As always, if you have any questions regarding this fishing, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you very much, and keep your lines taut. Captain Mauricio

Today we chose a banked area crossed by a channel, approximately a 45-minute boat ride from the port. We fished with the river rising for about three hours and the rest of the day with the river falling. All fishing was done by drifting. We took advantage of the wind to cross the channel several times, heading northwest to southeast. On most of our passes, we found the fish feeding close to the bank on the windward side. We used floating lines (with a buoy) and midwater lines. We used small live fish as bait. Graphite and carbon rods. Front and rotating reels were loaded with 30-pound multifilament line. The air temperature in the morning was 5 degrees Celsius and reached 16 degrees Celsius by midday. The water temperature remained between 14.8 and 15.9 degrees Celsius throughout the day. We finally landed three golden dorado and several catfish. Many thanks to my anglers today! It was a pleasure sharing my boat with them. Captain Mauricio

We went on a four-hour fishing trip. This time it was in the afternoon, after a morning with a rising river, some rain, low water pressure, and a strong northerly wind. This time we chose to drift fish in an area of banks and small channels about a 45-minute sail from the port. Almost halfway between Argentina and Uruguay. Some lines were weighted with a 10-gram lead, and one was rigged with a sliding buoy, allowing the bait to work at a depth of 80 centimeters. We used several types of live bait: eels, moray eels, and small fish with the hook through their backs. We were able to catch several golden dorado and ultimately landed six or seven on the boat. The water is still warm (25/27 degrees Fahrenheit depending on whether it's a bank or a channel), which makes the dorados very aggressive and eager to take bait. Towards sunset, the wind shifted to the south/southeast, and the intensity of the golden dorado strikes diminished. Only a few piranhas were eating our bait. We decided the fishing was done and sailed back to the port without any problems. As always, if you have any questions or would like to know more about fishing in Argentina, please don't hesitate to contact me. Captain Mauricio

After several days of storms and bad weather, the sun finally came out today. The wind was from the north-northeast all day. The river started to drop at 11 AM. The water temperature was 29 degrees on the banks and 27 in the channels. As bait we used small fish (catfish and sábalos), some eels and moray eels. What the Golden Dorados liked the most today were the sábalos) We fished with lines with two 8/0 hooks, mounted on a 30 lb. steel leader, one of the lines, with a buoy that helped the bait work at 80 cm. from the surface. We had bites on all of them!!! Unlike other days, today there were fewer dorados, but all were bigger (between 4 and 7 kilos) We had a wonderful day!!! Tomorrow we return to look for more Golden Dorados!! Captain Mauricio

Today we went fishing again in the Río de la Plata. We chose an area of banks, where the golden dorados were hunting for small fish. When the dorados are less than 5 kilos, they hunt in schools. We used lines that were bouncing along the bottom and a floating line. In all of them we had very good attacks. As bait, we use eels and some fish called shad. The water temperature was 27.5 degrees. The wind was light from the north/northeast. For this fishing, 8/0 hooks fitted with steel leaders are used to prevent the powerful teeth of the dorado from cutting our line. Between two fishermen, they finally managed to get 8 dorado into the boat. Captain Mauricio

Today we had a good day of fishing again!!! We had several pique de golden dorado. They all worked in lines that touched the bottom of the river from time to time. We finally managed to land 5 of them. We also had bites of different types of catfish. Even one called Surubí who is one of the most fighters on the river. We use different types of bait: Eels, small catfish, small fish that we call morays and even fish similar to eels that are called morays. All baits were effective. We did the fishing drifting, in depths ranging from 12 feet to 2.5 feet. To slow down the drift, we use a cape anchor or drift anchor. Very useful too, to be able to use the entire side of the boat. As always, if you have any questions, please let me know. I will respond as soon as possible. Tight lines! Captain Mauricio