Famous for their size and wild condition, fish like the rainbow trout, brown trout, steelhead fontanels or stream trout, silver trout, the land-locked salmon and Pacific salmon fascinate the lovers of this sport in the Patagonian waters. Also very attractive in the area are native species such as the perch and the Patagonian silverside. Sharks, sea basses, sargos, chuchos [Southern eagle fish], rays, flat head fish and soles round off a unique offer in the warm waters of the Atlantic coastline.
Season and permits: The fishing season extends mainly from November to the mid April or May. However, it is possible to practice sport fishing in the Atlantic coast and in some Patagonian rivers all year long. Patagonian waters are protected and controlled to ensure sportsmen excellence and quality of resources, therefore in most areas, permits are mandatory and should be carried on visible places. Permits are obtained in each destination at the provincial tourism agencies or places appointed for such purpose.
Fish and return is the sport practiced in most parts of the Patagonian environs, although in some provinces there are specific zones where keeping your catches is allowed.
Río Negro
The mountain is the strategic center of a network of Andean rivers and lakes that can be easily accessed by sport fishermen. The Negro river fed by melting snows from its high basin all the way down to the sea, is one of the main watercourses in Patagonia, a 1000 kilometer long fishing corridor that satisfies the most diverse expectations. The Atlantic coast is characterized by its warm waters that constitute a 400 kilometer long privileged environment where you can fish either afloat or from the shore. In the Río Negro steppe, the Valcheta brook is ideal for catching rainbow trouts and the basin of the Maquinchao brook offers silversides and trouts. The brooks that originate at the mountain foothills and flow into the steppe are ideal for light tackle and dry tackle fishing.
Neuquén
The mouth of the Chimehuín river, the Correntoso river, and the mouth of the Limay river at the south of the province, and the Collón Cura, Caleufú, Quillén, Malleo, Aluminé, Pulmarí, Traful and Ruca Choroy rivers are the habitat of wild rainbow trouts, fontanels and brown trouts. These watercourses have earned international recognition and cannot be missed by fishing lovers. North, the Trocomán, Reñi Leuvu, Trolope, Nahueve rivers and the Varvarco lagoon, are ideal for the number of catches achieved during the season. The peace of the Huechulafquen, Tromen, Traful, Paimún, Aluminé, Nahuel Huapí and Lolog lakes, among others, captivates fishermen each new fishing season in Neuquén.
Tierra del Fuego
Brook trout, land-locked salmon, rainbow trout, sea trout, and brown trout are the specimens that can be caught in the north area of the Isla Grande and mainly in the city of Río Grande , considered the “International Capital of Trout”. Some other choices to practice this sport are: the Río Grande river, the Ewan and Menéndez River, the Bombilla, Suderland, Palacio, Margarita, Santa Laura and San Ricardo lagoons and the Fagnano and Escondido lakes.
Chubut
A wide variety of wild trouts: rainbow trout, brown trout, land-locked salmon as well as specimens of the Pacific salmon are found in the most pristine waters of the Chubut province. The Puelo lake in the ‘Comarca del Paralelo 42' , El Maitén and the Chubut river, the Los Alerces National Park with its Rivadavia river flowing from Cholila through the Carrileufu river or from Esquel and Trevelin through the Futaleufú river, the Corcovado river, the Pico river area, the upper Senguerr river reaching up to the La Plata lake or even the Ameghino dam are some of the best places where you can enjoy this sporting activity.
La Pampa
In the province of La Pampa, sport fishing finds excellent settings in the Anchorena, Don Tomás, Don Justo, Santa Teresa, El Miauco and La Dulce lagoons in Eduardo Castex. There, species such as silversides, frog catfish, tararira[Hoplias malabaricus] or dientudo[Oligosarcus jenynsi] can be caught in the season that extends from November up to end of August. In the Colorado River, where the season starts in December and finishes at the end of May, it is possible to catch trouts (rainbow or brown), perches and silversides always limiting the number of specimens caught to the maximum permitted for each case. Also the common carp can be found all year round in the provincial waters. |
