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Dorado fishing in Argentina
The Dorado or Pirayú – this means golden fish in Guarani Language – comes from the family of the Salmon (Salminus Maxillosus). This fish is one of the most sought after by anglers worldwide, due to the tenacity and the resistance offered to the fishermen, this added to the beauty of its body and the environment where you can find it.
Many people thinks that it is related to the Salmon that we find in the Patagonia rivers as they look alike when it jumps out of the water, the strength it has and the long distances it can cover. But actually it is not related at all. The Dorado habits in the north part of Argentina, some parts of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil.
The predominant color is yellow and orange and the back will be greenish with spots and the same happens with each scale on the back but in brown. The color can vary depending the waters where it lives, meaning that in clear waters you will be able to see the golden color at its best and if the waters are turbid, then the color will have a tendency to silver. But, no matter where you are Dorado fishing, it will be one of the most beautiful fish you have ever seen in fresh water. These great colors are accompanied with a robust body a conical head and a mouth with a double line of teeth.
The Dorado makes long migrations throughout its life because it needs to cover long distances to be able to reproduce and fulfill its life cycle. It is an excellent swimmer that prefers water with vigorous riffles, plenty of oxygen and better possibilities to surprise their prey. It also has a great ability to adapt to calmer waters.
Its anatomical design – amplitude of the mouth, stomach and body length of the intestinal tract – enables it to swallow large pieces and digest quickly. It feeds on shad, catfish, bream, wolf fish, beetles and eels. It is a natural predator and from its earliest moments of life begins to feed on unicellular algae, but after 5 or 6 days it begins to eat aquatic insects and as it grows it will feed on small fish up to become a formidable hunter.
Males become fertile after the second year of life and females after the third. They release eggs into the stream so that the males fertilize them with sperm. These will hatch in the vicinity where the shad lives and prey on them from their earliest youth.
When the Dorado catches a prey, it begins a fast race, probably to get rid of the other fish that haunts him to snatch the food. This is the reason why when you are fishing it takes a violent run when it grabs the bait, fly or lure; making it an incredible fish to catch.
This amazing fish will live up to 10 years, being 3.61 feet long at this age with a weight of 28 pounds. When they are young, at 4 years old the size will be around 1 ft. 9 in. and a weight of 8 pounds.
At Argentina’s Best Hunting, we offer you the chance to enjoy Dorado fishing with the best accommodations and right by the Parana River. Estancia Cortaderas is open all year round so you can blend this great experience with dove hunting during the season September/April or enjoy our Mixed Bag program between the months of May to August. And if you prefer, you can take advantage of our Float Trip.
Trust me, once you try Dorado fishing, you won’t stop, the way this species fight and jumps out of the water is out of this world!
Only 1 hour flight from Buenos Aires and you are enjoying the best fishing in Argentina, you have the chance to try fly fishing or lure, depending in what you prefer. This is a good program for experienced fishermen and for the ones who are starting too. It’s a lot of fun and our guides are always available to help and coach.
Imagine all these excellent qualities and in one species and one lodge; are you ready to go for it?
