paraguay river — bahía negra
Paraguay's northernmost port, on the Paraguay River, facing the Pantanal. Surubí, pacu and golden dorado in bays, pools and cutbanks.
Bahía Negra lies at the northern tip of the Paraguayan Chaco, on the right bank of the Paraguay River, near the mouth of the Negro River, which marks the border with Bolivia. Across the river begin the várzeas (floodplain) of the Pantanal, in Brazilian territory. SENATUR points to the river as the base of sport-fishing tourism in the four districts of Alto Paraguay. Surubí (surubim catfish; pintado and cachara) is the most sought-after fish, found on the bottom of pools, at bay mouths and along cutbanks, on natural bait. Pacu feed near vegetation and fruit falling into the water, golden dorado hunt in the currents, and piranha (palometa) are found almost everywhere. Fishing is from boats, on long river stretches and side bays, far from big cities.
best season
From falling water into the dry season, April to October, when the river drops and fish gather in pools and bay mouths. On this stretch the MADES closed season runs from November to late January.
Local rules: MADES sport fishing license required, including for foreigners (regional offices, such as Concepción, or the SIAM portal). The closed season applies to sport fishing; on the Paraguay River, from the Negro River mouth to the Apa, it ran Nov 2, 2025 to Jan 31, 2026 (Res. MADES 523/2025) and is renewed every year. Sport-caught fish may not be sold. The river is the border with Brazil: Brazilian waters require the license and the rules of Mato Grosso do Sul. The district has three national parks: follow the rules of each area. Check local rules.
- getting there
- It is about 820 km from Asunción, at the end of the Chaco roads, which are largely dirt and prone to rain. The Paraguay River is also a route for cargo and passenger boats.
- facilities
- Small infrastructure: basic shops in the village and few lodging options. Bring fuel, water, medicine and spare parts.
- country
- Alto Paraguay, Paraguay
tip
For surubí, live bait on the bottom at dusk and at night, with a sinker that holds in the current. Bring repellent and a mosquito net: the Pantanal has plenty of mosquitoes.
Loading…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Paraguay
The sport fishing license is issued by MADES, at the Asunción headquarters, at the regional offices (Pilar, Ayolas, Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, Coronel Oviedo and Concepción) or online through the SIAM portal. It requires a 3x4 photo and a copy of the document. Values released by MADES in April 2025: sport fishing G. 215,254; occasional sport fishing for nationals G. 107,627 (4 days); sport fishing for foreigners G. 322,881 (4 days). A sport fishing boat has its own registration. Valid for anyone who fishes, with or without a boat.
- Annual closed season set by MADES resolution, which also applies to sport fishing and prohibits the transport and sale of fish. In the 2025–2026 season (Resolution 523/2025): from November 2 to December 20, 2025 in waters shared with Argentina and in the other rivers; until January 31, 2026 in the Paraguay River upstream of the Apa River, in the Apa and in the Paraná upstream of the Yguazú River (waters shared with Brazil). During the closed season, selling and transporting live bait is also prohibited.
- Fish from sport and tourist fishing may not be sold (Law 3,556/2008, art. 18, cited in SEAM Resolution 650/2013).
- Foreign sport anglers need to register in the National Register of Fishers. SEAM Resolution 650/2013 limits transport as a trophy to up to 2 specimens of mixed species and 1 surubí or dorado, or up to 3 specimens of carimbatá, boga, pacu or patí. Confirm with MADES whether the limit remains the same.
- Monofilament nets are banned throughout the country (manufacture, possession, use, transport and sale), by MADES resolution.
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official SENATUR (Visit Paraguay) — Alto ParaguayThe four districts, Bahía Negra among them, lie on the Paraguay River, which favors fishing tourism; three national parks in Bahía Negra. The page does not list species; those cited here are the Paraguay River species in the Pantanal
- official SENATUR (Visit Paraguay) — Bahía Negra820 km from Asunción, near the Pantanal
- official MADES — MADES establece periodo de veda pesquera 2025–2026 (Resolución 523/2025)Paraguay River, from the confluence with the Negro River to the Apa: closed season Nov 2, 2025 to Jan 31, 2026, including for sport fishing
- official MADES — Licencias de pesca (tipos, requisitos y oficinas regionales, 2025)License for foreigners and Concepción regional office