uruguai river — porto xavier
Islands, rapids and small waterfalls on the Uruguai River at the Argentine border, in the Missões region. Dorado, surubim and piava.
Porto Xavier is on the Rio Grande do Sul shore of the Uruguai River, facing the Argentine province of Misiones, with an international ferry port. Here the river runs between islands, rapids and small waterfalls, and the RS Tourism Secretariat cites sport fishing for dorado, piapara (piava) and surubim as an attraction for anglers from across the country. Dorado is caught in the rapids and rocky points with mid-water and natural baits; piava and surubim on the bottom, in the pools and channels between the islands. Inns, huts and fishing camps on the riverbank offer boats, guides and gear.
best season
From late summer to autumn, after the spawning closure, and in September. From Oct 1 to Jan 31 the Uruguai basin spawning closure (piracema) applies.
Local rules: Spawning closure (piracema) in the Uruguai basin, Oct 1 to Jan 31 (IN Ibama 193/2008): handline or rod only, one gear per angler and up to 5 kg, from unpowered boats only; fishing banned within 1,500 m of waterfalls and rapids, within 500 m of tributary mouths and in marginal lagoons, and competitions suspended. Dorado and surubim are on the RS list of threatened species (Decree 51.797/2014): good practice is to release them. Surubim is Vulnerable on the national list and may only be kept within the recovery plan, with a minimum of 80 cm in the Uruguai basin (PI MPA/MMA 15/2024). Border river: stay in Brazilian waters. Check local rules.
- getting there
- About 570 km from Porto Alegre, in the northwest of the state, on the Missões Route.
- facilities
- Inns, huts and fishing camps on the riverbanks, with motorboats, guides and fishing gear; international ferry port to Argentina.
- basin
- Uruguay
tip
In the rapids, dorado waits for food in the fast water just below the rocks: cast upstream and bring the bait back with the current.
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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
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Secretaria de Turismo do RS — Porto XavierIslands and rapids of the Uruguai River, sport fishing for dorado, piapara and surubim, and distance from Porto Alegre
- official Ibama — Defesos continentaisSpawning closure (piracema) in the Uruguai basin (IN Ibama 193/2008)
- official MPRS — Decreto estadual RS nº 51.797/2014 (lista de espécies ameaçadas do RS)Dorado (Vulnerable in the Uruguai basin) and surubim (Endangered) on the state list
- official MMA — Planos de recuperação para espécies aquáticas ameaçadas de extinçãoSurubim: recovery plan and minimum sizes by basin (PI MPA/MMA 15/2024)