uruguay river — salto grande (salto)
Large dorado in the current below the Salto Grande dam. Stretch reserved for sport fishing down to the port of Salto.
The binational Salto Grande dam blocks the migration of fish in the Uruguay River, and dorado gather in the churning water just below it. Between the dam and the port of Salto there are rapids, rocky ledges and channels with strong current. The stretch is famous for big dorado. Fishing is from a boat, with local guides, casting mid-water lures and flies, and trolling. Boga and surubim complete the list; river salmon (piracanjuba) also shows up, but it is banned and must be released. The opposite bank is Concordia, in Argentina.
best season
Dorado can only be fished from January to August: from September 1 to December 31 the CARU closed season applies. From late summer to autumn the best fishing days usually come.
Local rules: On the Uruguay River, the CARU closed season for dorado runs from Sep 1 to Dec 31, for both commercial and sport fishing (Res. 111/2023). Pacu, manguruyú, river salmon (piracanjuba), tiger surubim (cachara) and armado catfish are banned from fishing in all forms, including sport fishing (CARU Res. 8/98, as amended by Res. 59/12, and DINARA Res. 333/2022, art. 29): release any specimen. The stretch from 1,000 m below the dam to the port of Salto is a Reserve for Sport Fishing (Decree 179/018); in the safety zone next to the dam, fishing is only allowed with release, per the CARU regulations. In Uruguay sport fishing requires no license, but the fish cannot be sold or taken out of the country. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Salto is about 500 km from Montevideo via Route 3 and has an airport. The dam's bridge connects Salto with Concordia (Entre Ríos).
- facilities
- Hotels and thermal spas in the Salto area, fishing guides with boats, marinas and fishing shops.
- country
- Salto, Uruguay
tip
Heavy mid-water lures and reinforced treble hooks for the current. Use a short steel leader and release the dorado quickly, without keeping it out of the water too long.
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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
before you fish in Uruguay
In Uruguay sport fishing is open and requires no license, unless DINARA sets a prior permit for a certain zone, species, period or gear (Law 19.175, art. 44; Decree 115/018, art. 132). On the Uruguay River, the rules of the Administrative Commission of the Uruguay River (CARU) also apply.
- Golden dorado on the Uruguay River: CARU closed season from September 1 to December 31 each year, for commercial and sport fishing (CARU Res. 111/2023).
- Pacu, manguruyú, salmón de río (piracanjuba), tiger surubim (cachara) and armored catfish are prohibited from being fished: DINARA Res. 333/2022 (art. 29, 2nd paragraph) prohibits fishing for these species regardless of method, and on the Uruguay River CARU prohibits their capture in all fishing categories, including sport fishing (CARU Res. 8/98, as amended by CARU Res. 59/12). Release any specimen you hook.
- Fish from sport fishing may not be sold or leave the country (Decree 115/018, art. 133).
- Fishing is prohibited up to 1 km downstream of dams; at Salto Grande, sport fishing may be authorized, with release under the CARU regulation (Decree 115/018, art. 129).
- Between 1,000 m downstream of the Salto Grande dam and the port of Salto there is a Sport Fishing Reserve (Decree 179/018).
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 CARU — Resolución 111/2023 (defeso do dourado no rio Uruguai, de 1º/9 a 31/12 de cada ano)Applies to commercial and sport fishing; published in the Argentine Official Gazette on Aug 17, 2023
- official IMPO — Decreto 179/018 (Reserva para la Pesca Deportiva entre a represa de Salto Grande e o porto de Salto)
- official IMPO — Decreto 409/006 (pesca esportiva com devolução na represa de Salto Grande, conforme o regulamento da CARU)
- official IMPO — Ley 19.175, artículo 44 (pesca deportiva)Sport fishing is open, unless a permit is required for zone, species, period or gear
- official CARU — Resolución 59/2012 (nova redação da Res. CARU 8/98)Art. 1 of Res. 8/98: on the Uruguay River, bans catching pacu, manguruyú, river salmon, tiger surubim and four species of armado in all fishing categories, including sport fishing
- official MGAP/DINARA — Resolución nº 333/2022 (Reglamento General de la Pesca Artesanal), artículo 29Art. 29, para. 2: bans fishing for pacu, yellow manguruyú, river salmon, tiger surubim and four species of armado, without distinguishing fishing type