Paraguay river or Paraná river: which basin to choose for fishing

Paraguay has two big rivers and twelve fishing areas spread between them. Neither is better: there is one for each fish, each month and each way of travelling.

Published 22 September 2026

Paraguay riverBahía Negra y Pantanal, Vallemí y San Lázaro, Concepción, Asunción y Chaco'i, Villeta e Ypeka'e and Pilar
Paraná riverCiudad del Este, Encarnación y San Cosme, Ayolas y Corredor Paraná and Cerrito; Paso de Patria at the confluence of the two
ApartVilla Florida, on the Tebicuary, a tributary of the Paraguay
Closed seasonStarts in the first days of November: until December 20 on the Paraná with Argentina and inland waters, until January 31 of the following year in waters with Brazil
Sleeping aboard3 houseboats in the guide: the houseboats

The Paraguay river comes down from the Pantanal through the middle of the country, past Concepción and Asunción, and joins the Paraná at Paso de Patria. The Paraná comes from the east, from Itaipú and Yacyretá, and forms the border with Argentina from the mouth of the Iguazú to the confluence. The guide's twelve areas are split between them: six on the Paraguay, four on the Paraná, one at the confluence and one on the Tebicuary, a tributary of the Paraguay. Choosing the basin is the first decision of the trip, and it comes down to four things: the fish, the month, the closed season and how you want to get there.

By the fish

By the closed season: two dates, depending on the opposite bank

The MADES closed season starts in the first days of November nationwide, but it ends on two dates, and which one depends on the country on the other bank. In waters shared with Argentina, and in inland rivers and lagoons, it runs until December 20. In waters shared with Brazil it runs until January 31 of the following year: six weeks longer. In the guide's areas:

For anyone travelling in January that settles the basin on its own: the Paraná and the southern Paraguay river are open, the Pantanal is not. MADES publishes the exact dates each year, and the month by month is in the month-by-month calendar.

By how you get there

The Paraná is the tarmac basin: Encarnación y San Cosme and Ciudad del Este are cities, Ayolas y Corredor Paraná and Cerrito have a road, fishing hotels with decades behind them, and are the areas where the most Portuguese is spoken. The Paraguay river splits in two: to the south, Asunción y Chaco'i and Villeta e Ypeka'e are the day trip from the capital, with Pilar and its Easter tournament further down; to the north, Concepción is the river gateway and from there up the river is in charge: you reach Bahía Negra y Pantanal by light aircraft or by boat up the Paraguay river from Concepción.

That is why the houseboat is mostly a Paraguay river thing: the Yate Siete Cabrillas sails from Concepción northwards on trips of 2 to 7 nights, and the Barco Hotel Rejane is based at Humaitá, between Paso de Patria and Pilar. On the Paraná, the Barco Pérola do Iguaçu leaves from Ayolas. The 3 are in the houseboats.

By the river on the day

The two basins rise and fall at their own pace, and the level is the first thing the guide looks at: surubí in the holes wants a low Paraguay river, and so does Pantanal pacú. The guide publishes the day's height at one gauge per area, in today's river levels: the figure is the height above the port gauge's zero, it is for comparing with previous days, and what it means on his stretch is for the person taking you out to say.

So, which one?

Each area, with its verified places, map and direct contact: the fishing areas. The species one by one, with season, technique and size: the species.

What you will not find here: "the best basin". We have not measured it, and it depends on the fish, the month and that week's river. What you will: which river each species and each date points to, according to the data the guide holds.

Frequently asked questions

Where is dorado fished in Paraguay, the Paraguay river or the Paraná?

In both, but the hub is the Paraná below Yacyretá: Ayolas, Cerrito and the confluence at Paso de Patria. Season year round outside the closed season; best from march to may and from august to october.

And big surubí?

In the holes of the Paraguay river to the north: Concepción, Vallemí and Bahía Negra, year round (outside the closed season); from june to september it holds in the deep pools.

Why does pacú have two seasons?

Because it is split by basin: on the Paraná, summer (december to march); on the Pantanal and the upper Paraguay, low water from july to october.

On which river does the closed season end first?

In waters shared with Argentina and inland waters: until December 20. In waters shared with Brazil, the Pantanal and the Upper Paraná at Itaipú, until January 31 of the following year. MADES publishes the exact dates each year.

Sources. Every fact in this note comes from one of these sources, read when it was written. What is not here, we do not claim.
  1. Las doce zonas de Pira Experience, con el río, las especies y los lugares verificados de cada una
  2. Las especies de Pira Experience, con la temporada verificada de cada una
  3. MADES, Resolución N° 523/2025: veda 2025-2026, hasta el 20 de diciembre en aguas con Argentina e internas y hasta el 31 de enero en aguas con Brasil
  4. Nivel del río, una estación por zona (Pira Experience)
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The fishing areas When to go FAQ Fishing notes

Pira Experience, the sport fishing guide to Paraguay