How each species is fished

Technique, season and minimum size, all eight together

Each species is fished differently, and the technique shapes the whole trip: drifting at night for a surubí is nothing like throwing surface lures at a tararira. Here are the guide's eight, side by side.

The closed season overrides any season: during it there is no fishing, and the dates change every year. Licence and closed season · Getting the licence · When to go

🐟 Golden dorado

Salminus brasiliensis

TechniqueSpinning with lures, fly and trolling
SeasonYear round outside the closed season; best from March to May and from August to October
Minimum size75 cm
WherePilar Paso de Patria Cerrito Ayolas y Corredor Paraná Ciudad del Este Encarnación y San Cosme Villa Florida Villeta e Ypeka'e Concepción Vallemí y San Lázaro Bahía Negra y Pantanal

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🐋 Surubí catfish

Pseudoplatystoma spp.

TechniqueLive bait in deep pools, night drifting
SeasonYear round (outside the closed season); from June to September it holds in the deep pools
Minimum sizeSpotted surubí (P. corruscans): 85 cm · Tiger surubí (P. fasciatum): 80 cm
WherePilar Paso de Patria Cerrito Ayolas y Corredor Paraná Ciudad del Este Encarnación y San Cosme Villa Florida Villeta e Ypeka'e Asunción y Chaco'i Concepción Vallemí y San Lázaro Bahía Negra y Pantanal

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🥭 Pacú

Piaractus mesopotamicus

TechniqueFruit baits, fly with fruit imitations
SeasonOn the Paraná, summer (December to March); on the Pantanal and the upper Paraguay, low water from July to October
Minimum size45 cm
WherePilar Paso de Patria Cerrito Ayolas y Corredor Paraná Ciudad del Este Encarnación y San Cosme Concepción Vallemí y San Lázaro Bahía Negra y Pantanal

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🔥 Pirá pytá

Brycon orbignyanus

TechniqueFly and small lures
SeasonSpring and summer
Minimum sizeThe MADES size card we publish does not name this species. That does not mean it has none: see the licence and closed season page.
WhereAyolas y Corredor Paraná Concepción

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🥖 Boga

Megaleporinus obtusidens

TechniqueCorn and dough baits, light tackle
SeasonYear round (outside the closed season)
Minimum size45 cm
WherePilar Paso de Patria Cerrito Ayolas y Corredor Paraná Ciudad del Este Encarnación y San Cosme Villa Florida

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⚡ Tararira (wolf fish)

Hoplias malabaricus

TechniqueTopwater: walkers and frogs, also fly
SeasonSeptember to April, in lagoons and marshes
Minimum sizeThe MADES size card we publish does not name this species. That does not mean it has none: see the licence and closed season page.
WhereVilla Florida Asunción y Chaco'i

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🌙 Patí catfish

Luciopimelodus pati

TechniqueBottom bait, dusk and night
SeasonYear round (outside the closed season)
Minimum size70 cm
WhereVilleta e Ypeka'e Asunción y Chaco'i

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🦷 Piranha

Pygocentrus / Serrasalmus spp.

TechniqueBait with wire leader
SeasonYear round (outside the closed season)
Minimum sizeThe MADES size card we publish does not name this species. That does not mean it has none: see the licence and closed season page.
WhereBahía Negra y Pantanal

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Where to buy gear and bait

The tackle and boating shops listed in the guide. Many lodges and guides lend gear: ask before packing.

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Pira Experience, the sport fishing guide to Paraguay
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