Species › South & Central America › Golden Dorado

Freshwater

Golden Dorado

Salminus brasiliensis · Dorado, Dourado, River tiger

Water temp
68–81°F
Peak season
Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct
Best light
Dawn · Dusk
IGFA record
—
Golden Dorado (Johann Natterer - Dourado (Salminus brasiliensis).jpg)

Photo: Johann Natterer · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Golden dorado are thick, deep-bodied fish with gold flanks, black-edged scales, a large head with a heavy jaw full of conical teeth and a red-orange tail with a black stripe. Despite the name they are not related to salmon or mahi-mahi; they belong to the characin group. They are native to the Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay and upper Chapare river systems of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay, hunting sábalo and other baitfish in fast current, eddies and the mouths of marsh channels. Dorado feed in daylight with a preference for dawn and dusk and are known for savage strikes, repeated jumps and brutal first runs, making them the fly-fishing prize of South American freshwater.

Typical size5–15 lb (2–7 kg); 20–32 in
Trophy30 lb+ (14 kg+); 40 lb+ is exceptional
Table fareGood — firm flesh, but prized sport fisheries are catch-and-release

Where & when

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Fished year-round in the Iberá marshes and Paraná, with peaks in spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) when water is warm but stable; Argentina closes the Paraná fishery during the spring spawn in some provinces.

Paraná River (Corrientes), ArgentinaHistoric big-dorado water; home of the national dorado festivalIberá Marshes, ArgentinaClear marsh channels; premier fly-fishing destinationUruguay River (Salto Grande), UruguayTailwater below the dam; big dorado

How to catch

Streamers on an 8–9 weight fly rodCast 4–6 in baitfish streamers with a sinking or intermediate line into current seams, eddies and the mouths of marsh channels, then strip fast and erratically. Strip-set hard with the line hand, never the rod, and use a wire or heavy mono bite tippet against the teeth.
Casting minnows and spoonsCast 4–5 in minnow plugs, jerkbaits or heavy spoons across fast water and retrieve with sharp twitches. Dorado strike on the move and jump at once, so keep steady pressure and a low rod to stop them throwing the lure.

Gear

Rod9' 8–9 wt fly rod, or 7' medium-heavy casting or spinning
ReelLarge-arbor fly reel with strong drag, or 300-size baitcaster / 4000 spinning
LineIntermediate or sink-tip fly line with 40 lb mono and wire bite tippet; 30–50 lb braid with 40–60 lb leader for lures

Lures

Large baitfish streamerMinnow plug or jerkbaitHeavy casting spoon

Baits

Live sábalo (where legal)Live or dead baitfish

Regulations

Argentine provinces require a sport-fishing licence and set minimum sizes, bag limits and spring closed seasons for dorado, with catch-and-release mandatory on much of the Paraná and in Iberá; Brazil and Uruguay have their own licences and limits. Rules vary by province and country.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Why is the golden dorado so popular with fly anglers?

Dorado hit streamers with violent, visible strikes in clear, fast water, then jump repeatedly and run hard, combining the best of tarpon and trout fishing in a freshwater river setting. They respond well to big flies and aggressive retrieves, grow past 30 lb, and live in wild, beautiful places like the Iberá marshes, which makes them a bucket-list fish.

Bite forecast — Golden Dorado

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Golden Dorado.

Pin: