For many anglers, travelling to the very bottom of Argentina to target a species we can catch in our home waters may seem odd. But those who travel to the south to fish the waters of the Rio Grande and Rio Gallegos rarely do so only once. The rivers, the fish, the lodges, and the food keep many rods returning year upon year. More than anything, it is the opportunity to target huge sea trout that is the draw. Quite simply, both rivers are unique. There is no place in the world where the odds of catching a sea trout over twenty pounds are so largely stacked in your favour. This is not to say that landing one of these fish is guaranteed, but you will cover them, and with good fortune, one may even take.
- No other sea trout rivers in the world comes close to offering what the Rio Grande and Rio Gallegos can; especially when numbers and average size is viewed. These rivers produces sea trout of over 30 lbs on a seasonal basis, and sea trout of over 20 lbs are caught every week.
- The average weight of sea trout over a season is over 9 lbs. 1 in 5 is over 15 lbs, 1 in 50 will tip the scales between 20-25 lbs.
- Fishing pressure has decreased on both rivers. The amount of rods fishing the river on a weekly basis has decreased over the last few years, due to the lodges lowering the amount of rods they accept on a weekly basis, which means less fishing pressure.
- The run of sea trout in the Rio Grande is estimated at between 50,000-75,000. In fact, during the last study in 2008 it was estimated at 85,000. We don’t have statistics for the size of the run on the Rio Gallegos but it is safe to say that it has the se4cond largest sea trout run of any river in the world.
- Catch averages and expectancy is always difficult to predict as a lot of this depends of the current conditions, but at least two landed sea trout per day per rod is realistic. This does not include lost fish and most lodges do not count fish under 5 lbs.
- There is also a decent resident population of brown and rainbow trout that can be caught, along with the occasional steelhead and king salmon. The run of king salmon is increasing and these can be targeted in earnest in the early season, with November and early December being the prime period for these.
- Sea trout in the Rio Grande and Rio Gallegos are on average 17% heavier compared with sea trout from elsewhere of the same length. They are also on average 14-21% heavier than Atlantic salmon of the same length.
- Over the length of both rivers there are over ten excellent lodges, meaning that you should be able to find something that suits, as each one is very different in their pricing, amount of rods, amount of water, location of water and also general feel and ambience.
- Prime-time is during the southern hemisphere’s summer so you get to escape the winter blues and chase some warmth and sunshine. Why not tag on a couple of extra days in Buenos Aires or chasing dorado further north where temperatures are likely to be around thirty degrees Celsius. Even when fishing for sea trout you can expect days reaching twenty degrees plus.
- Travelling to this part of the world is about more than just the fishing all of the lodges on both rivers offer a wonderful mix of great win, great food and great company. The fishing is only part of the reason that so many rods return to these hallowed rivers year after year.
Click HERE to view our Argentina and Chile brochure. Click HERE for our 2026 sea trout availability.
For more information please contact Olly Thompson or call our office on +44 (0)1980 847 389.
