Patagonia is doubtless one of the remarkable and world category destinations, especially for the capture of the big Searun Trouts that live in the majority of the region rivers and that reach big sizes (10 kgs., 21 lbs).

Fishing conditions are very especial, with long days in summer and moderate winds. The infrastructure is very developed in the fishing niches, with comfortable lodgings, camping areas, expert guides and different means of transport, from boats to helicopters.

SPORT FISHING

Sport fishing is a recreational and of exercise activity and in no case the fishing product may be commercialized. Anyone can fish having a "License for Sport Fishing" issued by the Servicio Nacional de Pesca (National Service of Fishery).

FISHING PLACES

Sector Estrecho de Magallanes

Río San Juan

Location: 58 kilometers south of Punta Arenas, in the area of the Fuerte Bulnes, a historical place, close to a small fishing cove.

Road Condition: Only 35 kilometers of the road are paved, the rest is a gravel road.

Getting there & Away: By land and sea, by sailing through the Strait of Magellan. At the area of Agua Fresca, 29 kilometers from Punta Arenas, there is a Police station and also a First-Aid station belonging to the Servicio de Salud Magallanes (The Regional Health Department). There are no hotels in this area.

Observations: The Río San Juan has an abundant flow of water, which is dirty in many parts, mainly because of trees and underwater wood.

Fishing species: Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and Brown trout (Salmo Trutta fario).

Fishing Tackle: It is advisable to use light, spinning spoons or surface flies.

Fishing Season: The best time for fishing is from October to March.

Laguna Parrillar

Location: 49 kilometers south of Punta Arenas, driving by the way that leads to the Police station at Agua Fresca, then turning to the west.

Road Condition: It is paved until the kilometer 29.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Observations: The lagoon is located at the Laguna Parrillar National Reserve, and it has abundant fishing. The area is a little windy but it has deep fishing areas close to the border of the lagoon. The CONAF (National Forestry Corporation) has a headquarters at the National Reserve, where there are 2 forest rangers every week. This is also a campsite area to enjoy activities like picnic, fishing, excursions, trekking, observation of the flora and fauna and bird watching. It is also possible to observe the forests of lenga and coigue, two regional trees that grow under natural conditions. There are no hotels in this area.

Fishing species: Lake trout (Salvelinus fontinalis).

Fishing Tackle: It is advisable to use spinners.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Chabunco

Location: A 19 kms. de Punta Arenas, camino Norte al aeropuerto.

Road Condition: Pavimentado.

Getting there & Away: By land and sea.

Services / Facilities available: Hostería Chabunco, otros servicios en Punta Arenas.

Observations: Se puede pescar solamente desde la desembocadura del Estrecho de Magallanes hasta unos 2 kms.

Fishing species: Al interior Trucha Marrón y Trucha Arcoiris.

Fishing Tackle: Mosca seca, de superficie.

Fishing Season: La mejor época de pesca es el mes de marzo.

Río Grande

Location: At the Isla Riesco, 120 kilometers north of Punta Arenas. To get to the island, it is necessary to get to the Commune of Río Verde, cross on a ferry and drive by the shore of the Seno Otway (Otway Inlet) to the south.

Road Condition: The main road is paved until the kilometers 50 (Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales) then there is a gravel road that is in good conditions most of the year.

Getting there & Away: By land and sea.

Services / Facilities available: 10 kilometers north of Punta Arenas is the Kon-Aiken police station, following the road that leads to Puerto Natales. The Hotel Río Verde is in the kilometer 50.

Observations: This river has an abundant flow of water, which is dirty mostly by trees' branches and wood. It is advisable to fish during the high seas.

Fishing species: : Rainbow trout and abundant Nullet (Eleginops maclovinus).

Fishing Tackle: Spinners.

Fishing Season: February and March.

Río Caleta

Location: 80 kilometers northeast of Punta Arenas, it flows into the Seno Otway.

Road Condition: : The road is paved until the kilometer 20, then there is a gravel road.

Getting there & Away: By land and sea.

Services / Facilities available: : There are neither hotels nor hostels. Both can be found only in Punta Arenas.

Observations: In general the river carries a lot of trees' branches and wood.

Fishing species: Rainbow and brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: Light spinners, dry or surface flies.

Fishing Season: The best months to go fishing are October and March.

Río Pérez

Location: 140 kilometers north of Punta Arenas, it flows into the shore of the Seno Skyring, passing by Río Verde.

Road Condition: Only 50 kilometers are paved, the rest is a gravel road in regular conditions. .

Getting there & Away: By land and sea.

Services / Facilities available: Kon-Aiken Police station, Hotel Río Verde.

Observations: The river carries abundant trees' branches and wood. There is a campsite area.

Fishing species: Rainbow and brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: Spinning spoons.

Fishing Season: Good fishing in February and March.

Río Penitente

Location: 150 kilometers north of Punta Arenas, on the way that leads to Puerto Natales.

Road Condition: Paved.

Getting there & Away: By land, transportation on regional buses.

Services / Facilities available: Police station at "Morro Chico", telephone, Hostal Río Penitente, at the kilometer 130.

Observations: Some salmon-like trout species of regular size can be found.

Fishing species: Rainbow and brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: Surface flies and small, spinning spoons.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Gallegos Chico

Location: 180 kilometers north of Punta Arenas.

Road Condition: Paved.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: "Teniente Merino" Police station, there is a small village called "Bernardo O'Higgins". There are no hotels.

Observations: Abundant river fishing.

Fishing species: Brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: Fly and Spoons.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Sector Tierra del Fuego

Río Grande

Location: 180 kilometers south of Puerto Porvenir.

Road Condition: Gravel road in regular conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land, sea and air. The Río Grande can be reached by plane straight from Punta Arenas or Puerto Porvenir.

Services / Facilities available: : Police station at Pampa Guanaco, hotels in the city of Puerto Porvenir.

Observations: To get to the island by land, it is necessary to cross the Strait of Magellan on board of a ferry. Under normal weather conditions, the ferry sets out from Punta Delgada to Bahía Azul from 08:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m (Cruce Primera Angostura). This is one of the best rivers to practice international sport fishing.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Tackle: All kinds of fishing tackle can be used.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Lago Blanco

Location: 210 kilometers south of Puerto Porvenir.

Road Condition: Gravel road from Puerto Porvenir to the Estancia Onamonte, the road is in good conditions, however, from the Estancia to the Lago Blanco is in very poor conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: Police station at Pampa Guanaco. There are no hotels.

Observations: : It is advisable to drive only 4WD vehicles. This is an astounding tourist zone with excellent fishing.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Tackle: Heavy fishing tackle to be thrown over long distances (Toby, Salar, ranging from 20 to 28grs.).

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Cóndor

Location: 180 kilometers south of Puerto Porvenir.

Road Condition: : From Puerto Porvenir to Cameron in good conditions; from Cameron on, in poor conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land, only with 4WD vehicles.

Services / Facilities available: In the Sociedad Ganadera "Cameron". There are no hotels.

Observations: Most of the year, the roads are in bad conditions.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Tackle: Spinners.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Azopardo

Location: To the southwest of Puerto Porvenir (south of Punta Arenas). It flows into the shore of the Island of Tierra del Fuego, at the Seno Almirantazgo.

Road Condition: : Gravel road, in poor conditions, most of the year.

Getting there & Away: By land and sea, sailing about 112 nautical miles from Punta Arenas to get to the outlet of the Seno Almirantazgo.

Services / Facilities available: There are no facilities available.

Observations: Good fishing all over the season.

Fishing species: Brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: Hoster, Salar, Toby and Spinners.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Paralelo

Location: To the south of Puerto Porvenir, on the shore of Tierra del Fuego. There are about 83 nautical miles from Punta Arenas to its outlet at the Seno Almirantazgo.

Road Condition: Gravel road and trails, in poor conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land and sea.

Observations: : Good fishing all over the season, however, there are other rivers in the island like the Río Marasi, the Río del Oro, etc, which are smaller but have abundant fishing as they are not included in the tourist circuits.

Fishing Tackle: Hoster, Salar, Toby and Spinners.

Sector Torres del Paine

Laguna Sofía

Location: 30 kilometers north of Puerto Natales.

Road Condition: Gravel road, in very good conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land and air (There is an airport at Puerto Natales).

Services / Facilities available: All the public services are available in the city of Puerto Natales, including sport fishing excursions that can be arranged in some tourist agencies.

Observations: There are several alternatives on transportation, tours, sales of fishing tackles.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow, it is also known that there are some species like the Coho and Chinook salmon coming from the salmon culture places in the zone.

Fishing Tackle: Any kind of fishing tackle.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Lago Balmaceda

Location: 40 kilometers south of Puerto Natales.

Road Condition: Gravel road, in poor conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: Only in Puerto Natales.

Observations: This lake has normally dark waters and frequent shallow undercurrents with rocky bed / bottom and flagstone in its border.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Tackle: All kinds of fishing tackles. There are trout, the weight of which range between 2 and 4 kilos.

Fishing Season: Abundant during the season.

Río Hollemberg

Location: 25 kilometers south of Puerto Natales.

Road Condition: Gravel road, in good conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: Only in Puerto Natales.

Observations: Good trout fishing in the outlet, also Nullet fishing, the weight of which range from 1 to 3 kilos.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Tackle: : It is advisable to use light, spinning spoons, 12-18grs., and surface flies.

Fishing Season: The best season is from October to March.

Lago Pinto

Location: 50 kilometers south of Puerto Natales.

Road Condition: Gravel road, in poor conditions, difficult access.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: Only in Puerto Natales.

Fishing species: Brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: All kinds of fishing tackles can be used.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Lago del Toro

Location: 80 kilometers from Puerto Natales at the Torres del Paine National Park.

Road Condition: Gravel road, in good conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: Buses and taxis. Police station at Cerro Castillo, Hosteria Pionero.

Observations: This crystal-water lake has abundant fish in almost all its areas. Some species can weigh from 1 to 3 kilos.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Tackle: All kinds of fishing tackles can be used.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Serrano

Location: 168 kilometers from Puerto Natales at the Torres del Paine National Park. It comes from the Lago Toro and flows into Seno de Ultima Esperanza.

Road Condition: Gravel roads, in good conditions.

Services / Facilities available: There are buses that take passengers until the Main Headquarters of the Park, Police station at Cerro Castillo, from October to March there are policemen at the Main Headquarters, Hostería Pehoé, Posada Río Serrano and Hotel Explora.

Observations: Good fishing, clear waters. Species weighting from 2 to 3 kilos.

Fishing Tackle: All kinds of fishing tackles

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Lago Sarmiento

Location: 90 kilometers from Puerto Natales.

Observations: Not much fishing, but the species have good size. .

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Laguna Diana y Río Tranquilo

Location: 220 kilometers north of Punta Arenas, on the way to Puerto Natales, at the area of the Estancia Río Tranquilo.

Road Condition: Paved.

Getting there & Away: By land, transportation on regional buses.

Services / Facilities available: Hotel Rubens, 187 kilometers north of Punta Arenas, on the way to Puerto Natales. At this city, there is a wide range of hotels and hostels and all the public services required.

Fishing Tackle: All kinds of fishing tackles can be used

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Las Chinas and Don Guillermo

Location: Next to the Río Vizcacha, at the area of Cerro Castillo.

Road Condition: : Gravel road, in good conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: : Police station at Cerro Castillo, telephone, Hostería Posada El Pionero.

Observations: The river is rather dark by the beginning of the season because of the ice melting. But there are good species of 1 or 2 kilos.

Fishing species: Brown and rainbow trout

Fishing Tackle: Light, spinning spoons, 12-18grs., and surface fly.

Fishing Season: It is a good time the first fortnight of November.

Laguna Figueroa

Location: 40 kilometers from Cerro Castillo.

Road Condition: Gravel road, in good conditions.

Hotels: Hostería Patagonia Inn.

Services / Facilities available: Police station at Cerro Castillo.

Observations: Fish from different sizes and weight, around 3 - 5 kilos.

Fishing species: Brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: Toby, Hoster, spinners, 12-18grs., not much fishing at this place.

Fishing Season: All over the season.

Río Vizcacha

Location: 40 kilometers from Cerro Castillo on the way to the Torres del Paine National Park.

Road Condition: Gravel roads, in good conditions.

Getting there & Away: By land.

Services / Facilities available: Hostería Posada del Pionero, Police station at Cerro Castillo, First-aid station at Cerro Castillo, telephone

Observations: The river is rather dark in spring.

Fishing species: Rainbow and Brown trout.

Fishing Tackle: Spinners in general.

Fishing Season: Abundant during the season.

CAPTURE QUOTA

LICENSES

At present there are two kinds of annual licenses: the "Continental Waters", it's worth is 2,060 pesos and the "Sea Waters" that is worth 1,030 pesos; both are valid for Chile nationals. For foreigners there is an annual only license and it is worth 4,630 pesos. Licenses may be purchased in SERNAPESCA offices, 21 de Mayo St. 1490, Punta Arenas, and Yungay St. 361, Puerto Natales, from Monday to Fridays in office hours.

FISHING SEASON