This is a common question we receive from many anglers. In this article, we will provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for planning your trip. Keep in mind that golden dorado live in many different areas in South America. We will be focusing here only on the regions in Argentina where we run our trips. Other regions and destinations will offer different seasons and characteristics.
About the Fishing Season and Weather
While the fishing during the summer months of January and February is very good, the environment can be very warm and humid, with highs during the day reaching 100 F and the temperature only dropping to 80-85 F at night. If you feel OK fishing the Florida Keys during June and July, then you will be fine fishing for golden dorado during January and February, since the climates are similar. The other months of our season are not as hot, so you should plan your trip then if you don’t do well fishing in high heat and humidity.
About the Fishing
Golden dorado are considered one of the hardest fighting and most aggressive freshwater species on the planet. But they are also unpredictable and wary, making it difficult to predict results during the season.
We are confident that the areas we fish are populated with resident dorado and that the fish will be there in good numbers during your trip. Yet there are many variables that make these fish more or less active. It is also important to understand their feeding behavior. While trophy dorado are opportunistic eaters and will target all kinds of prey, they tend to eat large meals, followed by periods of less activity. This fact means that the really big dorados eat during certain windows in sporadic ways, or randomly, when they are triggered by a great food opportunity.
These feeding windows typically coincide with changes in weather and conditions, such as when the sky becomes cloudy or windy before a storm. Normally, rainy conditions also present really good fishing opportunities. Fortunately, dorado fishing takes place in a subtropical region, so the weather is subject to change all the time.
What We Recommend
Schedule your trip during a month that is a good travel time for you and/or when you think the temperature will be best suited to your age and condition. If you don’t do well in the heat, do not book your trip during the peak of summer (January and February).
Your dorado trip should be a minimum of a week, especially if this is your first time fishing for the species. During one week, you will have a better chance of fishing during ideal conditions, and we will be able to take you to two different destinations, offering smaller and larger dorado. This will increase your chances of success.
Lastly, remember that golden dorado are smart and elusive fish that require you to focus during your time on the water in order to achieve success.
After years of operating our dorado lodges, we can report that so far no week has been spoiled due to water or fishing conditions. During this time, we have experienced the biggest drought in 30 years and a 50-year flood. Our anglers have had slow and great weeks, but conditions have always remained fishable.
To learn more about golden dorado and the programs we offer, email us (EMAIL LINK). We would be happy to speak with you by phone at your convenience.
