Golden Dorado of Salto Grande, Uruguay River: LaZona Update!

In Search of Gold... the Golden Dorado of the Uruguay River  LAZONA UPDATE! International Angler and Friend, Don C. 5/18 I last fished fished the Uruguay River Exclusive Tail Waters beneath the dam of Salto Grande reservoir located at the Argentina-Uruguay border in 2011. Man I miss that place! But my fishing partner and good friend, Gary C., has returned numerous times since that 2011 first trip. In fact, he will very quickly tell you that LaZona has become his very favorite fishing destination. PERIOD! In the next few minutes you will see why Gary can't get enough of:  LAZONA! Over the last few years I have heard some pretty incredible stories from Gary about this destination and the fresh water dynamo - the Golden Dorado – that reside in this river. After having been there myself and immersed in the challenge, I can verify that these astonishing accounts about the monster Dorados of LaZona were not simply “fish stories” but were absolutely genuine. I use the word dynamo here because it has in its meaning…hard-working and tirelessly energetic. That describes what the locals call “The River Tiger” quite well…with razor sharp teeth and bone hard jaws, this golden torpedo often engages in leaping aerial displays 4-7 times, or more, per hook up.  No other destination in the world offers such Giants of the Golden Dorado like this Exclusive Tail Waters below the Salto Grande Dam. The fishery is rigorously restricted, controlled, managed and maintained. Government concessions are contracted annually for The Zone.  Remember, these Salminus brasiliensis live in fast and highly turbulent waters. They are 10x strong because of it and they never let up after hook up. If you can manage to keep them “hooked up,” you’re in for a exhaustive tango with one of the hardest working and most tirelessly energetic freshwater game fish on the planet today! They will wear you out and take even the most “veteran” angler to the mat on more than several occasions. Until you become familiar with The River Tiger’s “game” you will find success rare in bringing the Golden Dynamo to the landing cradle. AND NOW THE LAZONA UPDATE: 5/4 through 5/7/2018 Gary and his "texts" Friday - 5/4/2018 -  5:53 PM  Gary: Trip started out pretty good. "42 pounder the first day on my big Dorado Killer Spinner Bait. Water level is perfect for drifting spinner baits." DF: I'd guess, "pretty good." My 1st Generation Dorado Killer Saturday - 5/5/2018 - 10:30 AM "What a morning! 48 pounder on my spinner bait and new personal best 52# on topwater! Life is good!!! Gary with 52# New Personal Best DF: "What topwater were you using?" Gary: "Kermett's New Breakaway Popper" That's artisan Kermett Adams and his custom KLures.com LaZona Popper Saturday - 5/5/2018 - 4:06 PM "Another beautiful 50 pounder this afternoon!!! Unreal day!!!" Gary with 50# River Tiger Gary:"The heavens smiled on me today. That's for sure!!!" Gary: "David, that new Abu Beast reel is the Best big reel EVER! It is flawless on those monster Dorado!!! I absolutely love it!!!" Abu Garcia Beast www.abugarcia.com Sunday - 5/6?2018 - 10:31 AM Gary: "This morning a 40 pounder and yet ANOTHER 50 pounder on my Dorado Killer Spinner Bait! And I will stop annoying you with pics! :-)" You're not annoying, Gary. But we are envious!  Monday - 5/7/2018 Gary: "A 4th 50 pounder this afternoon on the spinner bait. Don had 3 @38# and a 46 pounder!" Tuesday - 5/8/2018 - Trip Summary Gary: Don finished with several 30-40 pounders and then a 46, 47 and a 48 pounder!!! The fish here are getting bigger! AND we caught fewer small fish than ever before!!! Very few under 24#! You see the results. GIANTS. Amazing!!! Gary: My final tally: 30, 32, 32, 36,36,38,40,40,42,48,50,50,50 and PB 52 pounder!!! Unbelievable trip! I have now been to Fisherman Heaven! Looking for the fishing adventure of a lifetime? This one sits right at the top. Think of it this way. In approximately one square mile over 20 world records of various classes have been taken for this species including the IGFA All Tackle World Record caught by Andrea L.S. de Bolto on 1/11/2006. It weighed in officially at 25.28 Kg (55# 1oz.) Many other River Tigers are reported to have been caught over 56# and up through 60 plus pounds but have not been officially weighed, submitted and certified. I'm sure the reports are mostly correct. And that friends, is   THE LAZONA UPDATE! In Search of Gold... the Golden Dorado of the Uruguay River  David Fields  Outfitter info@fishingtheAmericas.com | www.fishingtheAmericas.com Toll Free: (844) 626-2966 Fishing the Americas most exciting and exotic sport fishing adventure destinations

GoldenDorado Fishing Report: New World Record?

The most recent report for South American GoldenDorado fishing includes one massive behemoth of the species, Salmius maxillosus. Check this out!

According to Amazon Angler Steve Townson, his client/angler Andrei Bylchynski “is responsible for catching the largest Golden Dorado ever recorded in South America. At well over 60lbs, if it would have been weighed officially on land, it would have broken the World Record by an estimated 6-8 lbs.”

The massive Golden Dorado was caught while casting a deep diving Rapala X Rap in the world famous tail waters of Salto Grande on the Uruguay River, Uruguay, SA. in the area known as “La Zona” [The Zone]. It is reported that when the behemoth was weighed on a 60lb boga grip, it bottomed out the internal scale. 

This fish certainly appears to be one of the largest Golden Dorado ever landed, perhaps the largest! Under IGFA (International Game Fish Association) certification guidelines any attempt to establish a certified record would require the specimen to be weighed on land. The fish was not and therefore a challenge to the all tackle world record * will not be forthcoming. If it would have been properly weighed on land and the numerous other certification details completed correctly it would have most likely entered the record books as a new All Tackle World Record.

[*Record presently stands at 55 pounds 11 ounces] 

We reported to you a few weeks ago of another angler in the group with angler Scott Krug who reported a Golden Dorado catch in early November of a giant well over 50#. There have been numerous others reported to landing cradle over the 55 pounds 11 ounces, the current world record mark as well. We have no doubt that these giants reside in the tails waters below Salto Grande and are being landed with more regularity.

There is no denying, this is one giant Golden and a magical catch for Andrei. 

But it leaves me with this comment to my angling brothers. Somebody please, when you land the next “River Tiger” of this magnitude, with all due respect and caution, run that puppy to land, weigh it on a certified scale, measure it, clip the line, take a few proper photo’s, clean up any necessary IGFA certification loose ends, get that Golden Torpedo back in the water and then let’s move this bar up to 60# or more where it appears that it should legitimately now rest. 

Congratulations Angler Andrei Bylchynski. Hats off to you and your tremendous catch!

Congratulation Amazon Angler’s Steve Townson, Untamed Angling and LaZona.

If GoldenDorado fishing is on your angling bucket list, contact us soon for all the details and schedule a trip to the World Famous Exclusive Tail Waters of Grande Salto, Uruguay, and the area know as LaZona!

David Fields

Founder / Principal at Fishin' Expeditions | Fishing the Americas Media

40 year international angling veteran. 10 years hosting fishing fin'atics to exotic angling destinations located throughout the Americas. Blogger, freelance writer and media specialist.