Fishing in Bolivia

by Kenny
(Florida)

I have a few fishing related questions I am hoping someone can help me with and maybe provide a few resources as well. I have a lot to research regarding species to catch, but I am familiar with some of them that I plan to target in Santa Cruz and also Tarija. BUT would like info on all of Bolivia and not just these 2 regions. I am a fisherman since birth and by trade, so I know how to fish etc. but I cant find much on it in Bolivia.

1. Is there "tackle shops" or places that specialize in outdoor sports like fishing and sell gear to buy? If not, what are the options on finding fishing gear to buy in Bolivia? Mainly rods and reels, lures etc..

2. What are some good places to research on fishing in Bolivia?

3. Is there Brown and Rainbow Trout in Bolivia?

4. Does anyone know any local fishing guides or other people who fish that could direct/help me? Links? I really don't want to go the high dollar outfitter route if possible, so any info is appreciated.

If you have any info on fishing in Bolivia, please leave a comment.

Thanks !


Comments for Fishing in Bolivia

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Jan 19, 2018
 😁💕
by: Anonymous

I love youuuuuu
Aug 26, 2016
 fishing near santa cruz
by: mark

will be in santa cruz this October, I have 2 days to fish, any ideas?
Mar 28, 2015
 Fishing in Bolivia
by: Andreas

Hey,
nice page. I´m through Bolivia in May.
I don't have a fixed schedule.
And i really want to go fishing, that will be my main aim by travellung south america for several months.
Would be greate if you could share some additional information. -> inbox@andreaslucht.de

Regards,
Andreas
Mar 04, 2015
 great place
by: Simon

I am planning to visit Bolivia next year and the fishing at Bolivia is famous. But I have heard that the fishing equipments are really expensive there so it will be good if can carry such items with us.
Oct 25, 2012
 fishing in bolivia
by: www.extremefishingtips.com

go to www.amazon-tours.com/tourism-bolivia/fishing.html
Dec 05, 2011
 Restless
by: Bob

I´ve been fishing extensively in Europe, U.S.A. and Chile.
Fishing Tackle here in Antofagasta Chile is expensive and scarce.
90 Dollar reels like the Ambassador 5500 C3, I use for 5 years now, can cost easely 160 Dollars or more. "If" found.
Same with quality travel rods.

Quality Baitcassters like Daiwas ZLNCL100HSA
with U.S. Dollar price tags of 330 are impossible to find here.

I can´t even imagine what that usual markup here would be.

It is best to bring you own tackle and lures.

Rods should be around 8 feet long and be able to cast a 4 1/2 inch 3/8 oz. lure like Rapala X-Rap or Storm Thunderstick colors black gold and orange, floating cast a country mile, and be able to fight a regular size 20 lbs corvina.

Larger lures will not trigger stikes.
And it will take a lot of practice to cast a lure this size 60 cranks distance with my Abu-Garcia Ambassador.
So start practicing :-)

3 or 4 piece travel rods are preferrable.
Temple Fork is an exellent choice.

Loomis "Hot-Shot" rods would be best but transport will be a problem.

Boxes of super sharp quality (Owner) treble replacement hooks, slightly larger than the original ones, are a must.

Corvinas will run 150 to twohundred yards in one piece.

The resistance of the line in the water is enough to straighten out the light super sharp treble hooks. So I set the drag so light that the spool does not overrun while a corvina is running.

Small Split-Ring pliers and spare split rings are also recommendable; as is spare oil and greace.

I also carry a crochet needle between two corks and a needle nose hook removig plier.

I never hooked myself till a dog startled me here just as I grabed the lure to store the tackle in my car.

That is when I found out how a fish must feel when hooked.

One has to push the hook point out of the flesh again and clip the barb of.

Try to clip a hook with your standard plier than you will find out how tough it is.
That´s the reason why I recomend a wirecutter plier.

Waders are essential Sunhat, Suncream, Sunglasses and hook-sharping devices also.

I fish 10 lbs test Youzuri Hybrid, in high visible color quality mono line with a swivel , and a mono shock leader in blue/green of 3 feet 3o lbs test.
I double the 10lbs line over before I tye an improved clinch knot to the swivel, and an open loop knot to the rapala or strom-tunderstick .
I do not use steel leaders.

Local Fisherman won´t fish under 30 lbs superbraid and 50 Lbs mono leaders.

Fishing season vary with La Ninja and it takes sometimes 1 1/2 years till corvinas come around again. Same with Lenguados.

A good source of information is club
stellamaris:

http://www.stellamaris.cl/

Maurice its President is a super nice guy and always updates his website.

Tide Chart are under
Swellwatch.com

Drop me a line if you wish:

TomDooley1@gmx.de
Mar 14, 2011
 fishing in bolivia
by: Anonymous

did you go fishing to Bolivia?
Oct 12, 2010
 Guide....
by: Anonymous

I have a friend who took me fishing in bolivia, he is a private pilot he lives in Trinidad, Bolivia if youre looking for a guide he will show you some nice spots he has airplane and a jon boat. contact him at, carlos25723@msn.com
I had a great time he speacks english..
May 02, 2010
 Fishing videos
by: Anonymous

Watch some videos in this link

https://www.youtube.com/user/TvAventura
Mar 14, 2010
 fishing only in santa cruz
by: Anonymous

look this link, many places tu buy things for fishing, only in santa cruz.

http://www.santacruzvirtual.com/amarillas/result.asp?csc=618010&n=Caza%20y%20Pesca
Jan 27, 2010
 Thanks to All !!
by: Kenny

Thanks for the replies, very good information and I will research them all very soon. I am very happy to hear that fishing tackle is available.

Mark I recevied your phone number via private message and will call you this weekend.

Please keep the comments coming !!
Jan 27, 2010
 potential option
by: Mark

Kenny, call me, Mark (phone number removed)
Jan 27, 2010
 bass pro shop in bolivia
by: BoliviaBella

Translation of the message below: There is a store next to the American Airlines office in Santa Cruz owned by a man called Mr. Fischer. It appears to be a small franchise of Bass Pro Shop.

P.S. American Airlines location info.
Jan 27, 2010
 Bass Pro Shop
by: Anonymous

Hay una tienda alado de American Airlines en Santa Cruz que es propiedad del Sr. Ficher, parece que es una sucursal Chiquita de Bass Pro Shop
Jan 26, 2010
 fishing equipment in bolivia
by: Anonymous

Fishing equipment (tackle, lures, etc.) stores

Santa Cruz

LA JARA CAZA Y PESCA
Calle Bolívar 458
Bolivia - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Teléfono(s) : (591-3) 333-3345,(591-3) 3350491
Fax : (591-3) 332-2526

EL CAZADOR
Av Centenario No. 93
Bolivia - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Teléfono(s) : (591-3) 336-2343
Fax : (591-3) 336-2344

Tarija

CASA C.I.R. IMPORTADORES
Cl Gral Trigo No 822
Bolivia - Tarija, Tarija
Teléfono(s) : (591-6) 664-3225
Fax : (591-6) 611-3545

La Paz

CASA ESTEVE
Dir Manuel Bustillo No 704 Zona El Tejar
Bolivia - La Paz, La Paz
Teléfono(s) : (591-2) 238-1944,(591-2) 281-3183
Jan 26, 2010
 Dolphins..
by: Ken

I forgot to add that I read about the pink dolphins (marine mammals) one time before hehe - I would never harrass a dolphin, I have worked around them most of my life. I am looking forward to seeing them too!
Jan 26, 2010
 Cool!!
by: Ken

Excellent, I did read on your trip where you had pirahna for breakfast. I have heard the surubi were quite good to eat from my friend who is down there. There are so many different life zones in Bolivia I am having trouble learning what species are where, minus the warm water ones. I will research the other places and Lake Titicaca on Trout. I assumed they were there as I know they are in Argentina and Chile. The more I read about the more I want to see other places.

Tilapia are pretty good, I eat them from time to time. A little bland in taste but great overall, but you get spoiled easily here where I live.

I guess I should say right now I looking to catch Peacock Bass(Cichla ocellaris) in the warmer areas and the Golden Dorado(Salminus maxillosus) in Tarija. But I am planning on adding more places to the itinerarary soon.

Keep the comments coming!
Jan 26, 2010
 you've gotta see this fish museum
by: BoliviaBella

If you like fishing so much, you'll 100% want to take a bus up to Trinidad (Beni) and do some fishing in the Amazon river tributaries. AND you can visit the third largest fish fauna museum in South America.

You can also take a river tour and see or swim with the pink river dolphins (no fishing the dolphins! they're not the same "dolphin" we eat in Florida!)

In the same river you can fish for palometas which are these little tiny pirañas (I had mine for breakfast) and other types of fish - like catfish - gross!

Parts of Beni and some rivers in the Chapare region (the coca growing region in the tropical valleys of Cochabamba) are well-known for their surubí (Pseudoplatystoma) which, after trout, is one of the most commonly eaten fish in Bolivia.

In Andean Bolivia you can also fish for pejerrey (Odontesthes Regia).

Some friends of mine are introducing tilapia into Bolivia, but it's farmed.

Lake Titicaca is famous for its rainbow trout (trucha arcoiris).

Now I just know there's gotta be some stud fishermen out there who can answer this way better and more fisherman-ly than me!

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