Rules And Regulations

FIRST PART

LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES

1º. Law enforcement authorities: are the Provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and the National Parks Administration. Violations will be enforced with the corresponding proceedings and sanctions (fines, confiscation of gear, etc.) that apply in each jurisdiction.

FISHING LICENSES

2º. Fishing License: the fishing license is personal and not transferable and must have all the fields completed. In order to fish a personal fishing license is required by law. This is an official stamp stuck to a form, which must be shown to the comptroll authorities upon request. The fisherman must show proof of identity with a personal ID. In cases where any of the jurisdictions issue fishing license electronically or on paper with “QR” verification codes, they will be required to be exhibited together with the appropriate identity document and it will not be necessary to have stamped.

3º. Categories and levels of license:

A) Standard license:

1. For Argentine Fishermen or foreign residents:
a) Daily License for Country Resident (RP-D): $ 6250
b) Weekly License for Country Resident (RP-S) $ 12500
c) Seasonal License for Country Resident (RP-T) $ 25000
d) Seasonal License for Resident Minors, ages 13 – 17 inclusive (RPM-T): $ 12500
e) License for Retired Senior Citizens, Pensioners, Minors (under 13), and Disabled persons with ID (RP-JPM): No charge.

2. For foreign fishermen not resident in Argentine:
a) Daily License for non-resident in Argentine (E-D): $ 37500
b) Weekly License for non-resident in Argentine (E-S): $ 100000
c) Seasonal License for non-resident in Argentine (E-T): $ 200000

B) Additional Trolling Licenses (Basic fishing license is also required)

1. For all anglers:
a) Daily Trolling Permit: $ 12500
b) Weekly Trolling Permit: $ 25000
c) Seasonal Trolling Permit: $ 50000

4º Waters where the licenses are valid: Licenses issued by the Provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and the National Parks Administration under the categories and levels of license described in the previous section are valid for fishing in all environments corresponding to the mentioned jurisdictions. All the other licenses (additional, social, courtesy, protocol, or any other name) are only valid within the jurisdiction of the region issuing the license. See Part II of these Regulations.

5º Licenses are valid as follows: Licenses are valid during the dates indicated. Seasonal licenses are valid from the date issued until 10/31/25.

6º Fishing Day: Fishing is strictly only allowed during daylight. Consult additional regulations in the Annexes of Second Part.

SPORTFISHING SEASON

7º Fishing season: Begins on 11/01/24 and ends on 05/01/25 inclusive (See Second Part for exceptions).

SPECIES

8º Exotic fish species that can be taken in the jurisdictions that comprise this Regulation:
01- Salmons (Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and Pacifics salmons, Oncorhynchus spp.)
02- Trouts (brown trout, Salmo trutta, brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, lake trout, S. namaychush, and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss)
03- Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
04- Buenos Aires Silverside (Odontesthes bonariensis)

9º Native fish species that can be taken in the jurisdictions that comprise this Regulation: in the Provinces fishing waters, the following species also have sport fishing value:
05- Perch (Percichthys trucha)
06- Patagonian Silverside (Odontesthes hatcheri)
07 – Patagonian Blennie (Eleginops maclovinus)

The rest of the native species (catfishes: Hatcheria macraei and Olivaichthys spp, puyens: Galaxias maculatus and G. platei, peladillas: Aplochiton zebra and A. teniatus, Lampreys: Geotria spp.) must be returned to the water live and with the least possible injury in all waters.

10º Native species in National Parks: In National Parks fishing waters, all native fish must be released live and with the least possible injury (perch, patagonian silverside, catfishes, peladillas, puyens, patagonian blennie, etc.)

11º Atlantic Salmon: All individuals caught in any environment must be released live.

12º Carp: In all rivers and lakes is unlimited its extraction.

FISHING METHODS, EQUIPMENT, AND LURES

13º Authorized lures: Fish must be caught only with artificial lures and with one hook (single, double or triple). When using a lure with more than one hook, all remaining hooks left must be removed or rendered harmless so as not to harm the fish. In waters with mandatory catch and release, only one single barbless hooks or hook with flattened barb is permitted. The use of lures with batteries is forbidden to avoid contamination. In some environments enabled for fishing with fly equipment, the use of Dropper is allowed, consult the annexes to the second part.

14º Authorized Fishing Methods:

1. Spinning, bait casting and tarrito (a small can): The use of an artificial lure of any type, where the casting weight comes from the lure itself or an additional weight (lead, buoy, etc.) and not by the fishing line.
2. Fly fishing: The use of a lure known as a “fly” joined to a special line for fly casting or taper, cast with the appropriate a rod -of one or two hands- made specifically for fly fishing; the weight is in the line rather than the lure.
3. Trolling: The use of an artificial lure of any type dragged from any type of boat.

15º Other Fishing Methods: Within the provinces and for the purpose of fishing species other than salmonids, other fishing gear and methods might be authorized. (Check the Annexes of the Second Part).

16º Number of fishing rods: Each fisherman cannot simultaneously use more than one fishing rod.

LIMITS AND SIZES

17º Mandatory Release: In rivers and streams in Patagonia, including their sources and/or mouths draining into lakes and up to 200 meters along both their shores, all fishes must be released live. (See exceptions in the Annexes of the Second Part). In the waters during the mandatory release period, only a single barbless hook or hook with a flattened barb is permitted and all fish must be returned immediately, live and unharmed following the procedure indicated on page 91.

18º. Daily limit per angler: The taking of one individual per day per angler in lakes and small lakes is permitted from 12/01/24 until 03/31/25 (See exceptions in the Annexes of the Second Part).

19º. Limits for possession of fish caught per angler: The maximum number of fish (in any condition found) an angler can keep is equal to the daily limit. In environments of mandatory release is prohibits the possession of fish caught.

20º. How to measure a fish: The length of a fish is the length from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail (total length).

FISHING EVENTS

21º. Fishing Tournaments: The organizers must apply for a permit from the Acting Authority. Due to the multiplicity of impacts and disturbances on the environment, its species and other recreational activities are prohibited from making contests motor boat fishing in natural environments (See exceptions in the Annexes of the Second Part).

OTHER IMPORTANT RESTRICTIONS

22º. Prohibited: The following activities are prohibited throughout Patagonia:

1. Fishing from boats in lakes and other bodies of water within a 200 meters radius of a mouth of a river or brook (See exceptions in the Annexes of the Second Part).
2. Fishing from boats in drift dragging the anchor or dead on the bottom (garreo).
3. Underwater fishing.
4. Using explosives, toxic substances, or any other element that could endanger aquatic life in aquatic environments.
5. Fishing with nets, traps, harpoons, trot-lines, unattended lines, drag-hooks, weapons of any kind or chumming.
6. Obstructing the free transit of fish such as using screens, traps, dams, or any other method.
7. Commercializing the fresh and/or prepared product of sport fishing in any way shape or form.
8. Delaying in the mouths, without rotating, stopping in waters where another angler is advancing.
9. Causing contamination or damage to waters or the surrounding environmets, in any way (Ex: washing of cars next to a water ways, littering, to remove or cut aquatic vegetation to accede or enter at a fishing site).
10. Leave in fishing environments: fishing lines, lures, wrappers and fish remains outside the authorized places.
11. Lighting a fire outside of an authorized area.
12. Fishing in rivers and brooks up or down river from all installations which hinder the free transit of fish, for example, dams; at less distance than determined by the acting authority.
13. Taking fish in any manner from places where fish are artificially locked (canals, reservoirs, landfills, or sluice bates).
14. Possession fish of any species, which were captured in the wild.
15. Transporting live fish of any species or development stage without the authorization of the acting authority.
16. In environments and times in which fishing is not allowed, the carrying of fishing equipment armed and in conditions of use is prohibited. In environments of exclusive use for a modality, it is prohibited to carry fishing equipment armed and in conditions to be used that do not correspond with the permitted modality.
17. Is forbidden to enter with carburetors engines in environments where is restricted your use for navigation, even when is auxiliary and not in use.
18. The use of anchoring elements for vessels that contain lead, lead lines or sinkers for fishing practice and the lures with body or head of lead, because of its high polluting power.
19. The use without safe holding of accumulators or batteries for boat engines.
20. For the purposes of interpreting the regulatory prohibitions, fishing equipment will be considered as any element used directly in the practice of fishing in contact with water, fauna and aquatic flora.
21. The use of felt-soled wading shoes is prohibited in all environments governed by this regulation.

23 º Restrictions for Sources or Mouths: The restrictions that have been established for each river and stream include big and small lakes (lagoons or ponds) within a 200 meters radius of the source or the mouth.

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS

24º. Wading or sign in sectors with gravel in rivers and streams is not recommended until 01/01/25 to avoid harming spawning grounds. See exceptions in the Annexes of the Second Part.

25º. The use of four stroke or two stroke engines with Ultra Low emission certification is highly recommended (EPA 2006, European Union, Carb 3 or more stars). Contaminant engines (two strokes carburated) are not allowed in several waters (See the Annexes of the Second Part).

26º. In order to improve the quality of this resource, we recommend that in those environments where sacrificing is permitted, anglers who wish to keep one specimen, keep one of a smaller size returning the larger individuals.

SPECIAL OBLIGATIONS

27º. Foreign fishermen must use only brand new equipments or disinfected.

28º. It is obligatory for anglers, fishing guides and other providers of services related to fishing, disinfecting equipments, boats and vehicles in the opportunities and conditions required by the enforcement authority.

NAVIGATION IN RIVERS AND STREAMS

29º Navigation and Float- tubing: Navigation in waterways is regulated by the existing rules in each jurisdiction.