Photo: David Morimoto (treez44est) / CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Salminus brasiliensis
Golden Dorado
Freshwater
About this species
A blazing golden, hard-jumping predator of South American rivers, revered as one of the continent's premier freshwater gamefish. It ambushes baitfish in fast, rocky runs and rapids with bone-crushing jaws. Large streamers and lures swung through current draw violent, airborne strikes.
Season
123456789101112
Depth
0 – 8 m
Habitat Spots
RiverStream
Fishing Methods
LureFly
Bait & Rig
Large streamers swung on fast current, or heavy swimbaits and stickbaits worked through rapids and rocky runs in South American rivers.
Edibility & Taste
Edible but quite bony; mostly released by sport anglers while riverside communities traditionally consume them.
Similar Species
The intensely gold body, large crushing jaw, and adipose fin separate it from other South American characins; younger fish may resemble other dorado species in the genus Salminus.
Record Weight
31.4 kg