Chilean Patagonia: Aysén Fishing Guide

Aysén has wild brown and rainbow trout in freestone rivers, spring creeks and lakes, fished by drift boat or on foot. Everyone, including foreigners, needs a SERNAPESCA recreational fishing license. Rules change through the season, and five spawning areas are closed to all fishing all year.

📍 Aysén Region, Chile, around Coyhaique. Fly to Santiago, then to Balmaceda, about an hour's drive from Coyhaique. Main rivers include the Simpson, Mañihuales, Paloma, Aysén and Baker, plus many lakes along the Carretera Austral.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Patagonia (southern Chile & Argentina) map →

Quick facts

In Aysén the salmonid season runs Oct 12 to May 6; inland fishing is closed May 7 to Oct 11 for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons (Res. Ex. 3004/2024).
Rivers are catch-and-release in early and late season; from Dec 1 to Feb 28 you may keep 3 fish or up to 15 kg a day.
The Río Paloma is catch-and-release for the whole season.
Chinook salmon season in Aysén is Oct 12 to Jan 15, with a limit of 2 fish.
Aysén is the most sparsely populated region of Chile.

What you can catch

Brown trout
Main target; fall (Mar-Apr) is good for bigger browns on streamers.
Rainbow trout
Main target; strong runs in the Baker River.
Chinook salmon
Season Oct 12-Jan 15, 2 fish limit; found closer to the coast.
Coho salmon
Reported in the Simpson River.
Atlantic salmon
Sometimes caught; likely escapes from salmon farms.
Native freshwater fish
Chile protected native inland fish under a 15-year ban (Decree 878, 2011-2026); check status, do not keep.

Month by month

January	Summer dry-fly and hopper fishing; Chinook season ends Jan 15.
February	Warm and stable; rivers allow 3 fish or 15 kg through Feb 28.
March	Rivers back to catch-and-release from Mar 1; good for big browns.
April	Lakes catch-and-release from Apr 2; cooler, streamers.
May	Season ends May 6; closed from May 7.
June	Closed (veda biológica).
July	Closed (veda biológica).
August	Closed (veda biológica).
September	Closed (veda biológica).
October	Season opens Oct 12; catch-and-release only at first.
November	Lakes allow 3 fish or 15 kg from Nov 10; rivers still catch-and-release.
December	Rivers allow 3 fish or 15 kg from Dec 1; summer begins.

Tips

Buy your SERNAPESCA license online before the trip and carry it, digital or printed; Navy and Carabineros can ask for it.
Disinfect rods, boots, boats and trailer wheels to stop the spread of didymo.
Use artificial lures and a landing net (chinguillo), as the Aysén rules ask.
Rivers rise and blow out fast after rain; have a lake or spring-creek backup.
Public access is mostly near bridges and boat ramps are few; a local guide helps, especially to float.

Rules and license

SERNAPESCA (Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura); Subpesca Dirección Zonal de Pesca, Aysén · Official rules page ↗

License required for Chileans, residents and foreigners; foreigners can buy 1 week, 1 month or 1 year. Over 65s, under 12s and registered disabled are exempt.
Season Oct 12 to May 6; closed May 7 to Oct 11 (2025-2027 seasons).
Rivers: catch-and-release Oct 12-Nov 30 and Mar 1-May 6; 3 fish or 15 kg per day Dec 1-Feb 28.
Lakes: catch-and-release Oct 12-Nov 9 and Apr 2-May 6; 3 fish or 15 kg per day Nov 10-Apr 1.
Río Paloma: catch-and-release all season.
Chinook salmon: Oct 12-Jan 15, 2 fish per day.
No fishing at any time, even catch-and-release, in five spawning zones: Río Ñirehuao (Mañihuales sector), Río Mañihuales at El Toqui, outlet of Lake Pollux, outlet of Lake Frío, and Pozón Ibáñez on the Río Claro.
Artificial lures only; disinfect gear against didymo.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 8 boat ramps and 0 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Boat ramp near Caleta Iris
Levicán
Muelle y Varadero Salas

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.