Argentinian silverside (pejerrey)
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Where to fish
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Habitat
The Pejerrey inhabits temperate and cold fresh waters, with a special preference for the Pampas lagoons of Buenos Aires province, the true heart of its range. It is also found in reservoirs and dams of the country's central region, in slow-flowing stretches of rivers and in numerous bodies of water where it was introduced with good results throughout southern and western Argentina. It prefers relatively clear, well-oxygenated water of cool temperature, which is why it is most active during autumn and winter.
It is a schooling fish that moves through the water column, so it is not always on the bottom nor always up top: it may hold "mid-water," near the surface or hugging the bottom depending on the time of day, the temperature and the atmospheric pressure. The shoals seek out structure and food, so it pays to target changes in depth, the edges of reed beds, channels, shallows, river mouths and areas where the wind pushes food against a shoreline. In lagoons, the "points" of floating vegetation and the strips of aquatic plants concentrate activity.
The golden season is the cold months —from April to September—, when the silverside is most active and grouped up, and when the biggest-numbers days occur. In those months wind and cool mornings tend to improve the bite. Finding the exact depth at which the school is feeding that day is what separates a poor outing from an excellent one.
Baits and lures
The pejerrey is classically fished with natural bait, and in Argentina there are well-proven options:
- Live or whole mojarra (baitfish): the reigning bait in many lagoons and rivers; its flash and movement are irresistible to the school.
- Fillet or strips of mojarra / pejerrey: when live bait is unavailable, strips baited on the hook work very well and hold up to more casts.
- Worm and grubs (caterpillars/larvae): seasonal alternatives, especially useful when the fish are fussy.
- Shrimp or small crustaceans where available, since they are a natural part of its diet.
Presentation matters as much as the bait: the hook must be baited neatly, keeping the natural bait well secured, and the size of the mouthful should be matched to the size of the fish's mouth (the pejerrey has a small mouth and bites "little by little").
As for artificial lures, the pejerrey also responds to spinning with micro-lures: small spoons, microjigs, baitfish imitations and small flies. In fly fishing, imitations of fry and small silver streamers give good results when the school is active near the surface. The rule is to imitate the small and shiny: the pejerrey eats small prey.
Recommended gear
The pejerrey is a medium-sized fish with a delicate mouth, so the tackle leans to the fine and sensitive side. A recommended setup:
- Rod: light action (light / ultralight), from 1.80 to 3.00 m depending on the method. For float fishing from shore a longer rod helps to cast and to register the bite; for spinning with micro-lures, a short, sensitive fast-action rod. A soft tip is key to cushioning the fragile mouth.
- Reel: small spinning reel (size 1000 to 2500) or a light baitcaster, with a smooth, well-adjusted drag. The smoothness of the drag prevents the mouth from tearing during the fight.
- Main line: fine nylon of 0.20 to 0.25 mm, or light braid (4 to 8 lb) for spinning, which gives maximum sensitivity to detect the subtle bite.
- Leader: nylon or fluorocarbon finer than the main line, 0.18 to 0.22 mm. Fluorocarbon is less visible underwater and helps in clear water.
- Hooks: small and of good quality, matched to the pejerrey's reduced mouth; staggered on the line to gauge depths.
- Accessories: fine, sensitive floats or corks, light sinkers to regulate depth, and a soft mesh net if you are going to release fish, to handle them with the least possible harm.
The philosophy of the tackle is simple: the finer and more sensitive it is, the more bites you will detect and the more you will enjoy the fight of this silver fish.
Fishing techniques
The pejerrey is fished with fine tackle and a lot of sensitivity, because it is a soft-biting fish that "tests" the bait. These are the most common methods in Argentina:
Float fishing (bobber) from shore or boat. This is the classic lagoon method. You use a rig with a fine float or "cork" that registers the slightest bite, with one or several hooks staggered to gauge at what depth the school is feeding that day. Step by step:
- Rig a line with a sliding float and several small hooks at different heights.
- Set the starting depth at mid-water and keep adjusting until you find where they bite.
- Bait with well-presented natural bait.
- At the slightest movement of the float, set the hook with a short, firm motion (not abrupt: the mouth is delicate and can tear).
Drift fishing from a boat (handline or drift rig). Very common in lagoons: the boat drifts with the wind and rakes the water until it locates the school. Once you spot the mark, you work the area, insisting at the depth that paid off.
Spinning with micro-lures. A sporty and very entertaining method: you cast light spoons or microjigs and retrieve slowly, letting the lure work at mid-water. Ideal when the fish are active and grabbing.
Fly fishing. With light tackle and small silver streamers that imitate fry, it works very well when the school moves near the surface.
Guide tips:
- The best times are usually early morning and dusk, though on cool, windy days the pejerrey feeds all day long.
- The wind is your friend: it pushes food against a shoreline and switches on the bite. Look for the leeward bank where the wind hits.
- Depth rules: if they aren't biting, change depth before changing bait.
- Gentle hookset and a patient fight: it is a fragile-mouthed fish and you have to "enjoy it" with fine tackle so you don't lose it near the rod tip.
Closed season & regulations
La pesca del pejerrey en la Argentina está regulada, y esas reglas existen por una buena razón: proteger la especie durante su reproducción y asegurar que haya pejerrey para las próximas temporadas. El desove ocurre principalmente en las estaciones frías y templadas, y por eso muchas jurisdicciones establecen vedas (períodos de prohibición o restricción de pesca), tallas mínimas (para devolver los ejemplares que todavía no se reprodujeron) y cupos de captura por pescador y por día.
Es cada vez más fuerte —y muy sano— la cultura de la pesca con devolución (catch & release), sobre todo con los ejemplares grandes, los "pejerreyones" reproductores que son los que sostienen la población. Devolver bien al agua un pez trofeo, manipulándolo con cuidado y el menor tiempo fuera del agua, es la mejor inversión a futuro de todo pejerreyero.
Importante y honesto: la veda, la talla mínima y el cupo varían según la provincia y cambian de un año a otro. Lo que rige en una laguna bonaerense no es necesariamente lo mismo que en un embalse de otra provincia, y las fechas se actualizan cada temporada. Por eso, antes de salir a pescar consultá siempre la reglamentación oficial vigente de la autoridad de aplicación de la provincia donde vas a pescar (Dirección de Fauna, de Pesca o de Recursos Naturales provincial), y sacá el permiso de pesca correspondiente. No te guíes por datos de años anteriores ni por lo que "se dice": la única fuente válida es el organismo oficial provincial actualizado.
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Frequently asked questions about argentinian silverside (pejerrey)
Where can you fish Argentinian silverside (pejerrey) in Argentina?
Some of the best places to fish argentinian silverside (pejerrey) are Dique Cabra Corral, Embalse de Río Hondo, Laguna de Chascomús, Laguna de Lobos. On PESQA you get the map, access info, seasons and verified guides for each one.
What's the best time to fish Argentinian silverside (pejerrey)?
The best time for argentinian silverside (pejerrey) is jun–aug. Check each place's page for the bite calendar and to respect current closed seasons.
What gear is used to fish Argentinian silverside (pejerrey)?
The pejerrey is a medium-sized fish with a delicate mouth, so the tackle leans to the fine and sensitive side. A recommended setup: - Rod: light action light / ultralight , from 1.80 to 3.00 m depending on the method. For float fishing from shore a longer rod helps to cast and to
