Río Catatumbo

Río Catatumbo, in Zulia, Venezuela, is a river where current dictates almost everything. Rocks, undercut banks, and fallen timber are the obvious targets, but the productive water at Río Catatumbo is often the seam between two current speeds — that's where fish wait for food to drift past. Match the size of your bait or lure to whatever insects, baitfish, or crayfish you can see in the water.

Location

9.3500, -71.7500 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Zulia

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Zulia. Conditions at Río Catatumbo may vary.

Speckled peacock bassCommon dolphinfishButterfly peacock bass

Fishing Techniques

• For Speckled peacock bass

  Focus on areas with structure like submerged trees, rock piles, or sharp drop-offs as Speckled peacock bass are ambush predators.

• For Common dolphinfish

  When you hook one dolphinfish, leave it in the water near the boat as this will often keep the school around for you to catch more.

• For Butterfly peacock bass

  Target structure like docks, submerged trees, and weed lines, varying your retrieve speed until you find what the fish prefer on that particular day.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species reported in Zulia.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Río Catatumbo should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Zulia before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Río Catatumbo.

Nearby Spots in Zulia

See all fishing spots in Zulia →

Other Fishing Regions in Venezuela