Chile: Thriving Wild Chinook Salmon Runs
Chile's chinook (king) salmon fishery has a fascinating history. In the mid-1970s, chinook salmon eggs were introduced to rivers in Chile’s Lakes Region as part of a commercial ranching experiment. Though the project was abandoned, the salmon thrived and established wild populations along the southern coast, from the Tolten River to Tierra del Fuego.
In rivers, the chinook runs typically begin in mid-February, peaking through March and into April, with variations depending on rainfall. Offshore, king salmon are targeted from November through March, mainly by trolling with downriggers. Today, Chile offers some of the southern hemisphere’s most exciting salmon fishing opportunities.
