The short answer
- Open season on rivers and lakes: 12 October to 6 May. Closed from 7 May to 11 October.
- Rivers: release only until 30 November and again from 1 March. In between, up to 3 fish or 15 kg a day.
- Lakes: release only until 9 November and again from 2 April. In between, up to 3 fish or 15 kg a day.
- Río Paloma: catch and release for the whole season.
- Five spawning areas are closed all year, even to catch and release.
- Chinook salmon: 12 October to 15 January, 2 fish a day.
- Anglers need a Sernapesca licence. Foreign visitors buy it by the week, month or year.
These are the rules set by Sernapesca, Chile's fisheries service, for the Aysén Region in the 2025–2027 seasons, as published in its September 2026 edition. They apply to anyone fishing, guided or not. For when the fishing is at its best rather than when it is legal, see the fishing season month by month.
Rivers: when release is mandatory
| Dates | Rule |
|---|---|
| 12 October – 30 November | Catch and release only |
| 1 December – 28 February | Up to 3 fish or 15 kg per angler per day |
| 1 March – 6 May | Catch and release only |
| 7 May – 11 October | Closed season |
The limit in the middle of the season is per angler and per fishing day: 3 fish or 15 kg, whichever comes first. Around Coyhaique this covers rivers such as the Simpson, the Mañihuales, the Ñirehuao and the Emperador Guillermo, outside their closed areas.
Lakes: a shorter release window
| Dates | Rule |
|---|---|
| 12 October – 9 November | Catch and release only |
| 10 November – 1 April | Up to 3 fish or 15 kg per angler per day |
| 2 April – 6 May | Catch and release only |
| 7 May – 11 October | Closed season |
Lakes and lagoons open with rivers on 12 October, but their release-only period ends earlier, on 9 November, and starts again on 2 April.
The Río Paloma: catch and release all season
The Río Paloma, south of Coyhaique, is the one river the Aysén rules name on its own: release is mandatory from 12 October to 6 May, the whole open season.
Spawning areas closed all year
In these five areas Sernapesca prohibits all fishing at any time of year, including catch and release, to protect fish while they spawn (Exempt Resolutions 3004 of 2024 and 893 of 2025).
| Area | Protected species | Spawning |
|---|---|---|
| Río Ñirehuao, Mañihuales sectorCommune of Aysén | Chinook salmon | April–May |
| Río Mañihuales, El Toqui sectorCommune of Aysén | Chinook salmon | April–May |
| Outlet of Lago PolluxCommune of Coyhaique | Rainbow trout | September–November |
| Outlet of Lago FríoCommune of Coyhaique | Rainbow trout | August–September |
| Pozón Ibáñez, Río ClaroCommune of Río Ibáñez | Brown trout | September |
Exact boundaries are given as coordinates in the two resolutions. Sernapesca's measures for Aysén also list the use of artificial lures and of a landing net.
Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon have their own season in Aysén, on lakes and rivers alike: 12 October to 15 January, with a limit of 2 fish per angler per day and no weight limit. Chinook fishing is closed from 16 January to 11 October. Two of the five closed spawning areas, on the Ñirehuao and the Mañihuales, exist to protect chinook.
The fishing licence
Anyone fishing recreationally in Chile needs a Sernapesca licence. Foreign visitors who are not resident in Chile buy one licence that covers both sea and fresh water, priced in UF, Chile's inflation-indexed unit. In 2026:
| Valid for | In UF | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| One week | 0.5 UF | CLP 19,900 |
| One month | 1 UF | CLP 39,800 |
| One year | 1.5 UF | CLP 59,600 |
The peso price is set each year from the value of the UF on 31 December of the year before, so a licence bought in January to April 2027 will be priced in 2027 pesos. The UF amounts are what stay fixed. Licences are sold online through Sernapesca. Law 20,256 sets out some exemptions by age and disability; if you think one applies to you, confirm it with Sernapesca before you travel.
How it works on a trip with us
We guide from October 12 to April 30, inside the legal season, and we release every fish. The All Inclusive Expedition (USD 6,500 per angler) includes the Sernapesca licence; full-day guests confirm their licence with the team before arrival. See everything each program includes.