Europe 2022

Pieter and Bart had extended an invite to show me some Dutch species for quite a few years. However, as travel anglers, our schedules rarely coincided to schedule a visit. It wasn't until a summer travel plan that involved a transfer in Europe enabled the opportunity to finally visit Netherlands for a few days. Special thank you to Pieter, Bart, Pascal and Sjors for sharing their time and knowledge with us. An addition thank you to Pieter for his hospitality for a nap and dine at his home before we drove to Belgium.

Jul 16, 2022 - Amersfoort, Netherlands

Flight delays were the norm of travel after COVID. With our flight delayed for almost 2 hours, we rushed to Amesfoort to meet with Bart. A quick croquette bite later, Bart suggested that we fish around Amersfoort for some smaller species in the afternoon. After dinner, we met up with Pieter to try for Zander. We only had one Zander bite all night and I was lucky to catch one.

Species 1058 Leucaspius delineatus Belica	Species 1059 Rutilus rutilus Roach	Species 1060 Alburnus alburnus Bleak
Species 1061 Blicca bjoerkna White Bream	Species 1062 Sander lucioperca Pike-Perch

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Jul 17, 2022 - Amersfoort, Netherlands

We tried to fish the River Waal today. It was not very productive and Bart was uncertain why the river bottom had an unusual amount of leaf litter that affected our fishing. Around dusk, which is around 10pm in the Netherlands, George was trying for an European Perch and I was trying for a Bream. Just as darkness fell, I caught a rare European Eel that was promptly released after a quick photo.

Species 1063 Leuciscus aspius Asp

Species 1064 Anguilla anguilla European Eel

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Jul 18, 2022 - IJmuiden, Netherlands

Pieter showed us a few of his productive locations today around IJmuiden. We started off fishing between rock crevices for blenny species. Unfortunately, the couple of Sculpin species that I wanted were not around. Around midday, we made a quick move to find the diminutive Sand Goby. Finally, we fished a busy shipping channel for a couple more saltwater species that lived on the sandy bottom.

Species 1065 Lipophrys pholis Shanny	Species 1066 Parablennius gattorugine Tompot Blenny	Species 1067 Pomatoschistus minutus Sand Goby
Species 1068 Platichthys flesus European Flounder	Species 1069 Trisopterus luscus Pouting

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Jul 19, 2022 - Nieuwpoort, Belgium

We met up with Pascal today to fish from his boat. A few days leading to our trip, the sea conditions kept changing and it was difficult to confirm our plan. However, it turned out to be an exceptional day - it was exceptionally flat calm, exceptionally hot (38ºC), and the fishing was exceptionally poor; but I caught a Starry Smooth-hound in Belgium waters which was exceptionally rare.

Species 1070 Echiichthys vipera Lesser Weaver

Species 1071 Mustelus asterias Starry Smooth-hound

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Jul 20, 2022 - Germany

We planned to fish with Sjors today on a river in southern Netherlands. However, they stopped selling day tickets to fish the river and there was not enough processing time to get an annual ticket. So we decided on a last minute pivot to venture into Germany to fish a small creek in Germany instead. Barbel were hiding in the grate of a small dam. When I finally hooked one, Sjors climbing down to help me land and it became the most memorable moment of the trip. At night, we tried to fish for Wels Catfish but none wanted to bite.

Species 1072 Squalius cephalus Chub	Species 1073 Barbus barbus Barbel	Species 1074 Gobio gobio Gudgeon
Species 1075 Rhodeus amarus European Bitterling	Species 1076 Abramis brama Freshwater Bream

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Jul 21, 2022 - Eindhoven, Netherlands

We had exceptionally nice weather for most of the trip, but a cold front moved in behind the heat wave. This was our last fishing day it finally rained all day. At times, it was pouring as heavy as a tropical monsoon. We managed to do a little sightfishing around rocks in a small creek before it poured, but as the rain intensified, I missed out on my Bullhead Sculpin opportunity.

Species 1077 Barbatula barbatula Stone Loach	Species 1078 Pseudorasbora parva Stone Moroko	Species 1079 Leuciscus idus Ide
Species 1080 Proterorhinus marmoratus Tubenose Goby

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South America 2022

Mar 12, 2022 - Rio Magdalena, Colombia

Around 60% of species in Rio Magdalena are endemic. With a 13-hour stopover, it was just enough time to drive 3.5h from Bogota to the closest access on the Rio Madgalena to catch two endemic catfish species. Fishing might be more productive if the water wasn't high, swift and turbid with visibility of less than 6 inches.

Species 1035 Pimelodus yuma (No common name)

Species 1036 Pimelodus grosskopsii (No common name)

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Mar 13, 2022 - Rio Parana, Encarnacion, Paraguay

The last visit to Paraguay (in March 2020) was the shortest trip ever - 3 days in the country, including travel time, before COVID-induced national curfews and international border closures forced a premature flight home. Fingers crossed that another disaster would not strike and I can actually stay for more than 72 hours this time around. An afternoon session produced 2 wish-list species, plus a rare Catfish that Fernando just learned of its existence.

Species 1037 Hoplias mbigua (No common name)

Species 1038 Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro (No common name)

Species 1039 Auchenipterus nuchalis (No common name)

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Mar 14, 2022 - Rio Parana, Cerrito, Paraguay

Paraguay is in the midst of a multi-year drought and many of the wetlands turned into grasslands. However, the few remaining small rivers did offer easy fishing for Hoplias misionera. Stopping at road-side chiperas for fresh chipas was a nice break to stretch legs after sitting for hours cramped under the kayaks inside Fernando's van.

Species 1040 Hoplias misionera (No common name)

Species 1041 Pimelodus maculatus Spotted Pim

Species 1042 Platydoras armatulus Southern Striped Raphael

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Mar 15, 2022 - Rio Parana, Cerrito, Paraguay

Our first full day in Cerrito, the plan was to focus on the main objective - a Golden Dorado. A strenuous 3km upstream paddle against the strong current for 2 hours, the reward was only a couple of chases for me and Golden Dorado broken off for Fernando. Due to the drought, the fishing was extremely poor. The decision was to return mid-afternoon in favour of some bottom fishing and securing Piranha or Catfish for dinner.

Species 1043 Astyanax lacustris (No common name)

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Mar 16, 2022 - Rio Parana, Cerrito, Paraguay

A boat wake bounced one of Fernando's rod into the water, never to be seen again despite a couple of hours dredging the depth with a weighted treble hook. A Golden Dorado hit at my feet, crumpled the leader but missed the front hook. A double-header of Golden Dorado on bait resulting in one quick jump-and-spit for Fernando, and the another shook the hook just 6 inches from the net for me. Losses were the theme of the day, including plenty of livebait chopped up by endless Piranhas. A piscivorous Catfish and the livebait species ended up salvaging the day. Instead of Golden Dorado fillets, we feasted on Spotted Pim and drank our sorrows away.

Species 1044 Psalilodon rutilus (No common name)

Species 1045 Odontostilbe pequira (No common name)

Species 1046 Hemisorubim platyrhynchos Porthole Shovelnose Catfish

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Mar 17, 2022 - Rio Parana, Encarnacion, Paraguay

Cerrito's sleepy and rustic charm is preserved by its unforgiving sandy access roads. A series of protest and road blocks against high fuel prices ushered a hasty retreat back to Encarnacion, only to be delayed when well-intentioned anglers, who tried to pull out a stuck sedan, were swallowed by the sandy traps as well. An evening of micro fishing within the city revealed a few more lifer gems.

Species 1047 Crenicichla taikyra (No common name)

Species 1048 Triportheus nematurus (No common name)

Species 1049 Psalilodon eigenmanniorum (No common name)

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Mar 18, 2022 - Rio Parana, Encarnacion, Paraguay

An early morning of fishing was pretty uneventful until a fiery sky signaled the start of three consecutive Motoro Ray. While the morning remained calm, a quick kayak paddle led to a crystal clear aquarium where it was possible to sightfish for multiple species. A creek just outside of town offered the opportunity for another lifer. On the last evening in Paraguay, we celebrated a successful trip with fancy empanadas.

Species 1050 Potamotrygon motoro South American Freshwater Stingray

Species 1051 Hyphessobrycon eques Jewel Tetra

Species 1052 Bryconamericus agna (No common name)

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Mar 20, 2022 - Represea Billings, Sao Paulo, Brazil

A 6-hour stopover turned into an extra morning of fishing, thanks to the airline granting an early departure time so it was possible to overnight in Sao Paulo. The forecast threatened torrential rainfall but, trusting the radar imagery rather than the posted forecast, the gamble on favourable weather was won. The fish were not bothered by the 10C temperature drop or the on-and-off misty drizzle. Special thanks to Leo for sharing his childhood fishing spot.

Species 1053 Crenicichla britskii (No common name)	Species 1054 Coptodon rendalli Redbreast Tilapia	Species 1055 Geophagus brasiliensis Pearl Cichlid
Species 1056 Psalilodon fasciatus Banded Astyanax	Species 1057 Poecilia vivipara (No common name)

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