Percichthys colhuapiensis
Percichthys colhuapiensis — the perca bocona, or largemouth perch — is a native freshwater perch of Patagonian Argentina. It shares water with introduced trout but holds its own as a sport fish, prized for its firm, tasty flesh.
Anglers in Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz target it in cold rivers and lakes, often alongside its close relative the perca criolla (P. trucha).
Scientific Name: Percichthys colhuapiensis
Also known as Perca bocona, Trucha criolla bocona, Perca criolla bocona
- Robust, elongated body with a large, scale-covered head and a distinctly protruding lower jaw — the oversized mouth is the key ID feature that separates it from other Percichthys species.
- Uniform coloration with no spots or blotches on body or head; overall olive to brownish tone, paler on the belly.
- Grows to at least 59 cm total length; adults are noticeably deeper-bodied than juveniles.
- Closely resembles the creole perch (P. trucha) but the projecting lower jaw and more developed maxilla distinguish it in hand.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to cold to cool freshwater in west and south Argentina — documented in the provinces of Chubut, Neuquén, Río Negro, and Santa Cruz.
- Type locality is Lago Colhué Huapi in the Senguer River basin, Chubut; also recorded in the Negro, Limay, and Colorado rivers, Tulumaya stream, and Puente de Fierro lake.
- Occupies both lakes and rivers; benthopelagic in habit, meaning it uses the full water column but spends significant time near the bottom.
Key Locations
- Lago Colhué Huapi, Chubut — the type locality and a core part of the species' documented range in the Senguer basin.
- Río Limay, Neuquén/Río Negro — a major Patagonian river where both P. colhuapiensis and P. trucha have been studied and fished.
- Río Negro — documented in age and growth studies; a productive river system for native perch in southern Argentina.
- Embalse Ramos Mexía, Neuquén — a reservoir where diet studies confirmed the species alongside P. trucha.
- Puente de Fierro lake and Tulumaya stream — additional confirmed localities within the species' Patagonian range.
Specific Spots
- Rocky shoreline structure and submerged boulders in rivers like the Limay — current breaks behind large rocks give the fish a resting lie from which to intercept prey.
- Drop-offs and deeper holes in Patagonian lakes, where adults hold near bottom in cooler water during warm periods.
- Weed edges and submerged timber in lake shallows, especially at dawn and dusk when fish move up to feed.
Percichthys colhuapiensis FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Percichthys colhuapiensis?
Minnow-style hard baits (Rapala-type floating and sinking plugs) worked along rocky shorelines and over drop-offs imitate the baitfish adults key on. Soft-plastic swimbaits and paddle-tail grubs on a light jig head cover the bottom structure where fish hold in deeper lake water.
What flies work for Percichthys colhuapiensis?
Woolly Buggers (which imitate small fish, leeches, and large invertebrates) in olive, black, or white are a go-to streamer for adult fish; strip them erratically through current breaks or along rocky drop-offs.
When is the best time to fish for Percichthys colhuapiensis?
Spring and early summer (October–December), fish become more active as water warms from winter lows; a good time to work shallower lake margins and river runs. Summer (January–February), fish may push deeper in lakes during the warmest weeks; early morning and evening fishing near structure produces best.
How do you catch Percichthys colhuapiensis?
Most anglers fish from shore or by wading in Patagonian rivers, working streamers or minnow lures through current breaks and rocky structure. In lakes, boat fishing over drop-offs with soft plastics or streamer flies covers the deeper holding water where adults concentrate.
What do Percichthys colhuapiensis eat?
Juveniles eat aquatic invertebrates and small crustaceans; adults shift to a fish-based diet, smaller perch, pejerrey, and other baitfish. Streamers and minnow-style lures that imitate small fish are the logical starting point for adult fish. Documented feeding alongside P.
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