Cauque de maule
The cauque del Maule is Chile's own silverside — a slender, schooling fish found nowhere else on earth.
Native to the rivers and lakes of central and southern Chile, it sits at the heart of the freshwater food web, feeding on invertebrates and serving as forage for larger predators.
Anglers encounter it incidentally while fishing the Maule, Bío-Bío, and Valdivia drainages, and it's a genuine piece of Chile's natural heritage.
Scientific Name: Odontesthes mauleanum
Also known as Cauque del Maule, pejerrey de río, pejerrey maulino
- Long, slender silverside body with bright silver flanks and a faint yellowish sheen — unmistakable when a school catches the light in clear water.
- Back noticeably darker than the pale belly, a countershading pattern that helps it avoid predators from above and below.
- Pointed snout, large eyes, and clear to lightly tinted fins; no bold markings to confuse it with trout or bass.
- Typically 10–15 cm, though fish up to 30 cm have been recorded; most encountered by anglers run on the smaller end of that range.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Endemic to Chile — found naturally nowhere else in the world; native to Pacific-draining river systems of central and southern Chile.
- Occupies rivers, lakes, and even estuaries from the Maule Region south through the Bío-Bío and Valdivia drainages.
- Recorded in lakes including Villarrica and Llanquihue, and rivers including the Maule and Bío-Bío.
- Prefers cool to cold, clear freshwater — rivers and streams with good flow, as well as the calmer depths of lakes.
Key Locations
- Río Maule — the namesake river; the species was first described from this drainage in the Maule Region.
- Laguna del Maule — high-Andean headwater lake near the Argentine border, source of the Maule River.
- Río Bío-Bío — one of the major river systems where the species is documented.
- Lago Villarrica and Lago Llanquihue — southern lake district waters where cauque del Maule are recorded.
- Río Valdivia drainage — southern range of the species' distribution.
Specific Spots
- Schools move through deeper, calmer stretches of rivers and lake basins — look for them away from heavy current where they can feed in open water.
- Rocky shorelines and submerged vegetation give the fish cover; edges of weedbeds and boulder fields concentrate schools.
- In rivers like the Maule, slower side channels and pools off the main current hold fish, especially during warmer parts of the day.
Cauque de maule FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Cauque de maule?
Small spinners and micro-spoons (1–3 g) that flash and mimic tiny baitfish or invertebrates are the go-to; keep sizes modest to match the fish's small mouth. Tiny soft-plastic grubs or micro-jigs worked slowly through the water column can draw strikes from feeding schools.
What flies work for Cauque de maule?
Small wet flies and soft-hackles imitating aquatic larvae, sizes 14–18, fished on a slow swing or dead-drift (letting the current carry the fly naturally) match the cauque's invertebrate diet.
When is the best time to fish for Cauque de maule?
Spring (September–November): fish become more active as water warms; pre-spawn schools are easier to locate in rivers. Summer (December–February): spawning period; fish concentrate in rivers and shallower lake margins, handle carefully and release quickly during this time.
How do you catch Cauque de maule?
Most anglers encounter the cauque del Maule incidentally while fishing for trout in central and southern Chilean rivers and lakes. Targeting them directly means finding a school in calmer, deeper water and presenting small lures or flies at the right depth, light tackle from shore or a small boat works well.
What do Cauque de maule eat?
Feeds mainly on small aquatic invertebrates, insect larvae, tiny crustaceans, and zooplankton, plus some algae and plant material. Small nymph patterns or wet flies imitating aquatic larvae are the logical match. Schools feed actively in open water, often near the surface or mid-column.
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