Golden dorado are much harder to hook and we had no shortage of opportunities during our trip! They have a much tougher gob than barra and their hundreds of teeth don't make things any easier.
Even with multiple hook-sets from a big stout rod with a tight drag, you will often have the your lure flung back at you as the dorado cartwheels through the air on its first leap from the water.
As far as we could tell, the dorado of the Salto Grande Dam spillway fight harder than the equivalent sized barramundi, although these aren't exactly your run of the mill fish.
They have no shortage of food and have set all the world records for the species so perhaps need to be compared to an impoundment barra, but still, they might just have them beat.
One things for certain, they jump way more than barra!
Much more similar to a big plucky trout, even the big ones bounce about the place all the way back to the boat, then squirm, writhe and twist all over until you get them secured.
Another point in their favour is their love of surface lures, they're much more fearless when it comes to attacking everything from poppers to big fizzers or even imitation duck lures!
Taste wise, we thought a saltwater barra is more to our liking, although the golden dorado are a very different kind of fish, quite fatty, with plump juicy flakes.
More something you would want to tuck into by a cosy fire with a nice bottle of South American red, quite fitting really!
Makes for a good hearty meal although the locals prefer to eat other species in the river.
Barra or golden dorado, which one is prettier?
We will leave that up to you to decide!
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