Even in a lean-water year, the Río Grande reminded us why it holds such a revered place in the world of sea trout fishing. It was a season that asked more of our anglers—but those who rose to the challenge were rewarded with fish of remarkable size, strength, and beauty.
At Villa María, quality took center stage. The numbers may have been modest, but the fish we landed told a different story: thick-bodied, wild sea trout that reaffirm why this river remains one of the finest sea trout fisheries in the world.
What follows is a look back at the ten heaviest sea trout landed in 2025. Each one tells the story of a river that still has plenty to give—and a team of anglers and guides who know how to make the most of it.
#1 – 28 lbs – Cartel Pool (Lower Stretch)
Angler: Lars H. 🏆
Nationality: Norway 🇳🇴
Fly: Dead-drifted nymph
Line/Presentation: Long leader, floating line
Guide: Agustin Bastons
A flawless presentation in low, glassy water produced the fish of the season—a 28-pound hen that ran hard, held deep, and never gave an inch. Clean, bright, and thick through the shoulders, she was the kind of fish that defines a trip—and a season.
#2 – 24 lbs – Cormoran Pool
Angler: Mark E. 🥈
Nationality: United States 🇺🇸
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: Shallow drift
Guide: Ale Martello
Mark hit a streak most anglers only dream about—seven fish in a single morning session. This 24-pound chrome hen, fresh from the tide, was the standout. Bright as a mirror and full of fight, she ate on a shallow swing and tore downstream with power.
#3 – 23,5 lbs – Upper Beats
Angler: Bruno 🥉
Nationality: Switzerland 🇨🇭
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: Long leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
A longtime friend of the lodge, Bruno has fished this river for nearly two decades—and it shows. On a calm February afternoon, his patience paid off with one of the heaviest hens of the season. Thick-bodied and strong, she stayed deep and dogged through the entire fight.
#4 – 23 lbs – Upper Beats
Angler: Olof G.
Nationality: Sweden 🇸🇪
Fly: Intruder
Line/Presentation: Swing presentation, last cast of the day
Guide: Ale Martello
One cast left. One perfect swing. Olof’s final effort of the session was rewarded with a crushing take and a broad-shouldered buck that fought with everything it had. The kind of fish—and the kind of moment—that keeps anglers walking back to the river, day after day.
#5 – 23 lbs – Upper Beats
Angler: Hans R
Nationality: Switzerland 🇨🇭
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: 10-foot leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
Taken just as the sun dropped behind the willows, this golden male slipped out of the seam and crushed a tight-line nymph drift. A picture-perfect take in soft light—and a fish that tested every inch of Hans’s leader before sliding to hand.
#6 – 23 lbs – Upper Beats
Angler: Maurice
Nationality: Switzerland 🇨🇭
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: 10-foot leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
Clear skies, steady flow, and a dialed-in drift—everything lined up for Maurice that evening. The result: a broad, heavy male that ate tight to the bank and dug in hard. A classic Villa María fish, earned through patience and precision.
#7 – 22,5 lbs – Cormoran Pool
Angler: Birger
Nationality: Germany 🇩🇪
Fly: Small nymph
Line/Presentation: Long leader, floating line
Guide: Ale Martello
Birgers’s trip was marked by steady, technical fishing—and this heavy fish was the highlight. Hooked late in the week on the Cormoran Pool, it ran deep and held steady in the current. Even without the full details, this 22,5-pounder male earns its place among the season’s best
#8 – 21 lbs – Julia’s Pool
Angler: Larry
Nationality: United States 🇺🇸
Fly: Micro Electric Leech
Line/Presentation: 10-foot leader, floating line
Guide: Maurizio Restaino
Larry, a great storyteller who fills our fishing sessions with laughter and hilarious anecdotes, also finds time to fish—and to land beautiful brown trout like this handsome 21 lbs male at Villa María Lodge.
#9 – 20,5 lbs – Moneta Pool
Angler: Joshua H.
Nationality: Australia 🇦🇺
Fly: Nymph
Line/Presentation: Floating line, single-hand rod
Guide: Ale Martello
This one came on light gear in heavy water. A compact, powerful fish that hit hard and fought dirty, testing both the rod and the angler from start to finish. On a single-hander, in classic Moneta current, it was a proper challenge—and a proper reward.
#10 – 20 lbs – Herradura Pool
Angler: Matt H.
Nationality: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Fly: Green Machine
Line/Presentation: Floating line, cold morning cast
Guide: Ale Martello
The temperature hovered just above freezing, but the fish were moving. On a slow swing through Herradura, Matt connected with this thick-bodied hen using a classic Green Machine. It was a textbook take—and proof that even on the coldest mornings, the Río Grande still delivers.
These fish are a testament not just to the river, but to the anglers, guides, and enduring spirit of Villa María. Every pull, every cast, and every hard-earned fish speaks to the commitment it takes to unlock this fishery’s full potential. Congratulations to all who joined us in 2025—we look forward to welcoming you back to the Río Grande in 2026.
