Motorboats: the starting line

By the Riverside

It is a complete expectant city. Thousands and thousands of people are waiting anxiously. It is almost three o'clock of a Saturday afternoon, just a few more minutes to go. The announcer’s voice is drowned out by a thousand voices from the audience who vociferate the inevitable.

And there they come. “It has started!” says the official announcer of the festival in a clear loud voice, when more than 500 motorboats, each one faster than the other, begin to pass by the local promenade as sapukai screams are heard everywhere.

The motorboats with less powerful engines go first. They are given advantage because they take longer to arrive at the fishing spot chosen by chance. After a few minutes, the Formula 1 ships start their conquest of the river and their search for the best brooks and lagoons to spend the night looking for these big fish.

But the idea is that everyone should be able to fish. Therefore, after the official start, some bus motorboats get ready at the floating dock (famous and identified with the City of Goya) to take some fishermen to the islands.


The Same Old Festival, Year After Year

Every time, more and more participants join this popular sport fishing festival. Another one is the Dorado National Festival, which also takes place by the Paraná River, in Paso de la Patria. However, the Surubí Festival has some characteristics that make it unique.

Fishing at night is an extra attraction for any fisherman. The river is in complete silence, and it is only altered by soft splashes made by the surubí when hunting. This is well known by fishermen, who in groups of three and on motorboats, develop the right techniques to win the contest.

During the last few years, there has been a raising expectation and many important trademarks have become sponsors of this popular festival. And as the famous song goes, “Goya is waiting for you, foreign fisherman, in its Surubí National Festival…" every time there are more outsiders who come to enjoy this festival, not only from this country but also from all round the world.