Fishing in the Dominican Republic, in Punta Cana, is a rather interesting and exotic activity, which is mainly carried out only by tourists, since it is not widespread among the local population. Of course, it cannot be said at all that Dominicans do not eat fish, but they eat it much less than the inhabitants of the same Cuba. Be that as it may, everyone can engage in fishing - and our article will help you with this.
Fishery Features
As mentioned earlier, in the Dominican Republic there is almost no fishing industry, despite the fact that the Republic has an island location. Here you are unlikely to find industrial plants for processing fish resources or flotillas engaged in their extraction. The local population buys all the necessary delicacies in neighboring countries:
- from Cuba - squid;
- from Argentina - herring;
- from South Korea - shrimp.
Meanwhile, the ocean is teeming with a variety of marine life, which just asks for a hook!
As a rule, only the poorest of the Dominicans are engaged in such fishing, while the rest simply prefer to make money on tourists who come here. Such a business is often passed down from generation to generation.
Types of rushing in the Dominican Republic
Fishing in this country is divided into two types: amateur and professional. The first is a team of funny fishermen and a bottle of rum, so you can’t count on a big catch. As a rule, you will not even see fishing as such, because tourists just want to go on a trip across the ocean. However, if your goal is alcohol, card games, jokes and all kinds of contests - welcome aboard!
Professional fishing has cardinal differences from the previous variety. On board a yacht or boat you will see only professional fishermen who go to the open ocean with one single goal - to get more fish in the shortest possible time. First-class gear and lures are used for this, and they are hunted in previously explored fishing places. So if you are an avid fisherman and you cannot wait to catch a shark on a hook - go for it!
Species of fish in the ocean
Judging by the reviews, fishing in the Dominican Republic is equally good at all times of the year, since there is no certain season here that would affect the intensity of the bite. In any month, you will be able to catch the most exotic types of fish that you definitely will not meet in Russia:
- blue and white marlin;
- yellowfin tuna;
- sailing fish;
- Dorado
- wahoo.
And this is only a small part of what the average fisherman’s catch can consist of. If you know how to choose the right bait and gear, you will certainly succeed in catching something and more interesting.
Tips from professionals
Fishing in the Dominican Republic can be very difficult and unpredictable, especially if you are doing it for the first time. To facilitate the task, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the main recommendations that professional fishermen who have visited the republic give to their colleagues in various online forums.
- To capture the marine giants (as in the photo), you should go as far from the coast as possible, since they prefer to settle at great depths. It is best used to analyze the bottom topography of the echo sounder to find a place with a depth of 3 to 5 meters. Of course, for such fishing you will have to use good gear.
- The Atlantic Ocean is suitable for professional fishermen, but if you do not have the proper experience, go to the Caribbean Sea. The catch in it will be much more modest, but you will not have to look for a promising place for a long time. However, choose a cruise wisely so as not to be on board with some alcoholics.
- Rather than buying bait in fishing shops for fabulous prices, it is best to collect it yourself on the ocean. For this purpose, you can use small fish and crustaceans - they are thrown onto the sand after high tide. Just walk along the shore in the early morning, and you will save some money while relaxing abroad.
- Well, the last, most important advice that professionals give to their colleagues. The wind always blows in the ocean, so if you decide to go fishing yourself on a rented boat, do not sail too far from the coast of the island, otherwise you will simply be swept away by a strong current.
Is fishing from the shore possible?
Many fishermen are wondering if fishing is possible in the Dominican Republic from the shore. Yes, if you know the fishing spots. Otherwise, you have to spend the whole day in order to at least see a small bite. To find a good place, try talking to local residents or read reviews on specialized resources. Try to look for a quiet corner where there are no people and a strong surf.
Of course, such a lesson is more suitable for beginners than for professionals, but it has one advantage - cost. Given that a yacht ticket costs tourists about $ 125, the savings are huge. Of course, you will not get big impressions, but who said that you can’t just get out to the beach with your family and throw a couple of fishing rods in a quiet place?
Video and conclusion
We hope our article helped you understand some of the features of fishing in the Dominican Republic. If you still have any questions or want to know more about the fishing industry, we recommend watching a short video in which a professional fisherman and tourist tells everything about how he ordered "almost private" fishing for $ 80 in the Dominican Republic. Also in the video you will see with your own eyes what a catch the author of the video had to catch, so look - you won’t regret it!
As you can see, fishing in the Dominican Republic is a very interesting activity, which is in great demand among visiting tourists. Of course, the cost of one excursion leaves much to be desired, but one cannot ignore the fact that this exotic event allows you to enjoy unforgettable emotions. Just imagine: the fresh sea breeze, the waves beating on the side of the yacht, and you - with professional gear - watch how a real sea giant drags the float to the bottom. Isn't that heaven on earth?