NorthWest Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing => Let's Talk Kayak Fishing => Topic started by: SD2OR on November 08, 2022, 02:36:29 PM
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I just found out I'll be vacationing to the DR this coming January.
I was wondering if anyone knew of any Kayak fishing guides there? I'll be staying in Punta Cana.
My internet research only turned up one result, a company called Scubaquatic. They rent fully outfitted Outbacks, complete with fish Finders with GPS waypoints. The website isn't super informative, I plan on emailing them soon, was just curious if anyone knew of other options.
I'll post a full report upon my return.
Thanks in advance for any info or advice.
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Looks amazing! Have you fished in tropical waters before? If so, what did you catch?
I've caught quite a few barracuda and smaller fish from different PB's throughout Central America, would be a heckuva experience in a yak.
Scubaquatic says "We always practice fishing without death".....I assume for both the fisherman and the fish.
Can't wait to hear about your trip.
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I have yet to eally kayak fish in tropical waters.
Was supposed to do Hawaii last year, had a Kayak guide lined up, to go for tuna, mahi, ono, but covid canceled my plans.
I grew up fishing all around Baja, but always on pangas, cruisers, or from shore. Have caught 4 marlin I think, but all lil guys, under 100#. Caught numerous sailfish, including a 120# er on 20# test, that was amazing. Lots of dorado, tuna. One wahoo, only about 20#, but it almost yanked my dad's gold two speed reel and tuna stick, out of my hands a couple times. Only the thought of what my dad would do to me if I sent it down to Davey Jones, kept me hanging on.
I can only imagine what fun it is to catch any if those species in a Kayak. Hopefully I'll find out in January!
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From my time working on the other side of the island, take mosquito resistant clothes, bug screens for your head and plenty of DEET .
Has the guide service given you a Must Have List, yet ?
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I appreciate those tips!
I've been so busy lately, I've yet to contact them. Need to do that tomorrow, find out if they provide Tackle. I have a travel baitcast combo, that's fairly heavy, 10-20#, and pretty stiff. I've caught some decent tuna n Mahi on 20". I'm for sure bringing that.
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Some ling cod jigs/spoons might be good for deep reef jigging. I also like trolling big plugs relatively shallowly around the edges of the reef (at the drop-off between the reef and deep blue water). It's been a while since I've fished saltwater tropics though. Please send photos!!!
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Appreciate the tips!
I've done pretty well myself in the tropics, casting Spoons and trolling Rapalas. I'll probably also try getting some live bait.
Mostly hoping I can get off shore to where there might be some tuna or Dorado about.
Have emailed Scubaquatic several times now, with no response, does not bode well.
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A fellow kayak angler who did a trip to the Punta Cana area in hopes of doing some kayak fishing a few years back. He did find some Kayaks, but none for fishing charters. He went out on a skiff and caught some nice Mahi, and later took photos with them back on the beach next to a kayak. Good luck on your venture.
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The hotel I'm staying at provides basic kayaks, so I'll at least be able to fish some reef. Hopefully I can get some local intel about getting further out for off shore species.
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The hotel I'm staying at provides basic kayaks, so I'll at least be able to fish some reef. Hopefully I can get some local intel about getting further out for off shore species.
Maybe charter a Skiff to mothership the kayak out to a weed line loaded with Mahi. Good luck.
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That's a thought...
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Have made numerous attempts at contact with Scubaquatic, with absolutely no success. Looked at some appalling reviews. None were about kayak fishing, most about scuba diving, and the company's gross negligence, not adhering to PADI regulations, and seriously endangering their customers.
I found a company with a different name, but much of their advertising leads me to believe they are the same company, or at least affiliated with Scubaquatic. I messaged them today for research sakes.
On a more positive note, I watched some YouTube vids, and it appears tarpon and snook, (two species that have been on my want to catch list forever) populate just about every body of water on and around the island. Saw a teenager catching and getting busted off by numerous 5-10#+ tarpon in golf course ponds.
So hopefully I should be able to find some fishing fun, whether from kayak or shore.
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I made two reptile trips to the DR about 15yrs ago. It was a bit like the wild west. Driving a rental car in Santo Domingo was a free for all. I watched a truck make a turn too sharp, smashed a parked car, and continued driving away. Military soldiers stopped us on the main roads to bum rides. The last night in Boca Chica the electricity mysteriously went out for a few minutes. When it came back on, a hooker had her arms around me in my hotel room! I sent her on her way, but my buddy next door got robbed. I did not attempt to do any fishing there. Be careful with Snook and Tarpon as their gill plates can sometimes be sharp and cut your hands. Good luck on your trip.
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Thanks for the input!
I doubt we'll be straying far from the resort.
I've spent a lot of time in Mexico, and have been to Peru and Costa Rica, so I do have experience in 3rd world countries, I guess we'll see how this compares.
I didn't know that about the gill plates, glad ya told me before I found out the hard way!
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If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort, it will probably be uneventful(was for me in Punta Cana). I would rate the DR as safer than Peru, on par with Mexico, and not as safe as CR. I use a fish grip for handling Snook and tarpon, but a good glove is a cheaper option. Safe Travels.
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This from my friend, Don Mettz, who is a missionary in DR. Quotes are mine;
"Whatever you do, absolutely do not cross the border into Haiti. You won't get a mile before you run into trouble. You should know that things have gotten seriously worse since you were there in the 90's. Disappearances have more than doubled along the border, so its almost worse than when Pappa Doc was in power.
As always, check the State Department website for reputable businesses and safe places to stay. And for sure make copies of your passport and other documents. They'll come in handy while here."
There's more but he's basically warning me to be careful and avoid the scams etc. as well as adding the address and phone number of the US Counsulate to your phone.
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Thank you for that. Some good tips!
We weren't planning on straying very far from our all inclusive resort I'm Punta Cana, so hopefully everything will be mellow.
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Well, wasn't the greatest vacation.
My wife had planned the thing, found a deal on Groupon, was a bday present to us both (Jan 12 for me, the 16th for my wife).
She meant well.
Only after booking everything, did we bother to read the places reviews, which were horrid.
Place was pretty enough. It was the kind of resort tho that has the dance music bumping all day, and late into the night. All the food, both in the buffets and the supposedly nicer reservation restaurants, was pretty much identical to food found in cheap Chinese buffets. Hardly any local fare except attains n tropical fruit. After one meal, my wife became violently ill, and bed ridden for over a day.
Everyday, sales people would accosted us relentlessly, pitching spa packages, activities and what not. They all but waited outside our room, ready to pounce, it got really annoying, and no amount of "No thank you's" could get them to stop.
There were no kayaks to be used, and fishing on the beach was strictly forbidden. I was told the only way I could fish, was to sign up for a $600 charter that I could not afford. I snuck down to the beach one night, and waded out up to my armpits, casting top water, spoons, swimbaits, and even sosked some Gulp products. Not a bite, tho I did see what had to be tarpon crash on bait, a time or two. So no fish for me, and after many years, tarpon are still on my hope to catch before I die list.
If you're going to the DR, do not stay at Lifestyle (not a swinger type place like it sounds) resorts.
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Thanks for the review. Sorry for your experience.
I'm starting to scout a self guided fishing trip to Costa Rica or Belize. Possibilities look good and what I think you were after on this trip.
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Sadly, I didn't get to fish much when I was in Costa Rica, about a decade ago either. It was before I started kayak fishing. I did catch some look down jacks and puffers from shore tho, so I wasn't skunked at least. Wishing you good luck on your trip, can't wait to see the pics!
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Sorry to hear it did not work out better.
I'm starting to scout a self-guided fishing trip to Costa Rica or Belize. Possibilities look good and what I think you were after on this trip.
If fishing CR on the Atlantic side, be wary of Limon. It can be rough -- the one place in CR where someone attempted to rob me. The roadside barbequed chicken was my downfall. I had taken the bus from the capital to Limon and was planning to travel by boat Nth to Tortuguero to fish Snook and Tarpon. Unfortunately, I got amebic dysentery -- That was the end of my saltwater fishing adventure. I return to San Jose for medical treatment, other fishing, and TLC via a long-haired dictionary. That was many decades ago, but the attempted robbery was in 2011 while visiting the port by ship.
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Bummer about the trip, SD2OR! I was rooting for you to have a great time. Hopefully brighter days ahead.
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Dang, sorry your trip didn't go the way you were hoping!
If you're looking for tarpon, have you considered Florida? Check out EliasVFishing on YouTube. He catches some cool-ass fish in the Gulf, including some real nice tarpon in the Florida Keys, from his kayak.
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Thanks guys! To make things even worse, I just found out I was infected with covid on one of the flights. No fishing for me for a while....
have been to Florida a couple times, but frustratingly, wasn't able to fish much. Was in Key West for a goodly amount of time, but for an island, there were remarkably few spots to shore fish.
I did manage some small barracuda and needlefish from shore, and some small snapper n grouper from a party boat. Honestly with the tackle I brought that particular trip, I wouldn't have been able to land a very large tarpon anyway.
One of these days, I'll go specifically to fish. Such a fishing mecca. Tarpon n snook, peacock bass, all sorts of feral aquarium fish. Black sea bass...