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.

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!

Bummer about the trip, SD2OR! I was rooting for you to have a great time. Hopefully brighter days ahead.

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...