Gone Fishing Reports
Gone Fishing Reports
Monthly Fishing Reports for Punta Cana area
These monthly fishing reports are intended to give you an idea of fishing experiences around the year. Information and the updates come directly from Gone Fishing guides and charters, they reflect past fishing conditions and catches over the year.
Due to the nature of the deep sea fishing and the open ocean conditions, your fishing experience can vary and those reports are just an general guide of what to expect in specific month. For more details, it’s the best to contact us before the tour.
Gone Fishing Report for January
During your stay in the month of January, we’re going to continue to see Northern currents coming down our way, and with them loads of fish as well. Beautiful Sail fish, brilliant Mahi-Mahis and “aggressive” Wahoos are still our main target being in peak season for the year, but we also have been seeing for the past 5 or 6 years a surge of Striper Marlin in our waters.
Crews will mainly use Ballyhoos as baits, but also some artificial lures such as Corner Heads which resemble squids to attract the Marlins. Also being the “colder” months of the year water temperature wise, means the fish normally will come in closer to the shore so boats really don’t need to go out very far to catch fish. Anywhere from 4 to 12 miles will do the trick.
Gone Fishing Report for February
During your holidays in the month of February, we’re going to start seeing less Sail fish in Punta Cana area, however we will have an increase in White Marlins which go into Peak Season later in March. We will also troll for colorful Mahi-Mahis and feisty Wahoos which stay in season right up till late May.
Having the water temperatures at around the same as January means that fish are still quite close to the Coast line, so again anywhere from 4 to 12 miles is about the distance it takes to catch them. Usually crews will set their lines within the first mile once they cross the reef area which is about 20 to 30 minutes once you left the mooring area.
Gone Fishing Report for March
During your vacations in the month of March there’s 4 species that we’ll be targeting. White Marlins, Mahis Mahis, Wahoos and Bonitos which are all in season for the year. Mahi Mahis are beautifully colored – typically bright, blue, green, and gold.
We’re also going to troll for Yellow Fin Tunas which start coming into our area towards the end of the month. No need to say, but all these species are great fighters and loads of fun to catch. Water temperatures will start to go up a bit and boats will also start heading out a bit more into open water to find them . You can estimate anywhere from 6 to 15 miles.
Gone Fishing Report for April
During your well deserved trip in the month of April our main targets will be White Marlins, Bonitos and Yellow fin Tunas. We’re also going to troll for those tasteful Mahi-Mahis and spirited Wahoos which are still around our waters till late May. Fighting with any of them will give you adrenaline rush dose you seek. Water temperatures are rising a bit by April so the boats will most likely start going out a bit further to find their game.
You can estimate a 4 hours tours going out between 6 to 15 miles on any giving day. You must also keep in mind that winds are also a huge factor. When we have winds blowing from the South for example this means fish are likely to be further off the coast line than in normal days when the winds are from the East or East/North, which brings them in closer.
Gone Fishing Report for May
During your holidays in the month of May, the 3 species we will be targeting are White Marlins, Yellow Fin Tuna and Bonitos, as they will be in Peak Season for the year. We’re also going to continue trolling for Mahi-Mahi (Dolphin Fish), always ready for a fight Wahoos and King fish that come into our waters during the summer months. Fishing conditions are pretty much the same as for weather patterns and distance the boats need to travel to put you on fish.
During the Yellow fin and Bonito season Gone Fishing crews will also use a variety of artificial lures to help get their prizes, such as trolling feathers and other lures resembling squids, and don’t forget Ballyhoos are our number type of bait that we use down here.
June Gone Fishing Report
During your vacays in the month of June, the 2 species that we’re going to target are White Marlins and Yellow Fin Tuna as they will be in Peak Season for the year. We’re also going to continue trolling for Mahi-Mahi (very tasteful fish) and King fish that come into our waters during the summer months. I never mention this fish since this is often the last thing we want to catch but often are the first ones to take a bait.
Barracudas are very famous for their nasty look and aggressiveness in the water. Sadly we catch them on a daily basis, but again we prefer not to, since we want to see our guests fight the bigger type of predators out there.
July Gone Fishing Report
During your stay in the month of July, we’ll continue targeting White Marlins and Yellow Fin Tunas, but we should also start seeing some Beautiful Blue Marlins coming into our area. This specie is the Bucket list fish for most Anglers. Once you fight a Blue Marlin this memory will last you a lifetime. These fights are marathons and can last easily over an hour depending on the size of the Beast.
Besides these species, you’ll have good odds at hooking up to some Mahi-Mahis and some King fish (King Mackerel) which are around during the summer months.
August Fishing Report
During your vacation in August, Ocean conditions are calm but can quickly turn nasty since we are entering the Peak months for Hurricanes. However to set your mind at ease, the last direct hit was way back in 2004. So you can still come and enjoy the island and its great fishing.
Our main target will be the magnificent Blue Marlin. These powerful beasts peak in late July and stay in Punta Cana waters until late December. If you have the opportunity of hooking up to one of these elusive fish, you’ll have a story to tell your kids and grandkids for years to come.
We’re also going to troll for White Marlins and Mahi-Mahis (Dorado, Dolphin) and King Mackerels which are around pretty much year round.
Fishing Report for September
During your trip in September, the impressive Big Bad Blue Marlins are the main target and a thrill to hook up to. Never will you experience the strength and endurance of a Blue Marlin compared to other fish. Once you bring it up close to the boat and you think the battle is over, it will surprise you by its will to survive an empty the line in your spool for several more occasions. These creatures peak in late July and stay in our waters until late October.
We’re also going to troll for White Marlins, Mahi-Mahis and Wahoos, which start coming back to our area. Water temperatures in September are at their warmest and crews will go out 8 to 20 miles out looking for their species.
Fishing Report for October
In October, we will start seeing a shift in currents coming in from the North which will start bringing in large schools of very colorful Mahi Mahis. They might not be very big this time of year but they’re in very large numbers. You can easily catch over 30 mahis on a 4 hours outing. I like to call this the Mahi Mania Month.
Let’s not forget – splendid Blue Marlins are still very active. The Int’l Blue Marlin Tournament in Cap Cana is in late October, so this tells you how many are still around. The favorite bait used by my crews are Ballyhoos and artificial lures “Corner heads”.
We’re also going to troll for vicious Wahoos which also make a comeback to our area with the Northern shift in currents. Water temperatures are still quite warm, so again boats will travel a fair distance to hook up for the larger fish.
November’s Fishing Report
During your stay in November, Ocean conditions are getting a bit more agitated. We average 4′ to 6′ waves but we can easily see days up to 7′ or 8′ waves. But rest assured you always have the last word on deciding on going out or not. The good thing about these Northern conditions is the quantity of fish that it brings into the area. By now Sailfish will be very present, and also Mahi-Mahis, and feisty Wahoos will all be entering their peak time of the year.
We’re also going to continue trolling for the elusive Blue Marlins which by the way stay in our area right up until late December. By now water temperatures are cooling down and crews will start traveling less time to hook you up to fish. Anywhere from 5 to 15 miles will do the trick, however lines will be set within the first couple of miles once you cross the reef.
Fishing Report for December
During your tropical getaway in the month of December we’re going to continue seeing Northern currents dominating the flow, and with them loads of fish as well. Beautiful Sailfish, colorful Mahi-Mahis and aggressive Wahoos are at their best time of the year. Blue Marlin season is sadly coming to its end, but we also will start trolling for some Striper Marlin which come around for 2 months during the year.
Crews will mainly use Ballyhoos as baits, but also some artificial lures such as “Corner Heads” which resemble squids to attract the Marlins. Also being the “colder” months of the year water temperature wise, means the fish normally will come in closer to the shore so boats really don’t need to go out very far to catch fish. You can estimate anywhere from 4 to 12 miles will do the trick.
