Dominican Republic
Just the fact the my good buddy Capt. Bubba Carter picked up and left Venezuela to settle his operation in the Dominican Republic should tell you all you need to know about the DR. Carter wouldn't just leave all the numbers he was seeing in Venezuela for a less-than-stellar bite, and so far he hasn't been disappointed. Both blue and white marlin show up in the clear, blue waters of the Dominican Republic, with whites popping up in the spring and hanging around well into the arrival of the blues in the summer.
The small blues that frequent these waters make perfect targets for light tackle and fly gear, so pick up a long wand, and you might just get lucky enough to catch a blue one on the fly.
Three years ago, a number of FADs (fish-attracting devices) set up along the coast drew incredible numbers of blue marlin into the area, and crews were catching up to five or six rat blues a day with surprising regularity. Combine all the hot bites with legitimate five-star hotels and marinas like the Cap Cana and Punta Cana resorts, and you've got an island paradise just a three-hour flight from Miami.
Cap Cana Resort
800-785-2198
www.capcana.com
Capt. Bubba Carter
305-361-9258
www.tijeretacharters.com
Punta Cana Resort & Club
888-442-2262
www.puntacana.com
