5.0(3 Reviews)Half Day Afternoon Fishing Trip In Saona Island
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Target Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and Barracuda offshoreAll equipment, licenses, and drinks included in packageFour-hour afternoon trip accommodates up to four guests
Picture yourself casting lines into some of the Caribbean's most productive fishing waters, where the deep blue channels around Saona Island hold some serious trophy fish. This 4-hour afternoon charter with Elimar Fishing Tours puts you right in the action, targeting the kind of pelagic species that make anglers' hearts race. We're talking Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Barracuda, and Albacore Tuna – the stuff fishing dreams are made of. With our experienced crew handling the navigation and fish-finding, you can focus on what matters most: feeling that rod bend and hearing the drag scream.
Your afternoon starts when we fire up the engines and head out to the productive drop-offs and current lines that make Saona Island a world-class fishing destination. The waters here are deep and clear, perfect for the kind of offshore species we're targeting. Our crew knows these waters like the back of their hand – they'll read the currents, watch for bird activity, and position us over structure where the big fish hunt. You'll be fishing with top-shelf gear that can handle everything from a screaming Wahoo to a bull Mahi. The boat's equipped with outriggers, downriggers, and all the electronics needed to put you on fish. We keep the group small at just 4 anglers max, so everyone gets plenty of rod time and personal attention from the crew.
We run a spread of lures designed to trigger strikes from different species. Our go-to setup includes cedar plugs, diving plugs, and rigged ballyhoo that mimic the baitfish these predators can't resist. The crew will adjust trolling speeds based on conditions and target species – slower for Marlin, faster when we're hunting Wahoo. All rods are pre-rigged with quality reels spooled with the right test line for the fish we're after. When a fish hits, the crew talks you through the fight, helping with technique and making sure you get the most out of every hookup. We're using circle hooks on live bait and rigged baits, which means better hookup ratios and easier releases when we're practicing catch and release on the bigger billfish.
"Perfect fishing day with Marcel !" - Stephane. "Had an amazing day out on the water! We didn't hook any Dorado this time, but we did reel in a big Kingfish that made the trip totally worthwhile." - Christian. "What a great day on the water! We got clear instructions the day before and met up at 7:40 AM. By 9:25 AM, we had a 44-inch Wahoo on the line—unreal! Had a few more bites after that, but that catch made the trip. Definitely planning to book again and would recommend it to anyone. Excelente experience!" - Mary.
King Mackerel are one of our most consistent catches, and for good reason. These silver bullets can reach 40+ pounds in these waters and put up a blistering fight that tests your stamina. They're structure-oriented fish that patrol the drop-offs and ledges around Saona Island, feeding heavily on sardines, ballyhoo, and squid. Kings are most active during the cooler parts of the day, making our afternoon timing perfect as they start their evening feeding. When a King hits your bait, expect a long, powerful run followed by several jumps – they're notorious for throwing hooks, so keeping steady pressure is key.
Blue Marlin represent the holy grail of offshore fishing here. These apex predators can exceed 400 pounds and are present year-round in the deeper waters off Saona Island. Marlin are ambush feeders that cruise the thermoclines looking for schools of tuna and dolphin fish. When one decides to eat your bait, you'll know it – they often come up behind the spread, light up with their electric blue stripes, and attack with pure aggression. The fight can last anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on the fish's size and attitude. Most anglers practice catch and release with these magnificent fish.
Mahi Mahi, or Dorado as locals call them, are the most acrobatic fish you'll encounter out here. These golden beauties average 10-30 pounds but can reach 50+ in these waters. They're attracted to floating debris, weed lines, and current edges where they ambush flying fish and juvenile tuna. Mahi are notorious for their aerial displays – expect multiple jumps and runs that will have your arms burning. They school up, so where there's one, there are usually more. The afternoon bite can be epic when we find a good school.
Wahoo are the speed demons of the deep, capable of hitting 60+ mph when they strike your lure. These torpedo-shaped predators prefer the deeper blue water and are most active during dawn and dusk periods. A typical Wahoo in these waters runs 20-40 pounds, with occasional giants pushing 60+. They're notorious for their initial run – when a Wahoo hits, your drag will scream like nothing else. The key is having sharp hooks and strong leader material, as their razor-sharp teeth can slice through lighter tackle in seconds.
Great Barracuda are the local bullies that patrol the reef edges and drop-offs around Saona Island. These aggressive predators can reach 6 feet and 40+ pounds, with a mouth full of teeth that demands respect. Barracuda are visual feeders that often follow lures for long distances before deciding to strike. When they do attack, it's explosive – they'll often jump completely out of the water with your bait. They're excellent eating when prepared properly, and their aggressive nature makes them a favorite target for anglers who want consistent action.
Your fishing platform for this Saona Island adventure is a solid 24-foot Arc Boats sportfisher that knows these Caribbean waters well. Built in 2004 and powered by a reliable 250HP Cummins engine, this boat cuts through the offshore swells at a steady 24 knots, getting you to the marlin and mahi grounds efficiently. The flybridge gives your captain excellent visibility for spotting birds and bait schools, while you and up to 3 other anglers have plenty of cockpit space to work big fish. An onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during the 4-hour hunt for blue marlin, wahoo, and barracuda. GPS navigation ensures you hit the productive spots around the island, and the multimedia system keeps things lively between strikes. This is serious fishing boat with everything you need to target the trophy species that roam these deep blue waters off Saona's coast.
Makaira NigricansBlue Marlin are the giants of our waters - females can reach 400+ pounds while males stay smaller around 150. We target them in the deeper blue water beyond the reef, usually 100+ feet where the current lines form. Peak season runs May through September when water temps hit 78-82°F. What guests love is the raw power and those legendary jumps when one comes tight. It's pure adrenaline watching 300 pounds of fish launch itself six feet in the air. The meat's good grilled, though many prefer the catch-and-release experience. Pro tip: when trolling, keep your baits skipping on the surface - marlin love that splashing action that mimics flying fish.
Sphyraena BarracudaBarracuda here run 3-5 feet and pack serious attitude. These silver bullets patrol the reef edges, drop-offs, and structure in 20-80 feet of water. They're around year-round but really aggressive during warmer months. What gets people hooked is that explosive strike and the jumps - pure chaos when a big one comes tight. They're not great eating due to potential ciguatera, but the fight's worth it. My advice: use a wire leader always, and when you see one following your lure, speed up instead of slowing down. Their predator instinct kicks in when prey tries to escape. Just watch those teeth when landing one!
Scomberomorus CavallaAround Saona Island, King Mackerel average 20-30 pounds but can push 40+ in deeper waters. These silver speedsters cruise the 40-150 foot depths, especially along drop-offs and current breaks. We find them most active during the warmer months when baitfish are thick. What makes them special is that blazing run when hooked - they'll peel line like few others. The meat's decent eating too, though a bit oily. My tip: always use a wire leader and rig two hooks on your live bait. These fish love to hit the tail end of a ballyhoo or blue runner, so that trailing hook saves the day more often than not.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi run 15-30 pounds on average, with their stunning gold and blue colors that flash like neon underwater. We find them around floating debris, weed lines, or anywhere there's structure in the blue water. They're here year-round but really fire up during spring and summer. What makes them favorites is that acrobatic fight - lots of jumps and long runs - plus they're some of the best eating fish in the ocean. Sweet, white meat that grills perfectly. The trick is once you hook one, keep the boat moving and look for the school. Where there's one mahi, there's usually more. Work fast and you can box several before they scatter.
Acanthocybium SolandriWahoo are built for speed - hitting 50+ mph with that torpedo shape. Most run 20-40 pounds here, though 60-pounders show up. We troll for them in the deeper water, 100+ feet, especially around drop-offs where they ambush baitfish. Best months are typically fall through spring when water cools slightly. Anglers love the screaming runs and that premium white meat - firm texture, mild flavor, perfect for the grill. The key is trolling fast, around 12-15 knots, with wire leaders since their teeth will slice through mono instantly. When one hits, it's usually a smoking run that'll test your drag settings for sure.
5.0 out of 5.0Perfect fishing day with Marcel !
Had an amazing day out on the water! We didn’t hook any Dorado this time, but we did reel in a big Kingfish that made the trip tot...
What a great day on the water! We got clear instructions the day before and met up at 7:40 AM. By 9:25 AM, we had a 44-inch Wahoo ...
Dominican Republic