Cap Cana Reef
Reef edge off the marina. More white marlin than you have patience for.
Most likely: White Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado
Cap’n Ray“Whites everywhere. Fun, but they weigh like a carry-on.”
Round 4 of 10
Marlin Alley Shootout
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. White marlin here travel in crowds, like tourists.
3fishing spots
Billfishcounts at the scale
340–480 lbwhat the rivals land
6 AM–4 PMone fishing day
Cap Cana ReefMarlin AlleyMona PassageThe rules
Heaviest single billfish wins. Catching fifty whites is a great day and a bad strategy.
Clear Caribbean water. Fish the day from six in the morning to four in the afternoon, keep up to 11 fish in the box, and bring your heaviest to the weigh-in. Beat every rival’s best to win the round.
What’s biting
Each spot has its own mix. Deeper, harder spots hold bigger fish.
How to win the Marlin Alley Shootout
What you need: the field’s best fish usually weighs between 340 and 480 lb, so you’ll need a big billfish to take the round. Only billfish — marlin, sailfish and swordfish count at the scale.
Rig for it: 80 lb line lands fish that size; anything lighter gets more bites but risks a break-off on the big one. The blue marlin likes the Large Live Bait and the Large Skirt best.
Where to start: Cap Cana Reef is the gentlest spot (★★☆☆☆) — a good place to find your rhythm. Mona Passage holds the heaviest fish, if you can handle them. Birds work hardest over Cap Cana Reef: follow them to the bait.
Near shore: at Cap Cana Reef you troll within sight of the beach — mind the sandbars and the pier.
Read the forecast: on cloudy mornings and evenings run your lure shallow; under a bright midday sun, go deep. A windy forecast means a rough sea, a rolling boat and more drift, so plan your passes into the wind.
The spots
Marlin Alley
A lane of blue water where whites and blues commute at rush hour.
Most likely: White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna
Cap’n Ray“Big skirt weeds out the whites. Mostly.”
Mona Passage
Hard current between two islands. The big blues like it rough.
Most likely: Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Mako Shark
Cap’n Ray“Current rips here. Keep your speed up, lure deep.”