Punta Cana Private Fishing Charter Boat Fortuna 42'

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the pre communication, they answered all our questions during the planning phase. The pickup, he was on time and was a great transporter to the boat. The folks that met us there and got us loaded. The captain and mate were amazing and did all the hard work. We had one sick passenger and they accommodated them and give tips to keep them comfortable. They were fun, educating and we caught a Blue fin Tuna. We requested to go back early and they accommodated that! If I could give it more stars I would!

The crew was fantastic and worked very hard to try and find us fish. The ocean was not very calm, and we had several on our team get seasick. Highly recommend not eating before you go and making sure you have Dramamine in your system. The only drawback was that the boat had quite a bit of diesel fumes that came in the cabin area. Other than that, it was a memory that we made as a family.

My wife and I chartered the Fotuna and had the best trip ever. Captain Yustas and First Mate Eddie were amazing. They worked non-stop to make sure we had the best chance to catch fish...and we did. We caught 6 Mahi and 3 Barracuda...all fought hard and provided us with alot of action. The entire operation they run is first class and the boat was amazing too....100% recommend them.

We had a great time with the crew. Very professional and respectful. Water was rough at the beginning but ended up getting on a nice blue marlin. Definitely would recommend and go back

We are all experienced fishermen and understand that rough seas happen, so that wasn’t the issue. What we didn’t appreciate was that when half the crew was violently ill and we asked to go in, they still trolled for over an hour and a half (and very slowly at that!!). It was 6-7 foot seas and we had some people who were just downright uncomfortable and it seemed like they didn’t want to burn too much fuel to get in faster. Guess when we saw the forecast the night before we should have just canceled and ate the money because at least it wouldn’t have been such a waste of a day…

This was my second experience on the Fortuna. Last year I was able to get upgraded to the fortuna as other people cancelled due to high waves. My wife and I caught a small barracuda, waves 5-7 feet all day. This year I was able to bring 2 of my sons and the 4 of us had a rough day at sea, no sickness though, and we caught 3 wahoo and 1 mahi mahi. My boys actually had a double header on at the end of the day with 2 wahoo. It was well worth every penny spent on such a great boat. The captain was super and Harry the second mate never stopped moving. He is an incredible fisherman and such a wonderful cheerful human being. With him our trip was such a success and so enjoyable thank you to both of them for such a great adventure on the sea.

Great day on the boat. Super friendly staff. Only caught three fish in the five hours and two small keepers. The ocean seemed empty. Not the fault of the crew.

Transportation guy was great and when we were done eating the fish we caught at the restaurant on the beach, he waited for us. The captain and his mate were fantastic. Very kind and personable offering sandwiches and water and beer and rum. They take care of everything, you reel in the fish! We kept one Mahi (Dorado) and gave the rest to the captain and his mate. We also snorkeled at the end of the fishing excursion. I emailed the proprietor through Viator that we wanted to snorkel but the captain and his mate were not informed. They accommodated us, however, and snorkeling gear was brought to us and we snorkeled. For a family of 5-8 people this is a fantastic excursion value.

Great experience and captain and crew were extremely accommodating! Special shout out to Eddy who loves his job and loves to fish!!

Easy to book through Viator, great communication and pick up was on time and smooth. Crew was also very nice, only reason it got 2 stars is because almost everyone got sea sick 🤢 even with taking Dramamine prior It was also disappointing because we only caught one fish near the end of the 6 hour trip. The boat circled the same area for 5 hours, everyone had to lay down and it was extremely boring. It was torture. We had 4 kids with us who wanted to experience deep sea fishing and didn’t get to do or see anything. Not anyone’s fault, we just expected to have a different experience. Would not recommend for anyone who has motion sickness!

Mugel captain of boat absolutely nothing better of a choice absolutely top notch new the sea that he runs his charter you will not be disappointed 2nd mate no better person for a captain to have thay treat you fantastic highly highly recommend to get you a catch jeff from Minnesota 1 Marlin triple Mahi Mahi change my luck in life there is no better boat to charter

The captain and crew were great! Love the trip sadly the Mahi were not biting but the trip was a great memory and a ton of fun!

Excellent 6hrs!!!!! I have done a lot of big game fishing by myself, but wanted my friends and family to experience it. Expected to catch a few barracuda and maybe a Mahi Mahi, but we were stunned to catch a Blue Marlin (and even rose another 10mins later), we also got a barracuda. This gave us the best experience. Having been lucky enough to catch a few myself already, to give my son this experience was a great day - one he won’t forget!!! We booked through their website and paid a deposit, we were picked up on time direct from the hotel and taken to the beach. Staff on board were excellent and very welcoming, the equipment is a bit dated, but good enough for the fishing. There is not a jetty to access the boat, you have to get into a small boat and get taken to the main boat (not a problem for us, but others may find this difficult). Would recommend.

6 couples vacationed in Punta Cana and we wanted to go offshore fishing. Three couples went out Sunday, July 30 and the guys went Wednesday, August 2, both were 6 hour charters and on the 42’ Fortuna. Both trips were absolutely amazing. The Sunday trip had rough seas but we followed the captain’s instructions and took Dramamine the morning of the charter and none of us got sick. The Wednesday charter was much smoother. The captain and the deckhand, Ana Rosario, were wonderful and put everyone on fish. The crew did everything they said they would do. We all highly recommend them and will use their charter when we return to Punta Cana 🎣

It was a fantastic experience to spend 4 hours phishing with this team. They also provided transportation from La Romana to pierce and back. Everything was on time and with high quality. The crew is very professional and helped s to enjoy our first phishing in the ocean.

We had a great crew and the boat was pretty decent. About 30 minutes into fishing in the deep sea we cut a 6 ft white Marlin which we had our shift prepare and it was amazing. Tasted like swordfish to us. The crew is very helpful. We had about three people get epically sick because there were so many waves that day so we turned in early after catching that big fish. These people were so honest they actually refunded me money for unused gasoline in the tune of about $220. That is very rare in Dominican Republic. I would highly recommend these guys they're very professional and honest.

What an amazing experience! We went on a half day trip and the next went on for a full day. The crew on both boats were so wonderful. They made sure we were having a good time. We got to see whales the first day. The second day we caught many Mahi-Mahi and a Marlin. Our driver was so pleasant for our trip to and from the hotel. All together, these are the greatest people.

This winter, I had fishing in the Dominican Republic with my family. We stayed at a resort Ocean Blue and I was so excited to try fishing for the first time in Punta Cana. And it was awesome! Email conversation with Capt. Yustas very simple and fast. On the day of fishing, we woke up early and they pick up us to the beach where the huge fishing boat Fortuna was waiting for us. The boat really big and had a lot of different fishing equipment on it even strange belt and fighting chair. I was a little bit scared at first, but then I was so excited to start fishing. The boat took us out to the ocean and we started fishing. Captian and mate using a rod and bait and it was so much fun trying to catch fish and listen Dominican music. I felt like a real fisherman! It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining and the waves gently rocking the boat. After a while, we caught a couple mahi-mahi! It was a small one, but I was so happy. The mate-guide helped me take it off the hook and we put inside fish box. We caught in few minutes another one. After fishing, we went back to the beach and had a delicious dinner in the local Dominican Restaurant on the beach. I was so tired but also so happy with my first fishing experience. I learned so much about fishing and had so much fun in the Dominican Republic. I can’t wait to go fishing again and catch blue marlin. Really recommend this company and fishing boat Fortuna!

Despite our tour being cancelled due to bad weather, I would just like to thank Yustas for his professionalism! We were due for 6hrs on the amazing Fortuna for fishing & snorkelling - however December being one of the more windy months in the DR, we expected Mother Nature was in charge and would decide if the seas would let us go fishing! Yustas kept us updated from the moment we arrived at our resort mentioning the 7-8ft swell may result in a cancellation. He returned our deposit very quickly, even though I didn’t expect it - Their amazing fleet needs to be out earning as I’m sure they cost a Fortuna to maintain! 🤑😅 Do not hesitate to book with Big Marlin Charters. They could have taken us out risking safety and enjoyment for the chance to make some revenue, but didn’t. Next time Yustas, next time! 🙏🏻 Kind regards, Liam & Charlotte.

Awesome experience. We had a really great time 6 hours fishing charter on the boat Fortuna! Captain Cocote and mate Martin is really great crew. They were professional, kind, and a lot of fun! These guys know what they are doing and will do their best to get you on the fish. When your fishing there is always the chance you come back empty handed but do to their experience we caught a few beautiful mahi mahi and one cuda that day. I would recommend doing a private fishing charter with Big Marlin Charters company and skip the shared one due to a few people being late or sick. After a awesome day out the crew cleaned up the mahi mahi and recommended a small local restaurante on the beach to take the fish to be properly cooked. Highly recommend and will definitely be back, thanks again.

Big Marlin Fishing is top notch! Picked us up at the hotel and had us to the boat in no time and we were on the water in 15minutes. We did a six hour charter and caught durado and large yellowfin tuna (55-60#)!! Marten and CoCote were both awesome! Marten made sure we had everything we needed. Fish on and in the chair! CoCote (sp?) put us on the fish! Both guys are personable and professional and made sure we caught lots of fish! Thank you Big Marlin Fishing! Do not hesitate to book these guys. This was our 8th charter in various Caribbean locations, and these guys were the best!

This is a top notch charter company, on time and very accommodating, one of my best days fishing, Thank You

My husband and I had an AMAZING time fishing with Big Marlin! They arranged for their van to get us to and from our resort to the launch point/ boat. Martin was our first mate. He was excellent at helping direct us so we wouldn’t miss out on our opportunities to catch fish. We ended up with a great haul of 7 Dorado and 1 barracuda. It was my first time fishing in my life and I had a blast! When we got back to land, Martin helped us get one of the dorado cooked at one of the beach cafes/ restaurants. This ended up being the best meal we had of our whole trip! We would not hesitate to repeat this excursion!

We went fishing with Captain Coco and First Mate Martin this morning for six hours and it was the Best Saltwater fishing experience we’ve ever had! The five of us have fished in Costa Rica, Cabo and other places and this was the best trip and most fun of all. We caught lots of Mahi-Mahi and one huge Wahoo! Captain Cocote put us right on the spot with floating sargasso seaweeds of grass with birds flying overhead and First Mate Martin kept our lines baited all the time! There were many times when we had four on the lines all at the same time!!!

Had a great time with Miguel and Captain Richard. The sea was rough and two of our people got sick but we stuck it out and caught Mahi-mahi and barracuda! Definitely recommend.

Captain and First Mate were great. They put us on a some fish and were sure that we enjoyed our 6 hr trip on gone dog. Highly reccomend.

Had a great 3/4 day fishing trip on the boat Fortuna. The service and correspondence was exceptional before we went out. Capt.Yustas even texted in message a weather report the morning-of in case we wanted to reschedule. Our captain Cocot was great. He know where is fish. Deckhand Jurii was a real hard worker and really friendly. He is a great fisherman, teacher and person. It was our first time fishing here in Punta Cana and they made it very enjoyably. They took us to a couple of spots where we caught a bunch of mahi mahi then a couple cudas. We had an awesome time. I highly recommend them.

We went out for a 6 hour private charter on the 42 foot boat the Fortuna. Boat was great in probably about 5 foot rollers very comfortable to fish on. The Captain and mate were exceptional. Great day of fishing. Caught 12 Mahi, 1 Wahoo and a Baracuda. Several good size Mahi. They weren’t just there to take you for a boat ride. Worked hard to make sure you had a chance to catch fish. Captain Yustas was awesome. Picked us up promptly as scheduled from the resort. Was there waiting for us when we got back. Was genuinely excited and happy that we had a great experience. Asked lots of questions to make sure everything went well and we were satisfied. Will use him again and highly recommended to anyone. Thank you Captain Yustas and crew for a great day fishing.

Great day fishing. Only caught 2 barracuda but that’s fishing Alex our mate was awesome. Pick up right on time Boat was clean and well kept They work very hard to put you on the fish and go out of their way to make sure you are safe and comfortable The water was very rough 2 of 6 got sea sick We fish all over and own a boat My best advice for anyone and everyone is to take Dramamine. Why take a chance of ruining your day. Overall I would highly recommend Big Marlin.

April 30th 2019..The boat's OK but very dated. No equipment to increase the odd's of catching a fish. When asked the response was " the ocean is full of fish". A very expensive $1,000 CAD boat ride if you do not catch anything. Service to and from resort and on the boat was fine for 5 male adults. No reef snorkel, no lying on the deck or drinks afterward, average experience. Check around we found out afterwards there are cheaper alternatives with comparable service.

Our group of 4 guys booked the 6 hour private fishing charter on April 8th 2019. We were greeted on time at our resort by our First Mate Alex (sorry if I have the spelling wrong). The trip to the Marina was short and the information Alex shared with us was excellent. Once we got to the Marina we took the transfer skiff to the main boat. The boat was clean and functioned well. Once the briefing was completed we were underway. Alex made sure we had everything we needed and answered every question we had being all 4 of us avid freshwater fishermen and were wanting to learn all we could. Waves were 4 to 5 ft rollers and one in our group got sea sick. I was impressed how Alex was going from line to line checking baits to making sure the sick member was doing ok. We only caught one small Mahi but it was not for lack of trying by staff and the Captain. That is why they call it fishing and not catching. In closing I would say we had a great time and I know I have the Blue Water Fishing Fever now. I would recommend this company to future visitors and plan to go out again on our next visit to the D.R.... Thank you again to Alex for making our trip an excellent and educational experience.

We had a great day out with Alex on the Fortuna. The drive from our hotel was about 20 minutes or so. The seas were a bit choppy on the way out, but whe we got out farther it calmed down and the waters on the way in were also calmer. Caught a barracuda and a large sailfish. The largest my friend had ever caught. We were served a sandwich and had a cooler full of drinks. I tried the local rum they had on board, it was great. We also booked the 60 minute reef snorkel at the end. Great for beginning snorkers, but boring for snorkelers who have been to Hawaii, Austrailiaand Roatan reefs. Was hoping to catch a mahi mahi, maybe next time. I highly recommend this fishing charter.

We rented the 42 ft Fortuna privately, for just the two of us, to fulfill one of our Honeymoon dreams........... He always wanted to go Fishing for Mahi-Mahi and Marlin, and I always wanted to go snorkeling on a reef *without* 100 other people snorkeling around me. The Unique thing about Big Marlin Charters is that they offer a special "add on" to the end of your Fishing trip.......... for an extra $50 (per boat, not per person) they will bring you to a quiet reef to snorkel....... which gives you the best of both worlds! Now for the full review......... Alex (AKA the best First Mate EVER) picked us up right on time in a very new and very air conditioned cozy van and whisked us off to the boat dock, giving us the scoop on fishing conditions the entire way. For the record, I was very quiet the entire first part of the trip because I was continuously praying to the Sea Gods to keep me from getting sea-sick while I was out there........ I did not want to ruin my Husband's dream fishing trip by being sick the entire time! Get to the dock, meet the awesome Captain, jump in a skiff, and off we go onto the Fortuna.........gorgeous boat, couches, shower, bathroom, bar (the things I noticed) and the BIG CHAIR for reeling in the fish (the thing my Husband noticed) The seas were relatively calm... 4-6 ft waves....... and my prayers seemed to work as I found I was NOT getting sea-sick (thankyouthankyouthankyou) We were told in advance that even though it was peak Marlin season, it was also a full moon so they were mostly feeding at late afternoon and night, not in the morning, but the morning was the only time we had to go fishing, so we set our sights on Mahi-Mahi. Alex was able to spot some in the water, I kid you not, and within minutes my Husband landed a gorgeous Mahi-Mahi.........so bright and colorful (and a fighter!) Alex was always busy, changing bait, cleaning up the deck, pointing out flying fish around us and giving us a generally great education on the Dominican and Fishing......... cannot say enough good things about him. At the end of the fishing trip we went to a quiet reef for snorkeling and found a conch shell that was easily 2 feet long, bright and beautiful, but alas, would never fit in my luggage, so we left it to decorate the sea bed. :) We spent an additional hour more (thank you!) just relaxing on the bow of the ship, drinking some fabulous rum concoctions, looking out over the teal blue water before heading back to the dock. Once at the doc, Alex brought us to a little outdoor restaurant where the chef cooked our Mahi-Mahi for us and added in rice, beans and sauce, fries and plantains.... it was honestly the BEST meal we had while we were in Punta Cana. If you do this option, choose grilled, not fried, you will not be disappointed. Alex waited for us to finish our meal and, when were we ready, brought us back to the hotel...... the entire way filled with insights into the Dominican Culture, Fishing, underwater photography and more. This would be a great trip for families, and for a boys trip too, but If more couples knew how amazing and yes, romantic, this trip can be as a couple, with both fishing and snorkeling and your own private yacht swaying in the teal blue water....... it is an easy win for Honeymooners! My Husband has been on a lot of fishing charters and says this was the best, and most knowledgeable that he has been on. We could not have asked for a better day, and when we go back, we know EXACTLY which charter we are taking again! Thank you Big Marlin Charters!

We had a good day fishing with Alex and the Captain on board the Fortuna. We had good success catching 7 mahi-mahi and 2 baraccuda, Alex was a great mate and did a good job. Conversing with Captain Yustas to get this trip set was very easy and he responded well to all my questions and emails. I would recommend this guys for a trip.

Last time we attempted deep sea fishing it didn’t go so well. Despite one of our sons getting sea sick, this trip was amazing! Our captain Richard found the fish and our first mate Vladimir was spectacular with watching our lines and guiding us on reeling them in! Ended up with 5 Mahi Mahi and 1 barracuda. A trip our family will never forget! Thank you for the fond memories!

We chartered with Capt Yustas a month or so back who added a 4 hour afternoon trip to take care of us and though we understand fishing was tough that morning and week, Cap. Cocote and 1st. mate Alex worked hard in covering the water making sure we had every chance to catch a trophy White Marlin and check that box this life time and sure enough we did!!! From pick up to drop off the whole Big Marlin team are great and it's called fishing not catching, so if you can count on anything its the Big Marlin when in DR!!!

Chartered the Sherlock for a 4 hour private fishing charter on February 26th for my sons and I. We were picked up promptly at the hotel by Vlad who as later identified as the mate and comfortably driven to a shore spot to meet our boat. While waiting to board the skiff a gentleman walked over and introduced himself and Captain Fortuna – that was the first and last of the good captain. We jumped into a small skiff for a short ride out to the Sherlock. Aboard we were introduced to Richard, our captain, of both the skiff and the Sherlock. Important to note that prior to our trip I had been checking with the good captain Fortuna regarding sea conditions, hearing from independent sources that the prior week most fishing trips from Bavaro had been cancelled due to rough seas. He assured both on the day prior to our trip and day of the trip the seas were fine. Fast forward -- we hit some seas, not unexpected, Vlad said they were 1.5 meters, not on a bet - they were 2 -3 meters. I have been in boating my entire life, but that’s just part of fishing. Needless to say 2 out of the 3 of us got sick – but not the reason I am not recommending Big Marlin – rough seas are not fun but that happens. My “heads up” to anyone thinking of giving the captain their hard earned money is the “retro style” approach to fishing. No GPS, no fish finder - just a compass and an old UHF radio. The fishing gear was also E-bay circa 1980 – capable but dated. Along with their gut feelings they did put 5 lines in the water - think they used 4 pieces of bait. Wasted about 3 hours out there rolling around – not even a nibble - nothing – we were all absolutely board and miserable – we told Vlad – no mas - we had enough to return to shore. But it was a good thing we had Vlad there to remind us that he doesn’t get seasick. Who asked? Where’s the fish? Bottom line we though both Vlad and Richard, our captain were decent guys –nice guys. The boat, the gear and most importantly the fishing – were not. Nothing much to talk about and would not send a friend there. There was nothing enjoyable about this trip. One additional important note: We did have a second day of fishing planed later in the week and had given a deposit. Upon returning to our hotel we canceled – our deposit was promptly refunded by the good captain the next day.

If you come to Punta Cana and want to go deep sea fishing, I highly recommend Big Marlin Charters. We looked them up online and contacted Captain Yustas through their website. It was extremely easy to navigate, and paying the deposit through PayPal was incredibly simple. Captain Yustas was extremely diligent in following up via email and when we got to our hotel he kept track of us through email as well. The day of our trip, we were picked up exactly on time by first mate Alex. I want to take a moment to thank Alex here for making our day so enjoyable. He is a class act and our whole party came away feeling we were super lucky to fish with him guiding us! He was always patient and worked non stop to insure we all had a great experience. Of course you book these charters with the hopes of landing a “Big One” and we did just that pulling in a 120 pound Blue Marlin. It was incredible and days later we are still all talking about it. I am including some pics below. It was hard to choose because there were so many amazing ones. We tried taking some with our cell phones but they did not compare to the great shots Alex and Captain Yustas got of us. Captain sent me over 30 shots they took via email the next morning, and I know he was booked all week so this just goes to show the dedication he has to his customers. Many businesses forget you once you are paid up and out the door so to speak. Not so here as Captain followed up and made sure we got the pics and added a personal touch that shows he cares about his clients. Next time we are in the area, we will certainly fish with Big Marlin Charters and I strongly recommend you do the same!

We went on a 4 hour fishing charter in January. The booking process was good, and there was good communication prior to the trip. We had a free transfer from our hotel included. We caught two Mahe Mahe and a barracuda, and we were very happy with that! You can do what you want with the fish you catch. The crew were very good and worked hard. We chose to take one to a restaurant on the beach and the whole fish was cooked for us for $10 per head. Best meal we had during the holiday - it was delicious! I will certainly use this company again if I return to Dominican Republic

Great trip with Big Marlin Charters. Caught Wahoo, Mahi, black fin tuna. Pick up on time. Penn equipment. Clean boat. Very courteous and hospitable guys. Will use again when I return

This must be the best team to go deep sea fishing, especially if you have children! The boat was super specious, comfortable and CLEAN. These guys are big on hygiene and safety! Captain Alex went above and beyond to keep us entertained and educated about fishing and local marina life! Our children had the best experience fishing and snorkeling! Probably the best service on the boat we have had, considering that we have fished many times both in the US and abroad.

Our charter began with the four of us (two couples) being picked up at our resort on time by a van marked with the company logo on the side. Our first mate Alex got us to the beach and the taxi boat to begin our half day charter, explaining on the trip over what fish were likely to be caught. Upon boarding Fortuna, we were happy to see the boat was very clean and well maintained. We were soon underway and I'll add here for those not sure over the counter meds to combat sea sickness need to be taken early. I did not get mine taken soon enough and did spend more time than I would have liked hanging my head over the side of the boat but still enjoyed the and was able to appreciate the way the captain and first mate worked together to get us in the right area to catch fish. We landed two very nice Mahi, I was even able to keep my stomach in check long enough to reel in one myself. Everything worked to make this a successful trip. Getting a chance to enjoy what we caught at a restaurant on the beach was icing on the cake. We fully recommend this charter.

We booked a 6 hour fishing charter for 7 (2 adults, 2 17 year olds, 2 15 year olds, and a 9 year old), and we had an awesome time. Communication with Captain Yustas when I was booking was perfect, very responsive and courteous. The pickup at resort was on time, in a clean well maintained van. When we got to the boat, the crew worked very hard to make sure we were having a good time, and that the lines were in the water and ready to go. We started off catching a mahi mahi almost right away. We didn't hook anything for about a 3 hour stretch after, and thought maybe that was it...until we hooked into a 18ft, 175 lbs blue marlin! I had never caught a fish that big before, so it was exciting to see it jump out of the water when we hooked it, and watch my oldest son battle it to the boat. It was awesome! There were plenty of drinks and food on board for everyone. Just a great time! If you are thinking about doing a fishing trip in the Dominican Republic, I highly recommend Big Marlin Charters!

It was really good! The bus was clean and nice, first mate Vladimir arrived on time, like was planned. The employees were very good. There were drinks and food. The captain was very cheerful. We caught 8 dorado and 1 barracuda. It was really cool! This fishing can approach the family,friends, couples and solo.

<p>Great captain and crew. Everything went as described . They were all courteous and informative. And we caught some Mahi Mahi to boot.</p>

<p>The Captain and his First Mate were wonderful. I have never been fishing like this before and they ensured that I knew what to do. The treated my wife very well as she decided to ride along. They were true professionals and they got lines in the water pretty quickly. I was lucky that day as we caught two white marlins and a barracuda. The Captain was nice enough the take pictures of us with our camera to preserve the memories. If you are going to bet on a team that will treat you right this is the team. Thanks for every thing.</p>

Was pleasantly surprised! Great organization! Great team!! The owner of the firm is an amazing interesting man! I recommend all these guys! You won't!

Great experience. Not my first big fish but my first mahi. The crew are professionals. 6 mahi mahi in 4 hours of fishing, a treat. I recommend, you will definitely have a great time.