
Tres Marlins
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)
Baja California Sur is a place like no other in the world. A remote, narrow strip of land only 60 miles (100 km) wide, Baja California Sur has 1385 miles (22230 km) of coastline along two bodies of water, the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean.
Translation: there’s tons of fishing in Baja California. You could spend a lifetime fishing here and never get bored. Whether you like inshore, near shore, offshore, fly fishing, rock fishing or lagoon fishing, there is something here for everyone!
Baja California Sur has lots of fishing towns, such as world-famous Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, as well as Loreto and La Paz. But, what makes this place so special to anglers is the variety of fishing spots. Major bays include Sebastian Vizcaino, Magdalena, La Paz, Asunción, Ballenas, Concepcion and San Carlos. There are also estuaries and lagoons at Puerto Escondido, Nopoló, Blandra as well as the San José estuary at Cabo Colorado, the San Ignacio Lagoon and the Ojo de Liebre.
Fishing the Sea of Cortez from Baja California Sur is an island adventure. Near shore the fishing is rock-oriented. Anglers use heavy tackle (50 lb gear) and the fish average about 20-40 lbs. Fishing from locations such as Isla Espiritu Santo, local anglers use sardinas for bait, but live bait is not critical. The best time to fish is when the seas are flat, and there are plenty of fun species to catch: pargo, yellowtail (amberjack), dorado (mahi mahi), and wahoo are consistent bites.
Striped marlin are plentiful the late summer months of August and September off of Cabo San Lucas and into the Sea of Cortez, between Loreto and La Paz. In October local anglers pitch or drop back baits to swordfish cruising and finning on the surface, their numbers increase with the full moon. In November, striped marlin make their runs into the Sea of Cortez, following the annual baitfish migration. According to Saltwater Sportsman, in December and January, “Striped Marlin remain the protagonists in most offshore battles for boats fishing along the coast of Mexico’s Baja California Sur as the marlin follow the annual baitfish migration.” At the same time of year, schools of dorado exit the Sea of Cortez looking for warmer waters, and anglers drop lines around weed lines and debris to catch them on their way south.
The Pacific side of Baja California Sur is home to some of the most remote fishing destinations in the world, such as Bahia Magdalena (aka Mag Bay). This 30 mile long bay is formed by two sandy barrier islands named Isla Magdalena/Isla Margarita and provides incredible inshore and offshore fishing. Here, the fishing season for marlin is generally from October, when massive schools of baitfish attract hordes of hungry stripes to Bahia Magdalena, through to January.
Summertime is peak striped marlin fishing season on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur. From May to fall, just off the back at Cabo Falso (near Cabo San Lucas) on north to Golden Gate Bank, and west to the San Jaime Bank, dramatic underwater topography and abundant bait offer prime fishing grounds where catching marlin is routine.
This area of Baja California Sur is the hottest fishing destination in all of Mexico. The confluence of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez bring Marlins so close to shore, legend has it that one was caught on a hand line from the docks at Cabo San Lucas in the 1950’s — giving birth to the sportfishing mecca that Cabo San Lucas is today.
According to The Baja Catch, by Neil Kelly and Gene Kira:
"Cabo is in a class by itself when it comes to striped marlin fishing...there are more striped marlin caught within 40 miles of Cabo year-round than any place else. It's no accident. Cabo is the crossroads for most of the marlin that migrate through this part of the Pacific, and it is home base for a large school of resident fish that never leave the area. If you have never wet a line before in your life, and if for some strange reason you absolutely, positively, must catch a striped marlin before next Thursday afternoon, your odds are better in Cabo San Lucas than any place else in the world… When the bite is on in this part of Baja, you could hook a dozen striped marlin a day here...The odds are good that you would also run into tuna and dorado, maybe a blue marlin, and maybe even a wahoo. Cabo San Lucas fairly glitters with glamour fish."
If you come down for a charter, rods, reels and tackle are supplied on the offshore big-game charter boats, but for inshore fishing, it’s always best to bring your own gear so you know what you are working with. Bring offshore lures, leaders and hooks as well, to ensure you have access to tackle in top-of-the-line condition. There are some good bait and tackle shops in Cabo San Lucas.
The Amberjack species are a game fish that are found both in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Jigging and live bait fishing are the best techniques to target these magnificent fighters. Greater Amberjack can weigh up to 170 lb (80 kg).
The great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), often referred to as barracuda, is a long predator that can be found in tropical and subtropical waters where they like to patroll mangroves, reefs and drop-offs. Record barracuda can grow to 1,5m and weigh over 45kg (100lb+).
Black marlin (Istiompax indica) grows to be as big or bigger than blue marlin, with males reaching lengths of 4.65 meters and weighing up to 750 kilograms (1500lb), females larger. They are part of a group of fish called billfish, which includes varieties of marlin, swordfish, and spearfish.
The Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) is probably the most wanted fish in the sport fishing world. The magnificent fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. Blue Marlin is mainly caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) are also commonly referred to as dorado, dolphin or dolphinfish. They are recognizable by their bluntly shaped heads, long dorsal fin and their bright colouring, dark blue and green on their dorsal side and yellow on their sides and underside.
The permit (Trachinotus falcatus) is a sought after fly fishing game fish. They are usually found in shallow tropical waters such as flats and channels of the Atlantic Ocean. Permit also frequent offshore wrecks. This species is distributed from Florida, Riviera Maya in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua all the way down to the Carribean Islands and Brazil. Permit can grow to about 4ft (1,2m) in length and weigh up to 27kg (60lbs).
Just by looking at a roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis), you can immediately tell how they got their name. Their trademark dorsal fin resembles a giant mohawk or the comb of a rooster. Beyond the dorsal fins, the rest of the roosterfish body is unique as well. The biggest roosters weigh more than 60lb.
Sailfish (Istiophorus) are one the most wanted fish in the sport fishing world. Often described as the fastest fish in the sea, sailfish can weigh up to 90 kg (200 pounds) and grow up to 3 m (9.7 ft) in length.
The skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) have a strong body with black stripes on the side. The largest skipjack tuna can reach up to 100 cm (40 inch) and weigh up to 10 kg (22 lb). Skipjack are mainly caught trolling lures.
The Atlantic Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) is a species of mackerels that can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean in the waters of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico to Florida. Atlantic Spanish mackerel have very sharp teeth and can grow up to 13 pounds (6kg) and live up to 12 years old. Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel live in tropical and sub-tropical waters of in Southeast Asia and can grow up to about 2.4 m and more than 40 kg.
Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) can be told apart from blue marlin due to their “stripes” of blue that run vertically down their bodies. Striped marlin is lighter than blue marlin, but their body shape and even colouring remains the same aside from the stripes. These marlin can weigh up to 180kg (400lb) and have a maximum length of 4 m (12 ft).
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), also known as Ono (meaning “delicious” in Hawaiian), are found in many subtropical and tropical waters. They’re identifiable by their blue-green upper body which shifts into silver towards their belly. They also have blue vertical striping along their sides. These predators are torpedo-shaped and have long and largemouths with teeth.
Yellowfin tuna grow fast, up to 400 pounds in about a 7-year lifespan, and they range in length from 59 inches to 88 inches long. They’re known for their torpedo shape, with a pointed nose and a sickle-shaped tail, and have dark blue backs with yellow sides (thus their name) with a silver underside.
Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda) is a rapid fish species known for being great hunters. They have striping on their backs with silver-coloured undersides and they grow up to 30 inches long. They have a hydrodynamic body shape, even more so than larger tuna.
The Crevalle Jack or Jack Crevalle (Caranx hippos) is a very popular sport fish that belongs to the Carangidae fish species. Horse mackerel, amberjack and giant trevally also belong to this family. Jack Crevalle can grow to a length of 120 cm and a weight of 30 kg.
The cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) is a sought-after gamefish that inhabits the Atlantic coastal waters from Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. This species can reach a length of 160 cm and weigh up to 50kg. Not to be confused with the Pacific Cubera Snapper.
The northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a popular fish often caught reef fishing in the Atlantic waters of Florida, Gulf of Mexico and also the Caribbean. This sought-after game fish can reach 1 m and weight up to 50lb.
The White Marlin (Kajikia albida) is a very nice predator which can be caught off shore in warmer waters. This powerful fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. They can be caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
Spearfish (Tetrapturus) are a generic name for several species such as the shortbill spearfish and longbill spearfish. These billfish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
Grouper is common name for all the bass-looking-fish from the Epinephelinae Family. This family also includes sea bass by the way. Grouper are colorful predators who like to live in rocky areas, reefs, wrecks where they can hide.
January: Sierra, Yellowtail (Amberjack), Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Pargo
February: Striped Marlin, Dorado, Sierra, Pargo, Yellowtail
March: Striped Marlin, Dorado, Roosterfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Sierra, Pargo, Yellowtail
April: Striped Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Sierra, Pargo, Yellowtail
May: Striped Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Pargo, Yellowtail
June: Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Yellowtail
July: Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Sailfish
August: Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish
September: Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish
October: Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Sierra
November: Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Sierra
December: Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Sierra, Yellowtail
The village of Todos Santos is home to many artists, boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts. You can visit their beautiful beach, Los Cerritos, walk around the lovely town, take a mountain bike tour, and visit the local galleries and soak up Mexican culture.
If your goal is to play golf in every corner of the globe, then Baja California Sur will not disappoint, with plenty of premier courses up and down the coast to choose from.
Cabo San Lucas is a world class resort, with many opportunities to go swimming, snorkeling, diving, parasailing, play a few holes of golf, and indulge in fine dining.
Surf the Earth! Bring your board, or rent one, there are tons of surf spots in Baja California Sur for all skill levels.
Go Whale Watching! There are only three places in the world the gray whale will give birth to their babies, all three are in Baja! Unlike other places father north, whale watching on the Pacific side of Baja is done in pangas. These are locally made 22 foot boats, which are open and can accommodate up to ten people. These boats allow you to get up close and personal with the whales, who seem to enjoy human interaction and in some cases you can even touch them!
If you are fishing from the shore, you will not need a fishing license. However, Mexico has strict fishing regulations for fishing from boats. Essentially, every person aboard a boat that has fishing equipment on board is required to have a license. According to CONAPESCA, Mexico’s National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission, “Sport fishermen in marine waters will be able to use as many rods and reels as they wish. In inland waters only one rod can be used by fishermen at a time. In both cases, established bag limits should be strictly observed. A fishing license allows anglers to capture fin fish only. It does not allow the capture of any crustaceans or mollusks, with the exception of squid, and their capture by anyone is strictly prohibited. To capture bottom fish, up to four hooks on a vertical line may be used. The use of electric reels is restricted to disabled fishermen only, after written authorization for the Ministry before use.”
You can purchase a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly fishing license. Fishing licenses are available for purchase by mail through the CONAPESCA’s office in San Diego, California.
You can find more information on their website, www.sportfishinginmexico.com
If you plan on using a fishing charter, most charter boats include fishing licenses in the cost of the charter, but to be sure it is best to ask when booking your trip. A Mexican fishing license allows a limit of ten (10) fish to be brought onboard. There is no limit to catch and release. The exception to this rule is Marlin, Sailfish and Swordfish and Shark, of which only one (1) of each is allowed, and which counts as five (5) toward the overall ten (10) fish limit.
Additionally Dorado, Roosterfish, Shad, or Tarpon, of which only two (2) of each species are allowed, and which count as five (5) toward the overall 10 fish limit.