Fishing in Cabo San Lucas

Upon landing at Los Cabos International Airport, Mexico's bustling air gateway, you are immediately welcomed into a world renowned for its sportfishing and breathtaking landscapes. This region, home to Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and neighboring areas, boasts an extensive selection of lodging and an array of charter fishing opportunities. Los Cabos is segmented into five unique zones: San Jose del Cabo, the Corridor, Cabo San Lucas, the Pacific stretch up to Todos Santos, and the serene East Cape region along the northern Sea of Cortez.

For newcomers, the corridor connecting Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo is often the starting point for their inaugural excursions. This area is replete with amenities to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay. Seasoned travelers tend to venture further, often towards the Sea of Cortez, seeking the serene fishing grounds near La Paz.

Cabo's reputation as a premier angling destination stems from its dynamic marine environment. The sea water temperatures, wave conditions, and ocean currents around the cape create a unique setting where no two fishing trips are the same. Should you find the Sea of Cortez side less rewarding, a quick change of direction towards the Pacific offers new angling prospects.

Anglers are welcome to bring their own fishing tackle, but it's worth noting that the specialized, heavy-duty gear needed for landing the big game fish offshore can be costly. Fortunately, most charter vessels in Cabo, ranging from deluxe sportfishing yachts to traditional pangas, include top-tier tackle and gear in their charter packages. For specific needs, tackle shops like Minerva’s in Cabo are well-stocked with a variety of game-fish-specific gear. Fly fishermen, in particular, are encouraged to bring their setups to experiment with different rig and fly combinations.

The use of live bait is highly favored here. Anglers aiming for inshore or rock-angling endeavors can purchase bait, like sardinas or live mackerel, directly from local fishermen, who skillfully catch them using small nets. However, artificial lures are also effective, especially when fishing further offshore.

Renting a panga for a day of inshore fishing, targeting species like roosterfish, pargo, or yellowtail, offers just as much thrill as pursuing larger game such as sailfish or swordfish in the open waters. While in this magnificent region, seize the myriad of private tours and excursions available, each promising to make every trip as exhilarating and distinct as your first.

What kind of fish do you catch in Cabo?

Cabo is a top destination where you can target inshore species such as sierra, yellowtail and pargo. Offshore there's striped marlin, dorado and yellowfin tuna. Below you'll find which species can be caught every month.

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

What is the best month for fishing in Cabo San Lucas?

The months of June to December are the best bets for snagging blue and black marlin, while sailfish are most plentiful between April and October. The rest of the year, striped marlin and various other species are worthy stand-ins for the stars, while wahoo, dorado and yellowtail, snapper, corvina and roosterfish abound.

Is fishing good in Cabo San Lucas?

There is no place in the world that matches the fishing in Cabo San Lucas. Baja California, often called the “Marlin Capital of the World,” holds several world records. Cabo is also a legendary place to target Amberjack, Snapper and Roosterfish. 

Can you fish from shore in Cabo San Lucas?

Surf fishing in Cabo is a great way to discover this exciting coast of Baja. The top shore fishing species in Los Cabos are roosterfish, sierra, grouper, snapper and jack crevalle. Make sure you bring a 7-9 foot medium stiff rod to be able to cast far enough. Use 30lb braided line and put some jerk baits, jigs, poppers and stickbaits in your bag. Rubber lures are also do the job.

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!

The village of Todos Santos is home to many artists, boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts. For some down time, 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.

Hit the Links: Cabo San Lucas has excellent golf courses, as a matter of fact, 7 of the top 15 golf courses in Mexico are in Cabo! These include: Diamante Golf Course. (Dunes), Cabo del Sol (Ocean Course), Querencia Golf Course, Quivira Golf Course, El Dorado Golf and Beach Course, Chileno Bay Course, Diamante Golf Course.

Water sports for all ages! Take a parasail ride, go snorkeling or scuba diving – in addition to fishing, Cabo is known for its underwater beauty. You can also rent jet skis, fly boards, stand up paddle boards, and learn how to surf. There are lots of surf spots for all levels, and if you are a beginner, surfing lessons are available.

Do you need a license to fish in Cabo?

If you are fishing from the shore, you will not need a license. However, Mexico has strict regulations for fishing from boats. Essentially, every person aboard a boat that has fishing equipment on board is required to have a license.

You can purchase a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly fishing license via CONAPESCA.

You can find more information on their website, Conapesca

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.

Depending on the charter fishing boat and on the duration of your fishing tour, you’ll pay more or less for the tour. The price for a private 4 hour Cabo San Lucas fishing trip with a smaller boat is $340. A half day trip with a 40ft charter costs around $695, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you $1250 to $1350.

What does the price include?

The price usually includes the captain, fishing tackle, fuel, bait & lures and licenses. On every listing we indicate whether drinks and food are included.

Once you’ve made a booking, the captain will contact you to arrange the meeting point and the departure time. Also, we recommend you contact the captain a couple of days before the tour to confirm the weather forecast.