Fishing in Cabo San Lucas

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There is no place in the world that matches the fishing in Cabo San Lucas. Mexico’s most legendary fishing grounds, oft...

There is no place in the world that matches the fishing in Cabo San Lucas. Mexico’s most legendary fishing grounds, often called the “Marlin Capital of the World,” this extremely popular fishing venue holds several world records.

Cabo San Lucas is where the Sea of Cortés and the Pacific Ocean meet, and churn up a cornucopia of sport fish. Some estimates claim as many as 50,000 marlin and sailfish, the most prized species, are pulled out of these waters each year.

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.

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Most popular fishing boats charters in Cabo San Lucas

Tres Marlins

3 22,97 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $340
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice

Ole Ole

6 33,00 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $700
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice

Never Give Up 35 ft

7 35,00 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $1364
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice

Blue Water 72 ft

15 72,00 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $3398
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice

Super Panga Fleet

3 0,00 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $539
Deposit non-refundable

Cabo Marlini 31

5 31,00 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $770
Deposit non-refundable

Petrolero

10 68,90 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $2400
Deposit non-refundable

La Brisa

6 29,53 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $695
Deposit non-refundable

Ruthless

6 29,53 ft

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur (MX)

From $695
Deposit non-refundable

Reviews from the users

We had a great day! Was pretty rough on the sea, but we still managed to catch a couple! The Capitan and First Mate were really great and my kids had a super time! I would absolutely book this again!
Alison McMaster

50 boats for charter near by Cabo San Lucas

Tips & Tricks, bait and more

By plane you’ll arrive at Los Cabos International Airport, Mexico’s sixth busiest airport. Here you have access to Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and surrounding towns, all of which offer a wide variety of lodging and charter fishing opportunities. There are five distinct areas in Los Cabos; San Jose del Cabo; the Corridor; Cabo San Lucas; the Pacific side up to Todos Santos: and the East Cape region north on the Sea of Cortez. 

Most first-time visitors will likely stay in the corridor from Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo. There you’ll find everything you need to make your stay a memorable one. Repeat visitors branch out to other areas of Cabo, usually up the cape towards the Sea of Cortez to stay and fish from La Paz.

One of the reasons why Cabo is such an incredibly productive, unique, and reliable fishing spot is because sea water temperatures, wave conditions, and ocean currents are almost never exactly the same on both sides of the cape at the same time. So, if you head towards the Sea of Cortez, and the fishing is not good, it’s easy enough to turn around and head towards the Pacific.

You can bring your own fishing tackle if you want to, however the specialized, heavy duty gear necessary for successfully landing offshore big game fish is expensive. You’ll find that in Cabo most charter vessels, from sport fishing yachts to pangas, provide high grade tackle and gear included in the charter price. There are also several well-stocked tackle shops in Cabo, such as Minerva’s, where you can find game-fish-specific gear. If you are a fly fisherman, then definitely bring your own gear, as you’ll want to try out different combinations of rigs and flies depending on where and what you are trying to catch.

Live bait is preferred, and if you are going to try inshore or rock fishing, you can purchase it from the local fishermen who catch them by hand with small nets. Sardinas are popular bait, and farther offshore, live mackerel, but artificial lures work well too.

Renting a panga and doing some inshore fishing for roosterfish, pargo, or yellowtail can be just as fun as hooking up a sailfish or a swordfish offshore. While you’re here, definitely take advantage of the variety of opportunities that this amazing place offers!

Top sport fishing species in Cabo San Lucas

FISHING SEASON IN Cabo San Lucas

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.

TOURISM & OTHER ACTIVITIES

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.

LEGISLATION / REGULATIONS

Do you need a license to fish in Cabo?

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.

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.

How much does it cost to rent a boat to fish in Cabo San Lucas?

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.

Key takeaways

Avg Capacity: 6 people
Popular fishing techniques: Bottom Fishing, Tuna fishing, Trolling
Average price: $0 per day
Low season price: $342 per day
High season price: $4526 per day
Included: Fishing tackle, WC on board, Cabin

Frequently asked questions about fishing in Cabo San Lucas

According to our customers, some of the most popular fishing charters in Cabo San Lucas are:
Tres Marlins
Ole Ole
Never Give Up 35 ft
Blue Water 72 ft

Depending on the boat, a fishing charter in Cabo San Lucas can accommodate up to 15 passangers, although most charters are for 6 people.

Typically in a charter in Cabo San Lucas, a fishing boat charter will include the use of the boat, Fishing tackle, WC on board, Cabin. Some charters may also include Snacks and Drinks, while others may allow you to bring your own.

Renting a fishingboat in Cabo San Lucas costs on average $213 per hour. Many factors influence the price of a boat charter, such as the duration of the trip (and distance to the fishing grounds), the size of the boat or the fishing technique. Prices can range from $342 for 5 hours and 3 people to $4526 for 8 hours and 15 people.

The types of fish you can catch on a fishing charter in Cabo San Lucas will depend on the time of year. Some common fish species that can be caught in Cabo San Lucas include: Yellowfin Tuna, Roosterfish, Dorado, Wahoo, Striped Marlin, Black Marlin.

In Cabo San Lucas, the most popular fishing techniques include Bottom Fishing, Tuna fishing, Trolling, Marlin fishing, Popping, Shark Fishing.

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