Cabo Fishing Guide

Cabo San Lucas Charter Fishing

Cabo San Lucas has been recognized as “the spot of spots” for all variations of fishing. World renown sportfishing is to be found in the warm waters of Cabo San Lucas Mexico, said to be one of the best fishing spots in the world. Cabo San Lucas, being located at the Baja California tip, is where warm waters of the Sea of Cortes connect with cool pacific currents of Cabo San Lucas. The combination of the two forms perfect conditions for the fishing experience. In Cabo, fish for Blue, Striped and Black Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Roosterfish, Grouper, Wahoo and YellowTail as well as 1,000 other fish species.

Cabo fishing is remarkable for its abundance of Marlin. Attesting to its status, every October, Cabo San Lucas hosts the Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament drawing the best fishermen from around the world to “> ” src=”https://cabogringopages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/marlin-fishing-in-Cabo-an-Lucas-250×150.jpg” alt=”Cabo Fishing Guide” width=”250″ height=”150″> participate in the multi-million dollar purse. There are more Marlin caught in the waters off the coast of Cabo San Lucas than anywhere else in the world. First time fishers have been known to catch multiple Marlins on one excursion – an extraordinary feat even for even avid fishermen in most waters. Striped Marlin are spotted in abundance starting in the late winter and staying though summer, followed by blue and black Marlin which come out beginning of June and stay through late October. Hooking a Marlin can be considered a dream come true for some fisherman, especially with the thrills of watching them fly out of the water with such ease in their attempt to escape.

If Marlin fishing is not where your interest lies, there are many other fishing escapades for you to embark upon as well. Tuna is another prevalent catch in these waters, as 100 pounders are not at all unlikely (sometimes even as large as 200 lbs). This holds true for Wahoo, YellowTail, Roosterfish, Dorado, Sailfish and Grouper as well. As an example, Yellow Fin Tuna have been known to be fighting fish and can weigh over 300 lbs. Nothing beats catching a huge Tuna and getting back in time to eat it for dinner the same night! Another popular fighting fish worth looking out for are the mighty and beautifully colored Dorado, which have become an increasingly popular catch.

Sword fish, also known as the “crème de la crème” of the fish world, are also occasionally spotted off the coastal shores of Cabo San Lucas.

Whether you’re interested in battling a sword fish or just looking to have some fun in the sun with a pole in the ocean along with some great company, Cabo San Lucas is the spot for you. The deep sea fishing experience in Cabo is second to none!

Picture heading back to the Cabo marina with colored flags raised high illustrating which trophy fish was caught that day. A red triangle means a released Marlin only, while a blue flag means a Marlin was caught and/or released while on your excursion. White flags are used for Tuna, red flags for Wahoo and yellow flags for Dorado.

Another great reason to experience Cabo fishing is the unforgettable views of Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos from the sea. While fishing, take in the spectacular ocean side golf courses, cliff-hanging houses, rock formations and beaches. Have up close and personal sightings with seals, dolphins, turtles, pelicans and whales (generally only January-March).

The Cabo San Lucas’ marina is one of the finest to be found which includes large, modern shops and restaurants to pick from. The boats docked in the harbor range from runabouts to massively extravagant yachts of celebrities.

Any and all fishing excursions are available options for you to consider.

Charters can be supplied through local suppliers, fishing fleets as well as tour operators. Excursions and charters of every type are available, ranging from 20-25 foot pangas to private luxury yachts. These options are available half day, full day or even multiple day rentals.

Catch and release of bill fish such as Marlin is standard, unless the catch is vulnerable due to injury. Conversation policies are a good place to start to make sure you use best practices prior to making any reservations.

For fishing to begin, one does not need to stray far from port as many types of fish remain relatively close to shore.

Best Fishing Seasons in Cabo

Striped Marlin (November-June)
Black Marlin (August-October)
Blue Marlin (June-October)
Swordfish (March)
Tuna (June-December)
Dorado (May-November)
Wahoo (August-November)
Yellowtail (March-April)
Rooster Fish (June-December)
Sail Fish (June-November)
Shark (January-May)

Cabo Tournament Fishing

Cabo is the home for world renown fishing tournaments. The largest and most recognized is the Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament. Anglers from all parts of the globe come with their entire crews to participate in this multi-million dollar pursuit which takes place in late October. More than hundred boats compete in this event each year. Even if competition is not your thing, it’s still a great place to hang out and enjoy the event. Throughout the tournament, the harbor and surrounding areas are filled with booths and events alike attracting all sorts of different onlookers. Another well known tournament is the Pete Lopiccola Memorial Marline Tournament which is held to benefit the University of California, San Diego’s Cancer Research Center as well as the children’s hospital located in Cabo San Lucas. The tournament enrollment fees are relatively inexpensive in comparison to other tournaments of the same quality. Finally, prior to the Bisbee’s Tournament is the famous Western Outdoor Los Cabos Tuna Tournament, followed by the Billfish Tournament.

Cabo Charter Fishing Excursions

There is a plethora of boat charter choices in Cabo San Lucas for your Cabo San Lucas charter fishing excursion. The price is determined by timeframe of use, quality and size. A group of four will comfortably fit on a boat around 28-30 feet. With a group that size and boat that size, you’re looking at 2-3 crew members with you. Edward at Sea Fever Sportfishing can get you the right size charter boat. If you’re trying to cut costs, sharing charters is another option. We always recommend that you plan excursions ahead of time based on availability.

The costs associated with a charter generally consist of the crew, the ice and the tackle. The other necessities which consist of dock fees, bait, fishing licenses, filleting and freezing may not be included. This is a great question to ask prior to making any charter reservations. Bringing a lunch along with you including lots of liquids is also an essential add-on to the trip.

If you’re looking to go fishing in style, luxury boats are also at your disposal. These may include anything from sonar to radar to satellite TV to private chefs and staff. Just get ready to spend the money.

Most charters are thoroughly prepared for all fishing excursions. Generally the captain sets sail to a location in accordance to what you’re fishing and the where they’ve been biting. However, a solid crew will be on constant lookout for fish and may change directions within a seconds notice.

All charter boats are equipped with reels, rods and lures. The crew is usually helpful setting up the hook and reeling in fish, especially for first timers. When you hear the ringing of the reel, expect the crew to go wild and soon after you will notice the captain cutting the motor and the deckhands getting ready to set the hooks. It’s time to get fishing!

Expect the day not to be over after arriving in the marina if you bring in a big fish that day. You going to be involved in anything from picture taking, deciding what to do with the meat and whether or not you want the fish to be mounted. Just make sure to tip the crew at the end, especially if you have a good day in terms of catch. It is also customary for the captain to get a choice cut of a large fish, if one is brought in.

Cabo Charter Fishing Excursion Checklist

Make sure to bring sunglasses, a hat and lots of sunscreen as it’s easier to get sun burnt while on the water. Also, a light jacket and towel are always recommended just in case. As mentioned above, make sure to bring ice, food and liquids (unless discussed ahead of time that these will be provided). In regards to prior planning, make sure you understand where you’re meeting in the marina as it is quite large and easy to get lost. Lastly, make sure not to forget your camera!

Cabo Charter Fishing FAQs Current Cabo Weather

It’s Fishing

Just make sure you keep in mind the #1 motto, “it’s called fishing, not catching’ for a reason. Go out there with an optimistic attitude, but make sure that doesn’t change if you don’t end up bringing in that prize fish you’ve been dreaming about for the last month. At the end of the day, another old saying holds true with fishing as well…a bad day fishing beats most days doing anything else! Bring some beer… Well, even more beer…

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Fish Facts 101

The magnificent blue Marlin is the largest Marlin there is and one of the largest fish in the world. Females (the larger of the two genders), can reach sizes of over 4 meters (10 feet in length) and weigh over 1,000 pounds. However, the average Marlin ranges from 100-500 lbs and about 6-8 feet long. The upper jaw of the Marlin expands into an oar shaped spike with which is smacks smaller fish before feeding on them. Blue Marlins are native to the temperate waters of the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic and are one of the most renowned fish. One of the major reasons they are such a hot commodity is because they spend most of their lives very far out to sea and therefore are very rare a fish to sight, let alone catch. They tend to be highly migratory a fish, as they follow hundreds (if not thousands) of ocean currents. Blue Marlin are one of the fastest fish in the ocean and prefer to be closer to surface waters as opposed deeper waters due to temperature disparity. Blue Marlins are also one of the strongest fish in the sea and put up an impressive fight when hooked.

Black Marlin are usually found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They also migrate absurd distances. As an example, in September of 1972, a black Marlin was caught, tagged and released off the coast of Australia near the Great Barrier Reef and then recaptured 954 days later off the New Zealand coast spanning a distance of nearly 2,000 miles away. Same happened with a catch off the coast of Cabo San Lucas and then found later some 6,000 miles away near Norfolk Island in the South Pacific.

The smaller striped Marlin are the be found off the coast of Cabo San Lucas as well and reach weights of 200-400 lbs.

Regardless of which Marlin you hook, just make sure you’re in for a long and exciting fight that you’ll never forget!