Cabo San Lucas Fishing Guide: What You Can Catch, When to Go, and How to Plan It from Your Villa
Quick answer: Los Cabos offers year-round sportfishing in the Sea of Cortez. Striped marlin are rated excellent in every month on our fishing calendar, dorado are excellent from April through December, and yellowfin tuna are excellent from June through December. Charters can be half-day, full-day, or multi-day, and Costa Mar Villas can help arrange yours.
Los Cabos is synonymous with fishing. People travel here from all over the world hoping for a big catch, and the good news is that you do not need to be an expert to join in. Big game fishing in Los Cabos is suitable for all ages and levels of ability.
This guide covers what swims here, when to go, what kinds of charters exist, and how to plan a fishing day from your villa. For more detail, visit our Cabo San Lucas fishing page.
Why Cabo San Lucas Fishing Is World Class
Quick answer: Warm, plankton-rich water mixes with cold Pacific water, creating a rich ecosystem that is home to nearly 900 species of fish.
The Sea of Cortez, which Jacques Cousteau once called the “world’s aquarium,” is the planet’s newest sea. Warm waters from an undersea tectonic fault rise and mix with cold waters from the Pacific, creating a nurturing ecosystem that supports an incredible variety of fish. Marlin reign supreme, and record numbers of striped marlin can be found within twenty miles during every season.
What You Can Catch
Quick answer: Popular catches include striped, blue, and black marlin, dorado (mahi mahi), wahoo, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and roosterfish.
Offshore, you can target:
- Striped, blue, and black marlin
- Dorado (mahi mahi)
- Wahoo
- Yellowfin tuna
- Sailfish
Closer to shore, the waveless waters of the Sea of Cortez bring fish near rocks and reefs. Common inshore species include grouper, snapper, jack crevalle (toro), sierra mackerel, and roosterfish.
Keep in mind that most marlin fishing is catch and release, while many other species can be kept.
The Best Time to Fish in Cabo San Lucas
Quick answer: There is no bad season. Use the list below to match your dates to the species you want.
Our fishing calendar rates each species by month. Here are the months it rates at the top of its scale:
- Striped marlin: every month
- Dorado: April through December
- Yellowfin tuna: June through December
- Roosterfish: May through November
- Sailfish: May through November
- Wahoo: December through April
- Snappers: August through October
Blue marlin are rated good from August through January, and black marlin are rated good from September through December. Our calendar rates sharks at the top of the scale all year.
Choosing Your Charter
Quick answer: Charters range from simple pangas to modern cruisers and luxury yachts, in half-day, full-day, and multi-day formats.
The key to a great day on the water is preparation. Charter boats generally fall into two groups:
- Pangas: oversize rowboats with outboard motors and limited amenities
- Cruisers: modern fiberglass boats with shelter, restrooms, cooking space, and electronic fish-finding equipment
Trips can be half day, full day, or multi-day liveaboard, with boats from 31 feet up to 120 feet. You can choose your bait and try techniques like trolling and drift fishing, or inshore methods such as fly fishing and surf fishing.
Deep-sea charters provide the equipment, fuel, dock fees, tackle, and bait, and can coordinate the needed licenses.
Planning a Fishing Day from Your Villa
Quick answer: Your Costa Mar Villas concierge can help you plan the charter, coordinate transportation to the marina, and have a chef ready for your catch.
One of the best parts of fishing from a private villa is what happens afterward. A villa chef can cook your catch for fresh tacos or ceviche by the pool. Here is how it can work:
- Before you arrive: tell your concierge your group size, experience level, and target species.
- Fishing day: a ride to the marina can be arranged through our transportation services.
- Back at the villa: relax by the pool while a private chef prepares your catch.
For a more luxurious day on the water, ask about yacht charters too.
Fishing for Families and Groups
Quick answer: Fishing suits all ages, and large villas make it easy to bring everyone along.
Fishing is a natural fit for family reunions, friend trips, and corporate retreats. Our 8- to 10-bedroom compounds give everyone their own space, and our Cabo San Lucas vacation rentals page lets you filter by bedrooms and location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Cabo San Lucas? Marlin (striped, blue, and black), dorado, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, roosterfish, and inshore species such as grouper and snapper.
When is the best time to fish in Cabo? Year-round. Striped marlin are rated excellent every month, and dorado are excellent from April through December.
Do I need experience to go fishing? No. Big game fishing in Los Cabos is suitable for all ages and levels of ability.
Are fishing licenses and gear included? Deep-sea charters provide the equipment, fuel, dock fees, tackle, and bait, and can coordinate the needed licenses.
Can Costa Mar Villas help plan a fishing charter? Yes. Call toll free at 1-800-875-6751 and our team will help.
