Cabo Fishing and Sportfishing Charters: Boats, Seasons and What a Day Costs

The phrase Marlin Capital of the World was coined here, and it was not marketing. The Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez off the tip of the peninsula, the currents stack bait against underwater banks, and the big pelagic fish follow. We fish these waters with friends every season, and we book the boats below for guests. Here is the honest version: what runs when, which marina to leave from, what a whole boat costs, and what the crew expects you to bring.

What you catch, month by month

• Striped marlin, November through May. The everyday billfish. In peak months a boat can release five or more in a day.
• Blue marlin, June through December. The trophy. Fish of 300 to 800 pounds are common and a grander over a thousand pounds is possible.
• Black marlin, June through November. Less common, bigger.
• Sailfish, June through December. Acrobatic and fast to the hook. Released.
• Yellowfin tuna, May through November. Cow tuna over 200 pounds happen. The best eating fish in the sea.
• Dorado, July through October. Colorful, fast, great on the plate, and the fish kids remember.
• Wahoo, October through January. Speed and a light-tackle fight.
• Roosterfish, April through October. The inshore signature, cast from the beach or a panga on spinning tackle.

Year round there is something to catch. The question is only which boat and which direction.

Two marinas, two kinds of trip

The Cabo San Lucas marina is the historic hub, with the most boats and the trophy restaurants within walking distance of the dock. Boats here sell a half day and a full day at different prices. Puerto Los Cabos marina in San José del Cabo is newer, quieter and a shorter run to the Gordo Banks, the two seamounts about 15 miles offshore that made this fishery famous. Boats there sell one 6 to 7 hour trip at one price. Either way you leave around 6am, have lines in by 7, and are back at the dock by early afternoon.

The boats, by size

Every price below is for the whole boat, not per person, with taxes included.

Inshore and pangas. Out of Cabo San Lucas, the 23ft Panga takes 3 anglers for $498 on a half day or $619 for a full day, and it is the roosterfish boat. The 28ft California carries 4 at $620 half day and $721 full day. From San José, the 26ft super pangas take 3 anglers on a 6 to 7 hour trip for $600, and the 26ft center console takes 4 for $700.

Midsize sportfishers. This is where most groups of four to six land. The 31ft Bertram takes 6 for $989 half day and $1,121 full day. The 34ft Reel Salty, also 6 anglers, runs $1,293 and $1,549. On the San José side, the 32ft Cruiser Tiara seats 6 for $900 for the day.

Premium offshore boats. For the full-day marlin run to the banks. The 38ft Bertram takes 8 anglers at $1,320 half day and $1,540 full day. The 44ft Viking carries 10 for $2,129 and $2,657. The 48ft Bertram, 8 anglers, is $3,202 and $3,840. And the 60ft Hatteras, the biggest in the fleet, takes 10 for $4,307 or $4,824 for a full day. From San José, the 37ft Edgewater takes 6 and the 45ft Yacht Rivier takes 8, each at $2,200 for the 6 to 7 hour trip. A $500 deposit holds any boat, with the balance settled before you sail.

What is included, and what is not

Every boat comes with a professional captain and crew, premium rods, reels and tackle, one Mexican fishing license, dock and marina fees, ice and bottled water, fresh or live bait when available, and all taxes. Not included: the tip, which runs 15 to 20 percent for the crew, drinks beyond water (bring your own is the norm), and fish processing. When you come in with tuna or dorado, the captain will point you to the dock vendors who filet, vacuum-pack and deliver to your hotel.

What to bring

• Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat.
• Polarized sunglasses. You will see the fish before the crew calls it.
• Motion sickness pills, taken before you leave the dock, not after.
• Snacks and drinks for the boat.
• A light layer. The 6am run out is cooler than the ride home.

Release the marlin

Marlin are released in Cabo. That is the local rule and the international standard, and the fishery is still world class because of it. Tuna, dorado and wahoo are the fish you keep, eat and share. A crew that treats a released marlin carefully is the crew you rebook.

Tournament season

The Bisbee's Black & Blue, founded in 1981, runs the last week of October and is the richest fishing tournament on the planet, with total purses above $11 million in recent years. The Los Cabos Offshore leads into it in mid-October, and the Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot follows in early November. If you want to fish those weeks, book your boat early.

Pick the boat for your group size, fish the morning, and let the marlin go. Our full fleet with live availability is on our Cabo fishing charters page.