How much does a fishing charter in Cabo cost?

Cabo San Lucas sport fishing rates for each angler

Fill the boat and the lowest half-day rate for each group size works out to about $147 to $166 for each angler.

Rates are for the boat, not for the seat. So the honest way to compare charter prices is to divide by your group. Three friends on the 23ft Panga pay about $166 each. Ten on the 40ft Fiorentino pay about $147 each, on a much bigger boat.

The math turns against you when the boat is half empty. Two anglers on a boat for 10 pay for 8 seats that nobody uses. Pick the smallest boat that fits your group and your fish.

A group of 6 has one more option in San José del Cabo. The 32ft Cruiser Tiara is $900 for its one trip of 6-7 hours, about $150 each.

Have 8 to 10 people? See the boats for groups.

Affordable fishing charters in Cabo

The lowest-priced fishing charter we book in Cabo is the 23ft Panga at $498 for a half day, taxes included.

Start with the nine inshore boats. The 4 in Cabo San Lucas run $498 to $862 for a half day, and the 5 in San José del Cabo run $600 to $700 for their one trip. They are 23 to 28 ft and take 3 or 4 anglers. Our research guide lists roosterfish and snapper as the inshore targets.

See the lowest-priced boats.

Half-day prices and full-day prices: the real gap

A full day costs $50 to $963 more than a half day on the same boat, across the 23 boats that sell both.

On the 30ft California the full day is $989 against $939 for the half day, a gap of $50. The widest gap is on the 55ft Bertram, where the full day is $4,837 and the half day is $3,874. On 11 of the 23 boats the gap is $132 or less.

Our research guide puts marlin and tuna on full days offshore, and roosterfish and snapper on half days close to shore. So look at the gap on your boat before you pick the trip.

What you pay on top of the rate, and when you pay

The crew tip is the main cost on top of the rate, and at 15 to 20 percent it adds about $75 to $100 to the $498 half day.

On the $1,469 half day of the 40ft Fiorentino the tip is about $220 to $294.

Two more things are not on the included list: your food, and a fishing license for more than one angler. One Mexican fishing license is inside every price.

At checkout, trips over $500 take a $500 deposit and you settle the balance before your trip. A trip at or under $500 is paid in full when you book.

More than 72 hours before your trip: 75% refund. From 48 to 72 hours before: 50% refund. Under 48 hours, a no-show, arriving late, seasickness or heading back early: no refund. If the port is closed, or the captain or tour team cancels for weather or safety, we move you to a new date. If no new date works for you, you get a full refund. Light rain or choppy water that the captain calls safe is not a cancellation.