When is the best time to fish in Cabo?

What is biting in each month

Every month on our chart has at least three fish in peak season, counting cubera snapper, which is around all year.

Striped marlin are Cabo's everyday billfish, and they peak from November to May. Blue marlin are the trophy fish, from June to December, and black marlin are less common, but bigger, from June to November.

Yellowfin tuna are the best eating fish, and a light-tackle option, from May to November. Dorado is colorful, fast, great eating and a kid-friendly catch, from July to October, and wahoo is a speed demon and a premium table fish, from October to January.

Cubera snapper is around all year on the inshore reefs.

Here is what is in peak season each month. Your captain fishes for whatever is running on your date.

• January: Striped marlin, wahoo and yellowtail (jack).
• February: Striped marlin and yellowtail (jack).
• March: Striped marlin and yellowtail (jack).
• April: Striped marlin and roosterfish.
• May: Striped marlin, yellowfin tuna and roosterfish.
• June: Blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and roosterfish.
• July: Blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi) and roosterfish.
• August: Blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi) and roosterfish.
• September: Blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi) and roosterfish.
• October: Blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), wahoo and roosterfish.
• November: Striped marlin, blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
• December: Striped marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo and yellowtail (jack).

Which boat for which fish

Billfish and tuna live offshore, so they need a bigger boat, while roosterfish and snapper are caught inshore from smaller boats.

Our premium sportfishers are the offshore boats, 32 to 60 feet, at $1,121 to $4,307 for a half day and $1,308 to $4,837 for a full day from Cabo San Lucas. The lowest price is on the 32ft Blackfin. See them on marlin fishing charters and tuna fishing charters.

Our inshore boats are 23 to 28 feet, at $498 to $862 for a half day from Cabo San Lucas, and the lowest is the 23ft Panga. See them on roosterfish and inshore charters.

In between, our mid-size sportfishers run $879 to $1,444 for a half day. Our guide ties dorado and wahoo to no one boat type, so tell us your date and we will help you pick. Every boat is on our fishing charters page.

What a fishing trip costs

A half day on our Cabo San Lucas boats costs $498 to $4,307 for the whole boat, and a full day costs $619 to $4,837.

The San José del Cabo boats sell one 6 to 7 hour trip at one price, $600 to $2,200, and the lowest is the Super Panga "Fatty II".

Every price includes 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. Fishing prices already include tax, so nothing is added at checkout.

The tip for the crew is separate, and 15 to 20% is standard in Cabo.

If you need to cancel

Plans change, so here is how cancelling works.

Fishing trips follow our tour rule. 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.