Cabo Fishing
World class sportfishing is to be found in Cabo San Lucas Mexico, said to be among the best sportfishing waters in the world. In Cabo, you can Fish for Black, Blue and Striped Marlin, Tuna, Sailfish, Roosterfish, YellowTail, Grouper and Wahoo as almost 1,000 species of fish in all are to be found in the rich Cabo waters.
Like real estate, fishing is about location, location, location and Cabo San Lucas is the spot of spots. Cabo San Lucas is located at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula, where the warm water of the Sea of Cortes meets the cool Pacific current at Cabo San Lucas. This vortex forms currents and eddies perfect for fishing.
Cabo San Lucas is considered the Marlin capital of the world, In October of each year, Cabo San Lucas hosts the renowned Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament.
More Marlin are caught in Cabo waters than anywhere else in the world. In Cabo waters, you may catch a Marlin–or even two on your very first fishing excursion—a rare expectation in most fishing spots. Most other well known fishing destinations simply can not make this boast. Experienced deep sea fisherman all know about the yearly migrations of Marlin in Cabo waters. Striped Marlin, are abundant starting in the late winter and lasting through summer, followed by blue and black Marlin beginning in June and continuing through October. Marlin fishing is the type of fishing dreams are made of, and Cabo has the best of it. Hooking a Marlin is quite an experience, as the Marlin makes spectacular leaping, thrashing runs in its effort to escape.
But there is more than Marlin fishing to be had in Cabo. Tuna is often caught here at over 100 pounds, with some over 200 pounds. Catch Sailfish, Dorado, Roosterfish, YellowTail, Grouper and Wahoo as well. Yellow Fin Tuna, for instance, is a fighting fish that can attain weights over 300 pounds. The hard fighting and brilliantly colored Dorado is a popular catch, often to be brought in and cooked up for you that same night by a local restaurant.
There is also the occasion sword fish, the holy grail of sport fisherman.
Whether experiencing the excitement of battling a large sportfish, or reeling in smaller fish, it is all fun. Deep Sea sport fishing in Cabo offers a vacation fishing experience beyond compare.
Imagine returning to the marina with your boat’s outrigger sporting the colored flags of what was caught. A blue flag means a Marlin was caught and/or released, a red triangle means released Marlin only. Yellow flags are used for Dorado, and white flags are used for Tuna. Red flags are used for Wahoo.
A Cabo fishing excursion also lets you experience the sights of Los Cabos from the sea. Take in the views of the spectacular rock formations and beaches, cliff-hanging homes, ocean side golf courses, and have close encounters with dolphins, turtles, seals, pelicans, and whales (January through March).You can even enjoy your own fresh fish dinner that same night.
The marina in Cabo San Lucas is one of the nicest to be found, large, modern and surrounded with shops and restaurants. The many boats docked in the Cabo marina range in size from runabouts to the massive personal yachts of the rich and famous.
All forms of fishing charters and options are available.
Charters can be arranged through tour operators, local suppliers, and fishing fleets. Rentals and charters of all types are available, from medium priced 20 to 24 foot pangas to luxury yachts. Full day, half day, or multi day fishing excursions are available.
Catch and release of all bill fish like Marlin is normal, unless the fish is too badly injured. The better practice is to check out the conservation policy of the boat when making the reservation.
Fishing excursions need not vary far from port for the fishing to begin.
Peak Cabo Fishing Seasons
Black Marlin August-October
Blue Marlin June-October
Striped Marlin November-June
Dorado May-November
Swordfish March
Tuna June-December
Wahoo August-November
Rooster Fish June-December
Sail Fish June-November
Yellowtail March-April
Shark January-May
Cabo Fishing Tournaments
Cabo San Lucas is home of world class fishing tournaments.
The biggest and best of these tournaments is the Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament. Anglers from around the world arive with their crews to compete for the mulit-million dollar purse, each year in late October. Hundreds of boats compete in this yearly event. Even if you are not competing, this is quite the place for a “guy’s” time out. The marina is surrounded with booths and events, and a great time is had by all.
On the heels of the Bisbee’s is the Pete Lopiccola Memorial Marlin Tournament, held to benefit the Cancer Research Center at the University of California, San Diego and the children’s health in Cabo San Lucas. This tournament is relativley inexpensive to enter compared to other tournaments.
Just before the Bisbee’s is the Western Outdoor Publications’ Los Cabos Tuna Tournament, a two day event. November brings the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament.
Cabo Fishing Tips from Casa Vista Hermosa
Cabo Charters
There is a wide variety of boat charter options in Cabo. The price of the boat is determined by size and quality. A party of four will fit comfortably on a 28 foot boat or larger. Most boats in that size range will have a crew of two . “Share charters” are available, allowing you to share the charter costs. If you plan on sharing, you should make a reservation before arriving in Los Cabos.
The basic cost of the charter usually includes crew, tackle, and ice. Tax, fishing licenses, dock fees, bait, and filleting and freezing of your catch may or may not be included. You need to ask wht is included and what is not. You should plan on bringing food and drink. Box lunches are available at several locations around the Marina.
Luxury boats charters are also available. These high end boats offer a variety of luxury appointments, which might include wood and leather interiors, satellite TV, sonar, radar, computers, vacuum packers, private chefs, and staff., This is the life of the rich and famous.
The charters are well prepared for fishing. The captain will set a destination, depending on what you are fishing for and his best guess as to where fish are likely to be biting.
All charter boats have a selection rods, reels, and lures. The deckhand will bring out rods and reels and set them in rod holders to begin your fishing. If it is your first experince, the crew is usually willing to explain the in and outs of setting a hook and reeling in a big fish. Unless you ask otherwise, the deckhand usually sets the hook. You will know when a fish strikes by the singing of the reel and the instant frenzy of the crew, as the captain cuts the motor and the deckhand runs to the rod to set the hook.
A good crew will be on a constant look out for fish, looking for such things as fins, birds, dolphins (for tuna fishing), and the like.
If you bring in a big fish, expect a long list of activites after you return to the marina, from posing for pictures, to deciding whether to have it mounted to what to do with the meat. Smoked Marlin is quite good!
A tip for the crew is expected, a better tip is expected if you have a good day. It is also the usual practice for the captain to get a choice piece of the Marlin, if it is brought in.
Fishing Checklist
A hat, sunglasses, and sun screen are a must. A light jacket is recommended as is a towel. Unless provided, bring food, drink and ice.
The marina is quite large and boats depart from a number of locations, so make sure you know where to go in advance.
Don’t forget your camera.
Its Fishing!
Its called fishing, not catching. There are a lot of great fishing days, and some not so great. Good friends and some beer will fix the not so great fishing days, though.
Fish Facts
The beautiful blue Marlin is the largest of Marlins and one of the biggest fish in the world. Females, which are much larger than males, can reach over 10 feet in length (4+ meters) and weigh more than 1,000 pounds. The average weight of the blue Marlin ranges between 100 to 500 lbs, with an average length of six to eight feet. Blue Marlins are cobalt blue on top and silvery white below. The upper jaw of the Marlin extends into a long spear shaped spike with which it clubs the small fish on which it feeds. Native to the temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, blue Marlins are among the most recognizable of all fish. Blue Marlins are so called blue water or deep-water fish, spending most of their lives far out at sea. Blue Marlins are highly migratory, following ocean currents for hundreds and even thousands of miles. Blue Marlins prefer the surface waters for the higher temperatures. Blue Marlin are among the fastest fish in the ocean. Blue Marlins are known for their amazing strength, and for putting up a tremendous fight when hooked, Once a blue Marlin is hooked, the fight will be one you will remember for the rest of your life. These rare huge fish are highly prized by sportsmen.
Black Marlin are found almost entirely in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Black Marlin are also known to migrate great distances. A black Marlin was tagged and released in Australia at the Great Barrier Reef in September, 1972, then recaptured 954 days later off of the coast of New Zealand some 2,000 miles away. Another black Marlin was tagged and released off Cabo San Lucas, and then recaptured off of Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, more than 6,000 miles away. The black Marlin is the only Marlin, with rigid pectoral fins that cannot be folded flat up against the body. While the pectoral fins of other Marlin are flat, the pectoral fins of black Marlins have an airfoil shape. Its body not as rounded as the blue Marlin Like the blue Marlin, a back Marlin is very strong and fast.
The smaller striped Marlin reaches a top weight of 200 to 400 lb (135 180 kg). They abound in the waters off of Cabo. Striped Marlin still provide lots of action, and you will have your work cut out for you.
Marlins are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes, family.
CASA VISTA HERMOSA CAN HELP PLAN YOUR FISHING TRIP
Planning can make your fishing trip more enjoyable. Reservations for fishing should be made in advance of your fishing excursion.
At Cabo rental villa Vista Casa Hermosa, we have done the advance planning and research for your Cabo fishing trip. You may be on your own when it comes to catching fish (that’s why they call it fishing, not catching), but you don’t have to be on your own for the quality of the service, fishing crew, boat, and the fishing equipment.
Let Vista Casa Hermosa hook you up to your complete Cabo travel fishing package. Life should always be this easy.
