You've probably seen them... sport fishing boats of all sizes racing out to the fishing grounds here in Cabo, especially during a tournament. But, where are they going? Lots of places loaded with lots of fish. In fact, Cabo boasts some of the most remarkable offshore canyons, pinnacles and reefs in the world and that offshore structure is where you'll find tremendous numbers and quality of gamefish and table fare.
Los Cabos is a renowned destination for avid anglers seeking world-class fishing experiences. The region boasts a diverse range of fishing seasons, each offering unique opportunities to catch a variety of prized species. The most popular seasons for fishing in Los Cabos are generally divided into three main categories: summer, fall, and winter.
During the summer months, from June to September, anglers can target marlin, tuna, wahoo and dorado in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. Marlin are prevalent during this time making it an ideal season for those looking to engage in thrilling big-game fishing. Fall, the latter part of September to November, brings a transition period, yet still offering good opportunities for catching wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dorado. October is also fishing tournament time in Los Cabos - and plenty of big black and blue marlin are brought to the scales by anglers looking for a big paycheck. Winter, spanning from December to March, sees a drop in the abundance of yellowfin tuna and dorado, but catches of striped marlin and sailfish are still common. The cool waters attract various species – like quality yellowtail and sierra mackerel – making it an excellent time for anglers to experience a diverse range of fishing opportunities. Surf fishing for sierra has even spawned a shore fishing tournament as the fishing can be, as the say, off the hook!
Los Cabos is celebrated for its accessibility to both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, providing anglers with a wealth of fishing locations. Popular spots include the Gordo Banks, the 45 Spot, and the Golden Gate Bank, where the convergence of currents creates fertile fishing grounds teeming with marine life. Additionally, the city of Cabo San Lucas and the nearby town of San Jose del Cabo serve as convenient hubs for charter services, offering anglers access to experienced guides and well-equipped boats for a memorable fishing expedition in the waters of Los Cabos.
In this section of our site you'll find a seasonal fishing chart as well as fishing locations map and information that will help you by giving you a better understanding of the whens and wheres of fishing in Los Cabos.
When to target certain species of fish in Los Cabos. Our seasonal chart covers the most popular gamefish the area supports.
| LEGEND | PEAK SEASON | SLOW SEASON | OFF SEASON |
| SPECIES | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorado | ||||||||||||
| Grouper | ||||||||||||
| Sierra | ||||||||||||
| Black Marlin | ||||||||||||
| Blue Marlin | ||||||||||||
| Striped Marlin | ||||||||||||
| Roosterfish | ||||||||||||
| Sailfish | ||||||||||||
| Snapper | ||||||||||||
| Snook | ||||||||||||
| Swordfish | ||||||||||||
| Tuna | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | ||||||||||||
| Yellowtail |
The map below shows the most popular and productive fishing areas off of Los Cabos. The areas the vast majority of charter boats out of the Cabo marina target the San Jaime Bank, the 45, Cardonal, San Lucas and Santa Maria Canyons. While some may venture all the way up and out to the 1150, the Cabrillo Seamount and the Gordo Banks it would probably serve you best to check into a charter out of Marina Puerto Los Cabos as the ride out to those fishing spots will be shorter.
Further up the Pacific coast to the Golden Gate Bank (or even further north to the famous Finger Banks) will generally cost you more as more fuel is required and that cost gets passed onto you. However, when the bite goes off at either location catch rates soar with some lucky boats and anglers catching and releasing marlin by the dozen! If that happens during your visit, and you've got some pretty good sea legs, don't pass up the opportunity to find yourself in a wide-open gamefish bite! Spend a bit more for that once in a lifetime experience, you'll be glad you did.
