Cabo San Lucas Fishing Charters

Cabo San Lucas sits at the vCabo San Lucas sits at the very tip of Baja California Sur, where two oceans meet and the seafloor drops away within sight of shore. This unique setting makes it one of the most productive big-game destinations in the world. Charters launch from the Cabo San Lucas Marina, home to fleets ranging from simple pangas for half-day inshore trips to luxury sportfishers built for multi-day bluewater runs. With deep water less than 5 miles from the Arch at Land’s End, anglers are trolling in the big leagues within minutes of departure.

Half-day charters often focus on inshore fishing along the Pacific beaches or Sea of Cortez coastline, targeting roosterfish, sierra mackerel, snapper, and jacks. Full-day runs push offshore to legendary grounds like Golden Gate Bank, Gordo Banks, and the Finger Bank for marlin, tuna, dorado, and wahoo. During peak seasons, boats may run 20–30 miles, though trophy fish are often hooked much closer.

Seasonal shifts define the bite. Striped marlin are caught year-round, with spring bringing heavy concentrations. Summer delivers dorado, wahoo, and blue and black marlin, while yellowfin tuna action peaks in late summer and fall. Winter brings cooler water, which slows some pelagics but lights up inshore fishing for roosterfish, sierra, and snappers. Cabo is also home to major tournaments, with the Bisbee’s Black & Blue in October cementing its status as a marlin capital.
Techniques vary by target. Offshore charters troll skirted lures, rigged ballyhoo, and teasers for marlin, dorado, and sailfish. Tuna are taken chunking, live baiting, or kite fishing around Gordo Banks. Inshore, captains slow-troll live baits along sandy beaches for roosterfish or cast surface lures for explosive strikes. Bottom fishing around reefs produces grouper, snapper, and amberjack. With its short runs, rich waters, and professional fleet, Cabo San Lucas delivers a complete sportfishing experience.ery tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. This unique geography creates one of the richest fisheries in the world, with deep bluewater just minutes from the marina. Most charters leave from the Cabo San Lucas Marina, where a fleet of pangas, center consoles, and luxury sportfishers are lined up daily. Half-day trips often work the inshore beaches and rocky points for roosterfish, jacks, and snapper, while full-day runs push offshore along the famous Golden Gate Bank, Gordo Banks, and into the Pacific for marlin, tuna, wahoo, and dorado.

The structure here is all about quick access. The seafloor drops off rapidly, which means anglers can be trolling in 1,000 feet of water less than 5 miles from shore. Key zones like the Arch, Lighthouse, and Land’s End are productive within sight of the marina, while longer runs of 20–30 miles can put boats on migratory schools of yellowfin tuna or billfish concentrations.

Seasonal changes dictate the target species. Striped marlin are caught year-round, with peak action in spring. Summer brings dorado, wahoo, and black and blue marlin, while yellowfin tuna peak from late summer into fall. Winter focuses more on inshore fishing, with roosterfish, sierra mackerel, and snapper taking center stage when the seas cool. The fall “Bisbee’s Black & Blue” tournament highlights Cabo’s reputation as a billfish capital.

Techniques vary depending on the quarry. Offshore charters troll rigged ballyhoo, lures, and teasers for marlin, dorado, and wahoo, while chunking and kite fishing are used for tuna when they’re finicky. Inshore, anglers slow troll live baits along the beaches for roosterfish or cast poppers and stickbaits for explosive topwater strikes. Bottom fishing around reefs and banks brings grouper, snapper, and amberjack. With such close proximity to both inshore and offshore grounds, Cabo San Lucas offers an unmatched variety of fishing opportunities.