Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Cabo San Lucas (A Guide)

The waters around Cabo San Lucas offer some of the best fishing in North America. Knowing the best and worst times to come fish Cabo will make a huge difference in your success and experience.

The best time to fish around Cabo San Lucas is May through November for marlin, sailfish, jack crevalle, mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, and yellow grouper. This season delivers the best combination of fish abundance and aggressive feeding activity.

Fish Species	Best Seasons to Fish near Cabo San Lucas
Black Marlin	Year-round availability; May through November are the best months.
Blue Marlin	Year-round availability; marlin fishing is best from April through November.
Striped Marlin	Year-round availability; peak striped marlin season is May through November.
Pacific Sailfish	Year-round availability; peak sailfish season is May through November.
Yellowfin Tuna	Year-round availability; peak tuna season is May through November in Cabo waters.
Mahi Mahi	Year-round availability; peak mahi season is May through November.
Pacific Jack Crevalle	Year-round availability; fishing is best from April through November.
Yellow Grouper	Year-round availability; fishing is best from April through November.

Cabo San Lucas is known far and wide as an elite spring break destination as well as a hotspot frequented by A-list celebrities. With its vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, and world-class scuba diving, Cabo San Lucas draws tourists and travelers from all walks of life.

It also happens to be known as “The Marlin capital of the world” and for good reason.  Cabo San Lucas is famous for being home to tons of Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin.

That’s not all though, because of its proximity to both the Pacific Ocean and also the Sea of Cortez there is a huge variety of fish to be caught almost year-round in every direction. So where do we start? Let’s dive in and find out.

Best Time to Fish Cabo San Lucas

The weather in Cabo San Lucas is mild all year round with average highs that range from the ’70s in mid-winter to the low 90’s in the summer.

You’ll generally not regret picking any month out of the year when it comes to weather, but there is a wide range in seasonality when it comes to different species of fish.

Peak tourist season happens to overlap with some of the best fishing times, but that doesn’t mean you have to be socked in with the masses of party-goers if you don’t want to.

There’s quite a lot of billfish and game fish to be caught in the Fall once peak tourist season has died down.

This will see rates decrease slightly for lodging and charters as well. You can start to see the action picking up for most species in May and that only increases through Summer before dropping off again at the end of November. All that you have to do is decide what kind of fishing trip you want to have and then go from there.

Whether it’s in the midst of the party scene during the peak of summer or a somewhat more subdued scene later in the year, Cabo San Lucas has got you covered. 

Cabo San Lucas Fish Species (Best Seasons to Fish)

Black Marlin: Can be found year-round however May through November are the months when they are most prevalent. Offshore.

Blue Marlin: Can be found year-round but starts to pick up in April and really gets hot May through November. Offshore.

Cabrilla (Yellow Grouper): Active year-round but picks up starting in April and are very active from May through November. Offshore.

Mahi Mahi: Available year-round with peak season between May and November. Offshore.

Pacific Jack Crevalle: Year-round activity with peak season from April through November. Offshore. 

Sailfish: Active year-round but peak season May-November. Offshore. 

Striped Marlin: Year-round heating up in April with peak season from May- November.  Offshore.  

Yellowfin Tuna: Active year-round. Peak season May- November. Offshore. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Cabo San Lucas

These Cabo San Lucas-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
BlueSea Sportfishing	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Black Marlin Sportfishing	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Picudo Sport Fishing	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Reel Job Charters	Offshore & Billfish
Exotic Fish Cabo	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Go Deeper Sport Fishing	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Cabo Sportfishing Crew – Blue Tail	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
El Budster Pride	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Ursula Fishing IV – 34’ Crystaliner	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Robalo Fishing Tours In Cabos	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish

Times to Fish Cabo San Lucas

Tidal Impacts on Fishing (Cabo)

The tidal impacts in Cabo San Lucas are not significant as the majority of fishing will be done off-shore. With that being said if you are looking to do some shore fishing for Rooster Tails or Sierra Mackerel a good high tide will bring in the baitfish schools that these fish love to feed on. Look for the baitfish and you’ll find the game. 

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Mazatlan, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Storms Impact on Cabo San Lucas Fishing 

Cabo San Lucas generally has a dry and moderate (technically a desert) climate. The rainy season runs from mid-July through September, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to book later in the summer or early in the fall.

Technically, Cabo San Lucas does have a hurricane season from May through November but it is not a frequent occurrence.

Some strong storms have made landfall there in the past, however, it is not something that happens every year and shouldn’t be something to be too concerned with when planning a trip. 

Winter Fishing in Cabo San Lucas

Some of the best fishing for Marlin and other Billfish is at the beginning of the winter season in Cabo San Lucas. Since the climate is so mild, the temperatures never really get that cold so it’s great to fish there year-round.

One thing to note about winter fishing in Cabo is that they typically have some huge fishing tournaments in the winter.

Mostly the tournaments are in October, but you’ll definitely want to check on that before booking your trip as many charter companies may be booked up or competing themselves, hotel occupancy may be higher and more expensive and the water can be more crowded during those times. 

Nightfishing in Cabo San Lucas

While most charter fishing in Cabo San Lucas is done during the day, there are some spots to fish from shore at night if you’re looking to try something a little different.

The rocks by Capella are a good spot to try your luck, however, it should be noted that the surf can be treacherous and you’ll want to be very careful if you decide to give it a go.  With any luck, you’ll land a Snapper or a Jack in time for dinner! 

Shore & Surf Fishing in Cabo San Lucas

If you don’t fancy trying out your sea legs or spending hours rolling along in the open ocean onboard a charter trip, fear not because Cabo San Lucas has some excellent shore fishing to offer. A great thing about shore fishing in Mexico is that they don’t require to have a permit to do it.

Maybe you’re not going to land a Striped Marlin or a Yellowfin Tuna from shore, but there are still some really big and exciting fish to be found.

The infamous Roosterfish, known for being aggressive and looking incredible are active bait chasers along the Cabo shoreline.

You’ll also find plentiful Sierra Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, and decent-sized Grouper all hanging around most of the year. 

There are numerous rock formations around the beaches of Cabo San Lucas and while navigating the rocks can be dangerous, if you stay off of the rocks and cast in front of them, you can catch some big Snappers with the locals.

Depending on what you’re fishing for you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right bait on the line to start with. If you’re going for the Sierra Mackerel, you’ll want a nice flashy spoon and look to cast into the bait schools while the Mackerel are feeding (look for jumping baitfish and oil on the water’s surface).

The Roosterfish will chase topwater plugs and swimbait aggressively so cast, crank, and get ready for some action.

The Snapper are a local favorite and they love live crabs which can often be found around the rocks we talked about fishing in front of earlier. With a little luck and the right bait, you can be landing some terrific fish from the Cabo San Lucas beaches in no time! 

Top 5 Fishing Spots in Cabo San Lucas

San Jamie Bank- This is on the Pacific side of things and it gives you close access to the Tinaje Trough. It has great currents and will give you access to numerous species of fish. 

Golden Gate Bank– This is one of the best fishing spots in Cabo San Lucas. The proximity to the Tinaje Trough and the relatively warm waters make this a hot spot year-round. Striped Marlin have been known to be caught here in Spring and Fall.  

Finger Bank– At about 50 miles offshore, this is no quick jaunt out of the marina. However, if you have the time and the determination to get out here in the Winter season, you’ll find Striped Marlin in abundance and could very easily spend the day catching a ton. 

Gordo Bank– This is on the Sea of Cortez side of things.  It’s about a 20-mile ride from the marina and provides great fishing from April through November and pretty good fishing the rest of the Winter as well as it is sheltered by mountains that keep the climate mild.

Santa Maria Canyon– This is a local spot for Tuna, Billfish, and Dorado. It’s a quick 9-mile ride from the marina and is great almost all year. This is a great spot and any trip to Cabo should hit this at least once.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Ensenada, please read this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Puerto Vallarta, please read this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Baja, please read this helpful article I wrote.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish the Sea of Cortez, please read this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Cancun, please read this helpful article I wrote.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Rosarito, please read this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish La Paz, please read this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mexico, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the cost of fishing charters in Cabo San Lucas, please check out this helpful article.

Booking Fishing Charters in Cabo San Lucas (Best Times)

There are plentiful charters available for booking in Cabo San Lucas and it can be quite a sight to see all of the vessels heading out of the marina first thing in the morning to get after the famed billfish.

A charter fishing guide is going to be the key to getting onto the fish species that you are after in Cabo San Lucas, whether that be Marlin, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, or one of many others. 

A good tip to booking charters in Cabo San Lucas is to research and book ahead of time as many of the charters offered once you are actually in town by a salesman on the street may be more interested in getting your money than actually getting you onto fish.

Those trips offered may be part of timeshare promotions and they’re not going to burn the gas needed to get you on the fish you’re after.

Do yourself a favor and book ahead of time with one of the many reputable charter fishing outfits before you arrive.  Also, I’d recommend booking two or three days if possible, that way you can experience fishing for all the many species that Cabo has to offer and really get the full experience. 

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Huatulco, please check out this helpful article.

Best Season to Go

Due to a long and robust fishing season spread throughout most of the year, the best season to go is going to be influenced by what type of experience you’re looking for off of the water as much as on it. The different Marlin species start to pick up in May and run through November.

The same goes for Tuna, Sailfish, Wahoo, and Mahi Mahi. If you’re looking for more of a party atmosphere onshore, the peak summer months are going to be the season for you.

If you’re looking for great fishing with a little less expensive and crowding, check out the scene in Fall to early Winter.

The fishing is still absolutely rocking, the weather is great and there aren’t quite as many parties as in peak season. With that being said, it IS still Cabo San Lucas and there’s probably going to be some wild stuff going on, it’s just going to be a little less that time of year. 

Best Time of Day

It doesn’t matter what species you decide on for your fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas, every charter company is going to tell you to get there early and get out on the water. There’s generally quite a parade of boats making their way out of the harbor each morning as the sun is coming up.

They line up to buy live bait on their way and then head out into the blue water to get after the big ones.  If you want to catch those trophy size fish, you’ve got to get out on the water early and make your way to where those fish are.  

Morning vs. Afternoon

The general consensus in Cabo San Lucas is that the best practice is to get onto the water as early as possible. You’ll typically see a whole parade of boats heading out of the harbor in the morning as everyone makes their way out.

Depending on the species you’re after there may be a considerable amount of mileage to cover before you get onto them. By heading out as early as possible you’ll give yourself the best chance to have time to get to where the fish are and to land some big ones. 

Trip Length

There are so many types of fish around Cabo San Lucas that you may not want to do just one full-day trip, 2 or even 3 full-day trips will give you a chance to go after a lot of different types of fish and mix things up on a given day without completely abandoning the idea of catching what you’re after.

If the Marlin aren’t around one day but the Tuna are, you can switch to fishing for Tuna for the day and then try again for Marlin the next day. It’s such a rich fishing ground that giving yourself ample time and opportunity to take advantage of that is really worth the effort.  

For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch marlin in Cabo San Lucas, check out this guide. To learn the best charters in Cabo San Lucas, this article will answer all of your questions. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch mahi-mahi in Cabo San Lucas, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch roosterfish in Cabo San Lucas, check out this guide. This article will answer all your questions to learn how to fish in Cabo without knowing Spanish.