Best Times to Fish the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California)
The Sea of Cortez, also referred to as the Gulf of California, offers some of the best fishing in North America. Knowing the best and worst times to come fish here will make a huge difference in your success and experience.
The best time to fish the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) is winter for skipjack tuna, sierra mackerel, and jack crevalle. Spring through early fall is best for mahi mahi, marlin, grouper, and wahoo in Gulf of California waters.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) |
| Mahi Mahi | June through November is the best season to fish for mahi mahi. |
| Striped Marlin | The best season for grouper is May through September in the Sea of Cortez. |
| Jack Crevalle | The best season for grouper is February through May in the Sea of Cortez. |
| Skipjack Tuna | February through November is the best season to fish for skipjack tuna. |
| Grouper | The best season for grouper is March through June in the Sea of Cortez. |
| Roosterfish | May through July is the best season to fish for roosterfish. |
| Yellowtail Amberjack | Year-round availability. The best times for yellowtail is from February through May. |
| Wahoo | March through September is the best season to fish for wahoo. |
| Sierra Mackerel | Year-round availability. The best times for sierra mackerel is from November through May. |
The Sea of Cortez is also known as the Gulf of California. This location gives anglers a chance to enjoy fishing adventures in the Baja’s waters.
The sea impresses angling enthusiasts with the abundance of fish species and spots. Here, you can target the main saltwater species of fish.
The Sea of Cortez is the ideal place to relax and relieve stress. Many people come to the area to fish the Baja waters.
However, the destination is not just limited to fishing. Here, you can also play golf and enjoy sailing as well as many other interesting activities.
Best Time to Fish Sea of Cortez
In fact, there is no bad time to visit the Sea of Cortez. It’s the place where you can go fishing at any time of the year. There are fish species that can be caught all year round.
On the other hand, it’s possible to catch seasonal fish species in the area as well. These species of fish get active during certain times of the year.
Many species of fish actively feed during warm months. When water temperatures increase, these species of fish get active and comfortable conditions for fishing are created. That’s why fishing in the area is the most productive between June and September.
If you want to get the best results during your trip to the Sea of Cortez, visit the area when fishing is the most productive.
Anglers have a better chance to catch many species of fish including dolphin fish, marlin, tuna as well as sailfish in the summer and the early fall.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.
Gulf of California Species Breakdown: Best Time
There are many types of fish in the Sea of Cortez. The variety of fish makes fishing in the area amazing. Now, we’ll tell you briefly about the most common species of fish that you can catch in the area.
Amberjack
Amberjack can be found in the deep waters or near structures. The fish always gives anglers a long fight. It’s possible to catch amberjack by slow trolling. It’s a good idea to fish for amberjack near La Ribera. Amberjack bites well from February to May.
Striped Marlin
Anglers often catch striped marlin in the Sea of Cortez. The fish can be found in the northeastern area of the sea.
Here, you have a chance to catch marlin that weighs up to 200 pounds and sometimes even a bigger fish. Striped marlin is a good fighter that impresses anglers with aerial acrobatics.
The fish can be found in warm waters. The most effective technique to catch striped marlin is trolling. Striped marlin is active in warm waters.
So, fishermen should target the fish in summer. The best time of the year to catch striped marlin in the Sea of Cortez is late June.
Jack Crevalle
Jack Crevalle is a fish that you should try to catch during your trip to the Sea of Cortez. Catching this fish is a good way to test the angler’s skills. Jack Crevalle is a hard-fighting fish.
Anglers choose to come to the East Cape area to enjoy fishing jack crevalle. Jack crevalle bites well between February and May.
Mahi Mahi
Mahi mahi is also known as dorado and dolphin fish. The fish is fun to catch. Mahi mahi impresses fishermen with its aggressive behavior, fighting spirit, and acrobatics.
Loreto in Mexico is an ideal fishing spot to catch mahi mahi. It’s possible to fish for mahi mahi between May and November. However, fish becomes most active between June and November.
Grouper
The Sea of Cortez has fishing spots where anglers can enjoy fishing grouper. It’s a good idea to try grouper fishing in the Bahia de Los Angeles area.
Grouper is usually active in colder water. It would be better to target grouper during the spring months. The season to catch grouper starts in the late winter and lasts till the late spring.
Roosterfish
Roosters are also known as the lions of the sea. Catching roosterfish can be challenging. La Ribera is one of the best places to target roosters in the Sea of Cortez. The season to fish for roosterfish starts at the end of May and lasts until the end of June.
Snapper
Fishermen can catch 6 verities of snapper in the waters of the Sea of Cortez. Snapper is not an easy-to-catch fish. Snapper fishing requires some experience and skills.
Snapper can be found near Cabo San Lucas. Fishermen should try to catch snapper between April and July.
Sierra Mackerel
Sierra mackerel is another fish to target in the Sea of Cortez. Here, you can catch a fish that weighs up to 12 pounds. Sierra mackerel is known due to its aggressive spirit.
Fighting sierra mackerel can be hard. It makes sense to target sierra mackerel near El Arco. Sierra fishing season starts in November and lasts till May.
Skipjack
Try to catch skipjack when fishing in the Sea of Cortez. If you are lucky to catch the fish, it will give you a fantastic fight.
The chances to catch skipjack are always high near San Jamie Bank. Skipjack actively feeds between February and November. So, fishing is productive during these months.
Wahoo
Wahoo is an incredibly fast fish. Wahoo comes to the Sea of Cortez when the temperature of water increases.
So, the season to fish for wahoo starts in the early spring months and lasts till the early fall. Wahoo is often caught in the upper Sea of Cortez.
Recommended Fishing Charters in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez)
These Sea of Cortez-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 | Types of Fishing Offered |
| High Tides Fishing (Puerto Vallarta) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| Cabo Sportfishing Crew – Blue Tail (Cabo San Lucas) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| BlueSea Sportfishing (Cabo San Lucas) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| Black Marlin Sportfishing (Cabo San Lucas) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| Reel Job Charters (Cabo San Lucas) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| Exotic Fish Cabo (San Jose Del Cabo) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| Picudo Sportfishing (Cabo San Lucas) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| Shark’s Sport Fishing (Punta Mita) | Inshore, Offshore, Big Game |
| Baja Paceños Tours (La Paz) | Offshore & Big Game |
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Cabo San Lucas, 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 Mazatlan, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Huatulco, please check out this helpful article.
Best Time of Day to Fish Sea of Cortez
The vast majority of fish species are active in the Sea of Cortez at dawn or at dusk. So, anglers need to go fishing either in the morning or afternoon.
When selecting the best time of day to go fishing in the Sea of Cortez, anglers need to take into account weather conditions as well as tide times.
But most importantly, you have to select the time of the year that’s more suitable for the species of fish you are going to target.
Sea of Cortez Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Tides have an impact on marine life and fishing in the area. That’s why it’s so important for anglers to know when tides are high and low in the Sea of Cortez.
Anglers need to plan their fishing trips with tide times in mind. It would be better to go fishing during incoming tides. Fishing is usually the most productive during these hours.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Baja California, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Puerto Vallarta, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Ensenada, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Storms & the Sea of Cortez Fishing
Anglers should always study the weather in the Sea of Cortez before going fishing. Cyclonic storms frequently happen in the area. Fishermen should be very serious about storms.
The reality is, storms pose a risk to anglers. Nevertheless, it’s possible to fish in the area several days after storms. Water levels are high after storms and this creates great fishing opportunities. Also, many species of fish actively feed before storms.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in the Gulf of California?
It’s a good idea to fish in the Sea of Cortez area during the winter months. Such fish species as roosterfish, pacific sierra as well as striped marlin, and yellowfin tuna get active in the winter.
Night Fishing in Sea of Cortez
Overnight fishing trips in the Sea of Cortez are very successful. Fishermen can catch a vast variety of fish species at night.
These include dorado, pompano, rockfish, roosterfish, sierra, and others. Nighttime is a great time to go fishing if you are going to target these species of fish.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
The Sea of Cortez makes it possible for anglers to enjoy fishing in both inshore and offshore waters. Inshore fishing is a very interesting type of fishing. There are many spots where anglers can fish from shore in the sea.
It’s possible to do surf fishing on the beaches and islands. Keep in mind that beaches can be busy in summer.
If you choose to surf fish on a beach, make sure that the distance between you and the swimmers is more than 250 meters.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in the Sea of Cortez
Anglers, who fish the Sea of Cortez, can visit many interesting spots during their trips. Today, we’ll tell you about the top 5 fishing spots in the sea. Also, we’ll tell you when you should go fishing in the area and what species of fish you can catch in these spots.
La Paz
La Paz gives anglers an opportunity to enjoy fishing in crystal clear waters and feel the taste of Mexico. Here, you can fish either in the bay or have deep-sea fishing adventures.
Among the species of fish that it’s possible to target here are amberjack, dorado fish, marlin as well as roosterfish, and tuna.
Here, fish is the most active during the summer months. The fishing season in La Paz starts in May and lasts till September.
Loreto
Loreto is another popular fishing location in the Sea of Cortez. You should visit this fishing spot if you would like to explore the beauty of the sea. Big game fish is often found near the island. It’s possible to fish in Loreto at any time of the year.
Oftentimes, anglers catch seabass as well as snapper here. The fishing season in Loreto starts in June and lasts till September.
Espirito Santo Islands
This fishing location is ideal for anglers, who would like to see beautiful beaches and deserted islands during their trips. Marine life in this fishing spot is incredible. Here, you can fish from shore or take a boat fishing trip.
Different species of fish can be found near Espiritu Santo islands. These include marlin, tuna, trevally fish as well as wahoo. It’s recommended to fish the islands between early April and the middle of June.
Tecolote Beach
Tecolote Beach is a popular fishing spot and beach vacation. Tecolote Beach has gained popularity among the anglers, who give a preference to shore fishing.
Here, fishing opportunities are excellent all year round. However, the best time of year to fish Espiritu Santo islands is summer.
Cerralvo Island
Cerralvo Island is a small island that’s incredibly popular among fishermen and divers. A lot of fish species can be found near the island.
A list of fish species in the Cerralvo Island area includes grouper, jack crevalle, triggerfish as well as snapper. It makes sense to fish the area between August and November.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Rosarito, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Booking Charters in Sea of Cortez
Sea of Cortez is well-known for the biodiversity of its waters. Many different species of fish can be found in the Sea of Cortez.
Anglers get the best results if they visit the fishing destination at the right time. It goes without saying that you will have an incredible fishing trip if you book a fishing charter with an expert angler.
A lot of charters are available for anglers in the area. There are fishing packages for beginners and professionals. There are both standard and custom-tailored fishing packages.
You can book a charter to go fishing with a family or a large group of people. So, you’ll find it easy to book a fishing trip that suits you the best.
– Best season to go
Fishing in the Sea of Cortez is excellent all year round. As we have already said, the vast majority of fish species are active in summer and early in the fall. So, anglers usually get the best results between June and September.
However, it’s also possible to enjoy fishing in the spring, fall and winter. Among the species of fish that you can catch during the cold months are amberjack, crevalle jacks, dorado, grouper, sierra mackerel, snapper, sea bass, skipjack as well as yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail.
That’s why it would be great to visit the Sea of Cortez between February and May or between October and November.
The demand for charters is much lower and therefore fishing is more affordable. Nevertheless, fishing opportunities are still fantastic during these months. So, you’ll be able to enjoy fishing and save some money.
– Morning vs. afternoon
What time of the day is best to go fishing in the area – morning or afternoon? Actually, it’s a question faced by so many anglers who are planning a fishing trip to the Sea of Cortez. It all depends on the species of fish you are targeting and the time of the year.
Let’s say that you are planning to visit the Sea of Cortez in the summer. In this case, you should try fishing early in the morning. Afternoon fishing is more suitable for colder months.
In most cases, fishing is the most productive in the early morning. It would be better to go fishing in the morning if you are eager to target kingfish or mackerel. Afternoon trips are a better choice if you are interested in catching sharks and sailfish.
- 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
The prices of charters depend a lot on the durability of fishing trips. Anglers can book half-day, full-day, and multi-day charters. Each option has its own pros and cons.
An angler should explore all of the options carefully first, analyze their advantages as well as disadvantages and then decide how long a fishing trip has to last.
Let’s say that your budget doesn’t allow you to book an expensive trip or you simply don’t have too much time on fishing. One way or another, a 1/2 day fishing trip is worth considering.
Spending a full day in the waters of the Sea of Cortez is a dream of so many anglers. If you would like to spend all day out on the water and enjoy fishing, then a full-day trip is worth considering. However, full-day fishing trips are more expensive than 1/2 day trips.
Multi-day charters increase anglers’ chance of getting a record catch. You don’t need to worry about food if you choose to book such a trip. Multi-day fishing packages include meals. Each day anglers have breakfast, lunch as well as dinner. Obviously, multi-day charters are the most expensive option.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mexico, please check out this helpful article.
