Best Times & Seasons to Fish Near Ensenada (Complete Guide)

Ensenada offers some really good fishing opportunities for anglers just south of San Diego. 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 near Ensenada is winter for skipjack tuna, sierra mackerel, and jack crevalle. Spring through early fall is best for mahi mahi, marlin, grouper, and wahoo in coastal Baja waters.

Fish Species	Best Times to Fish near Ensenada
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.
Jack Crevalle	The best season for grouper is February through May near Ensenada.
Skipjack Tuna	February through November is the best season to fish for skipjack tuna.
Grouper	The best season for grouper is March through June near Ensenada.
Yellowtail Amberjack	Year-round availability. The best times for yellowtail is from February through May.
Sierra Mackerel	Year-round availability. The best times for sierra mackerel is from November through May.

Nestled on All Saints Bay, in Baja California, is the city of Ensenada. Many people come to the beaches, tourist attractions, whale watching, and wineries. Knowledgeable fishermen know that it is also a decent place to catch fish. More than decent actually.

Best Time to Fish Ensenada

Bottom fishing occurs year-round in All Saints Bay and is pretty good all year. It can be done from an inshore charter boat or from the shoreline. If you are visiting there during the months of January to March you will also have the chance to see grey whales migrating. 

Venturing offshore is where you will find pelagic species like the tuna, mahi, and marlin. The best time for this is July through September. At the edge of All Saints Bay where it meets the Pacific Ocean is a drop-off that goes down to a thousand feet or more. This is where charter boats will take you during an all-day trip. The bay itself stays around a few hundred feet in depth. 

If you aren’t there during the warm summer months you may still get plenty of action. This is especially true if warm currents of water are being carried out of the bay and into the open ocean. This can happen in spring and late fall. Just remember, a Mexico fishing license is required for everyone in your party. Licenses can usually be purchased at your hotel.

If timed right, a hurricane near the southern end of the Baja peninsula can produce good fishing conditions. Hurricane season is from May to November. A hurricane on the southern end of Baja pushes warm water up to Ensenada bringing in larger fish like tuna.

Recommended Fishing Charters in Ensenada

These Ensenada-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
Lucky Sport Fishing Baja	Inshore & Nearshore
Ensenada Sportfishing Works	Inshore & Nearshore
Todos Santos Adventures	Inshore & Offshore
Crazy Tuna Sportfishing	Inshore & Nearshore
California Norte	Inshore & Nearshore

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

Ensenada Species Breakdown (Best Times)

Rockfish

Rockfish are abundant year-round and are allowed to be taken year-round in Mexico. Anytime can be a good time for bottom fishing in All Saints Bay but windy conditions make it more difficult. Mornings have a tendency for gentler air currents. There is no closed season for rockfish.

Calico Bass

Calico bass are another bottom-dwelling fish and also good eating. Calico bass are abundant throughout the year in All Saints Bay. Most are catch and release but if you do decide to eat them, they have a delicious mild flavor. They can be found near rock pinnacles, jetties, and kelp beds.

Anytime time of day is a good time for calico bass. Mornings may be slightly better due to less wind. They are allowed to be taken year-round.

Salmon Grouper

Salmon grouper are bottom fish too hanging out near rocks. Like the other rockfish they are found on the bottom of deep waters. They can be caught year-round in All Saints Bay. Look for rock pinnacles and other structures, use plenty of weight to keep your line at the bottom.

California Sheepshead

California sheepshead can be caught from shore or from a boat in the bay. They like to hang out near jetties, rock reefs, and piers. The best months to catch them are April and May. The worst months are September to February. Like the other fish previously mentioned, there is no closed season.

Yellowtail Amberjack

Yellowtail, also known as Amberjack, can be found any month of the year. The best months are June and July. January and February are the slowest months. Yellowtail can be found in the bay or out in the open waters of the Pacific. Peak seasons are spring and fall.

Yellowtail are fun to catch, will put up a good fight, and are excellent for eating. If you are lucky enough, you might catch some that weigh over 100 lbs (45kg). Yellowtail have no closed season in Mexico.

Mahi Mahi

In Mexico mahi mahi are known as dorado. In the southeastern United States, they go by dolphin fish. No matter what you call them dorado are a beautiful fish any angler should be happy to catch. The best time to catch mahi out of Ensenada is in the late spring to early fall (May to October).

The peak month is September. August and October can be slightly better than the other months too. December to February are the least likely times to catch them. To reel in a dorado you should charter a boat to take you offshore. No time of year is off-limits to take them.

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin tuna fishing is good from June to October with a peak in August and September. December to March is their low season in Baja California. No time is off-limits for keeping this species either. You will find them offshore in open waters.

Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin tuna fishing is good from June to September and peaks in July. November to March is the low season for bluefin. Again, no closed season for this giant fish either. You will find them offshore in open waters.

Roosterfish

Roosterfish are an unusual fish with a “rooster comb” for dorsal fins. They are found from Baha California to Peru. The peak months for catching roosterfish are June to September. December to March are the least likely times to find them. They can be caught inshore. They generally like shallow waters with sandy bottoms. They are fun to catch but not usually a target species.

Halibut

Halibut fishing is best April-August with June and July as the best months. Book an inshore fishing trip to find them on the bottom of the bay. You can also catch them from shore.

Whitefish

Whitefish or Ocean whitefish are mostly found in Ensenada and other parts of Baja California during their spawning season in late fall to early spring. After spawning season they are believed to migrate northward.

Fish for these guys near offshore islands like Todos de Santos, rocky reefs, or kelp beds. During mid-day, you will probably catch them in the pelagic zone when they feed the most. Whitefish are not usually a targeted species but if you like very mild, flaky fish they are good to eat. You can also catch them from shore.

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 time to fish Huatulco, please check out this helpful article.

Barracuda

Peak barracuda season in Ensenada is March to October but you can still find them during the rest of the year in smaller numbers.

Marlin

Peak marlin season is July to September. November to March is the lowest season. If you want to fish during the less busy season of mid-summer, you can still find them from April to June or in October. These large fish are found offshore in open waters.

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 if you want to create your combo.

Best Time of Day to Fish Ensenada

Fishing in Ensenada is said to be best in the morning. Most inshore anglers rise early to fish, return to their hotels for lunch, then go back out in the evening. This also avoids the hottest part of the day. The weather in Ensenada and all of Baja is fairly mild, though. The hottest part of the day usually doesn’t get above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

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

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Gulf of California, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Baja, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Best Time of Year (Weather) for Ensenada

The rainy season is from mid-November to early April with the wettest month being February. The driest month is June.  That being said, hurricane season for Baja California is May to November. As stated before, sometimes a hurricane is a blessing for fishing. The winds push warm waters from southern Baja up to Ensenada and bring in more fish. 

The summer months have a high of 85 and a low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The winter months have a high of 69 and a low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Top Fishing Spots in Ensenada

El Faro Beach

El Faro Beach or Lighthouse Beach is a popular spot for surf fishing. Adjacent to El Faro Beach is Estero beach. Walk down to the channel that is flowing out of Estero and catch halibut, white sea bass, sharks, rays, and croaker.

Baja Cove

Across the channel from Estero Beach is Baja Cove. You can access this fishing spot if you are staying at one of the holiday apartment rentals. 

Punta Banda

A peninsula extending out of Ensenada, Punta Banda is a prime fishing spot. Anglers carefully climb down the rocks and fish. The water is deep along the peninsula. Expect to catch calico bass, rockfish, sheepshead, and maybe some yellowtail. The peninsula has camping spots and holiday rental houses as well. 

Playa Saldamando

Off of highway 1D just north of downtown Ensenada by 45 minutes, is Playa Saldamando. It’s a campground and also has some trailers to rent if you prefer to sleep indoors. The surf fishing at Playa Saldamando is excellent, as commented by many campers that frequent the spot.

Isla Todos Santos

Charter boats may take you to two islands 12 miles off of Ensenada. The fishing here is good for rockfish, sheepshead, yellowtail, and calico bass.

Booking Charters in Ensenada

Best Season for Charters

For fishing, the best season to book a charter is in the summer months. Summer is also the busiest season. If you want to beat the crowds but still have a good chance at offshore fishing for tuna, yellowtail, mahi, and marlin then spring (May or June) or fall (September or October) would be the best time.

January and February are considered the slowest season for tourists in Ensenada. Fishing during these months can still be good for roosterfish, yellowtail, and rockfish. These months do have chilling winds that make for rougher seas. Wind is often a factor during any time of year in the Baja Peninsula.

However, windy days are notoriously better than calm days when it comes to fishing action in the Ensenada area. So if you can stand the rough seas may be the slow season is what you are looking for. 

The charter fishing community of Ensenada is very welcoming and helpful. Boats from different companies will share their info to help each other find the best fishing places. No matter which time of year you go, expect to have a good time.

Best Time of Day for Charters

If you are only doing a half-day the best time of day is the morning. This is when the wind is usually at its lowest, so getting out to a good spot is easier and you will be at the hottest part of the day. Half-day trips are good for fishing inshore within All Saints Bay. To fish offshore you will need to book a full-day trip. These trips are over 12 hours and leave early in the morning, around 3 am, and return around 5 pm.

You can also book charter boats out of San Diego to take you to the waters off of Ensenada. Trips range from overnight to several days. Please note, you are still required to purchase a Mexico fishing license if you do it this way.