Average Cost of Cabo San Lucas Fishing Charters (Full Guide)
Cabo San Lucas offers some of the best fishing in Mexico and offers great fishing year-round. However, charter costs in the region may vary throughout the year.
The average cost of Cabo San Lucas fishing charter trips that last 4 hours is $601, 6 hours is $901, 8 hours is $1229, 10 hours is $1998, and 12 hours is $2403.
In this guide, we’ll provide anglers with information on charter costs in Cabo San Lucas. This will help you set a budget for your trip and plan your fishing trips successfully.
Cabo San Lucas Fishing Charter Costs (Trip Length)
4-hour trips
Four-hour fishing trips are a good choice for anglers who would like to fish in inshore waters. Based on 21 charters surveyed, the average cost of a 4-hour fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas is $601. The lowest cost was $450 and the highest cost was $900.
Those anglers, who can’t spend a whole day on fishing, often book a 4-hour trip. With 4-hour trips, anglers spend 30 minutes on travel and 3 hours and 30 minutes on fishing. Such trips allow anglers to experience fishing in nearshore waters only. Nevertheless, anglers have enough time to enjoy fishing.
Anglers also can book 4-hour trips if they want to fish with families. Four-hour fishing trips are short. If you book a 4-hour trip, you will manage to fish in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Anglers should prepare for trips and study the bite times of their favorite species ahead of time. Go fishing when your targeted fish species are the most active.
6-hour trips
Six-hour fishing trips give anglers 2 extra hours. Such trips are longer and they require some preparation. Fishermen should bring a light meal as well as drinks for their 6-hour trip. Based on 13 charters surveyed, the average cost of a 6-hour fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas is $901. The lowest cost was $600 and the highest cost was $2640.
Six-hour fishing trips are longer and increase anglers’ chance to land a trophy-sized fish. However, such trips are more expensive than 4-hour trips.
If you book a 6-hour fishing trip, it would be better to fish in nearshore waters. However, such a trip allows anglers to spend more time on the water, catch more fish and explore more spots in Cabo San Lucas. With a 6-hour trip, anglers spend about 2 hours traveling and about 4 hours on fishing.
With a 6-hour trip, anglers can also experience offshore fishing. Six-hour trips are not recommended for those anglers, who are interested in family fishing trips.
8-hour trips
Based on 15 charters surveyed, the average cost of an 8-hour fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas is $1229. The lowest cost was $850 and the highest cost was $1900.
An 8-hour trip would be a good choice for those anglers, who want to spend the whole day on the water. With 8-hour trips, you can experience both inshore and offshore fishing in Cabo San Lucas. Such trips allow anglers to go further and give anglers enough time to enjoy fishing in the area.
If you book an 8-hour trip, you’ll spend 1 – 2 hours traveling and 6 – 7 hours on fishing. It’s also important to note that such trips give anglers a better chance to catch a bigger fish.
Such trips are longer, so they allow anglers to catch more fish. Anglers should prepare at least one meal and water for an 8-hour fishing trip. It’s not recommended to book an 8-hour trip if you would like to fish with a family.
10-hour trips
Based on 19 charters surveyed, the average cost of a 10-hour fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas is $1998. The lowest cost was $1600 and the highest cost was $2200.
A 10-hour trip is another good option for anglers who want to fish for a whole day. Such trips are not recommended for beginners, families, and anglers who fish just for pleasure. It’s a good option for professional anglers, who are interested in catching a trophy-sized fish.
With 10-hour trips, anglers spend about 2 hours traveling and about 8 hours on fishing. Such long trips give anglers plenty of time. So, they can visit remote spots and experience offshore fishing.
However, such trips can be canceled due to bad weather. The reality is, that predicting weather for long-time fishing trips can be hard. The weather in Cabo San Lucas can change quickly and get worse anytime. If this happens, fishing trips are canceled. When fishing trips are canceled, anglers are provided with a refund. Also, fishing trips can be re-scheduled.
12-hour trips
Such trips are a good option for avid anglers. With 12-hour trips, anglers can get the most out of their fishing adventures in Cabo San Lucas. Based on 9 charters surveyed, the average cost of a 12-hour fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas is $2403. The lowest cost was $1900 and the highest cost was $3200.
It’s worth noting that the vast majority of charters in Cabo San Lucas don’t offer fishing trips that last more than 12 hours. Such trips are not recommended for beginners, families, and people who fish for leisure.
With 12-hour trips, anglers spend 2 hours traveling and 10 hours on fishing. A 12-hour trip is very long. That’s why anglers should prepare 2 meals and plenty of water for a fishing trip. With a 12-hour trip, anglers can fish in offshore and inshore waters.
Anglers should know that 12-hour trips depend a lot on weather conditions. If the weather is bad, a fishing trip can be canceled. Such trips are canceled more often than others. Bad weather makes fishing impossible and poses a risk to anglers. That’s why trips are canceled for safety reasons.
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 | Location |
| Cabo Sportfishing Crew – Blue Tail | Cabo San Lucas |
| Black Marlin Sportfishing | Cabo San Lucas |
| Cabo Mahi Mahi – Samantha | Cabo San Lucas |
| BlueSea Sportfishing | Cabo San Lucas |
| El Budster Pride Fishing Charter | Cabo San Lucas |
| Cabo Sportfishing Crew – El Pargo | Cabo San Lucas |
| El Budster Fishing Charters | Cabo San Lucas |
| Ursula Fishing IV – 34’ Crystaliner | Cabo San Lucas |
| Picudo Sport Fishing | Cabo San Lucas |
| Sushi Time Sport Fishing | Cabo San Lucas |
| Go Deeper Sport Fishing – 37′ | Cabo San Lucas |
| Cabo Sport Fishing – 28′ Californian | Cabo San Lucas |
Seasonal Trip Cost Breakdowns (Private Trip)
Spring
Spring is a great time of the year to experience deep sea fishing in Cabo San Lucas. It’s getting warmer and fish get active during the spring months.
It’s a good idea to book a longer fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas during the spring months. It’s not hot, so anglers find it comfortable to fish in spring.
The demand for fishing is lower in Cabo San Lucas in spring. Charters are not busy and that’s why charter costs are not high.
A peak fishing season in the region begins in the late spring. The water warms up, the weather is good and the ideal conditions for fishing are created in May. A lot of anglers choose to visit Cabo San Lucas in the late spring. So, the prices for fishing charters go up.
Spring fishing makes it possible for anglers to target such species as amberjack, grouper, jack crevalle, roosterfish, striped marlin, sierra mackerel, swordfish, and yellowfin tuna.
Summer
Summer fishing in Cabo San Lucas depends a lot on the weather. There are no storms in the region and weather conditions allow anglers to enjoy fishing in the early summer. June is a very busy month in Cabo San Lucas. The demand for charters is higher and, therefore, fishing is more expensive this month.
However, the weather may not allow anglers to enjoy fishing in July and August. If the weather is hot, anglers should consider booking shorter trips that last 4 hours or 6 hours. Also, trips can be canceled due to the summertime storms.
Generally speaking, the summer months are very busy. That means that anglers must be prepared to pay higher charter costs. Among fish species that fishermen can catch in summer are amberjack, grouper, jack crevalle, mahi-mahi, roosterfish, sailfish, blue marlin, striped marlin, snook, swordfish, and yellowfin tuna.
Fall
A fishing season is high in Cabo San Lucas during the fall months. The early fall is a peak fishing season in the area. A lot of fishermen prefer to visit a fishing destination in September. Charter costs are higher and it would be better to book a trip ahead of time.
The demand for fishing is lower and, therefore, fishing is cheaper between October and November. Also, you’ll manage to avoid crowds in Cabo San Lucas if you visit the area during these months.
Many fish species get active in the fall. Such fish species as mackerel, marlin, mahi-mahi, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo are active during the fall months.
Winter
The weather is cold and some species are inactive in winter. However, fishing is still good in Cabo San Lucas during the winter months.
More charters are available and costs are lower in winter. Due to lower demand for fishing, captains choose to decrease their prices for charters.
Anglers can target such species as striped marlin, mackerel, grouper, snapper, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo in Cabo San Lucas during the winter fishing trip.
Better Value if Fishing with Group
Group fishing delivers multiple significant benefits to anglers. Generally speaking, fishing with a group is cheaper and provides better opportunities. That means that fishing provides anglers with better value.
Group fishing allows anglers to save some money on charters. If you fish with a group of people, you’ll have to pay per person rather than per boat. Fishing with groups makes fishing more affordable. The charter cost is split with your friends.
Fishing with a group is more productive. If you fish with friends, you will manage to catch more fish during your Cabo San Lucas trip.
It’s interesting to fish with the group. Fishing with friends provides anglers with a lot of fun and creates great memories that last for a lifetime.
Group fishing is a good option for people, who are not serious about fishing. It’s a perfect way to have a great time with friends. However, it would be better to consider booking either a solo or duo fishing trip if you are interested in catching a trophy-sized fish.
Cabo San Lucas: Factors May Impact Charter Costs
Fishing charter cost depends on many different factors. There is a direct link between charter costs and the season of the year, gas prices, demand, and supply for fishing as well as the popular events that take place in Cabo San Lucas.
Prices on charters increase when the demand for fishing is high in Cabo San Lucas. The demand for fishing in Cabo San Lucas is high between May – June and between August – September. That’s why the prices for a fishing trip increase during these months.
The charter costs are getting higher when targeted fish species are in their peak season in Cabo San Lucas. November is a great time of the year to target striped marlin. Fishing for mahi-mahi is very productive in October. December is a season to catch blue marlin as well as striped marlin in Cabo San Lucas.
Gas prices also affect charter costs. Gas is used as fuel for charters. The bigger boat is – the more gas it needs. If gas prices increase, charter costs are getting higher.
Cost of Shared Fishing Charter: Cabo San Lucas
The cost of a shared fishing charter depends on several different factors. It depends a lot on how much time anglers want to fish, the type of a trip, and where you go fishing.
When booking a shared fishing charter, anglers have to pay a flat rate. This amount is split among the group of anglers. A flat rate is a cost for a certain number of anglers. If more anglers go for a trip, the cost per person is added to the flat rate.
Booking a shared fishing charter is a great way for anglers to save money on fishing. The cost that anglers have to pay for shared fishing is lower compared to the cost of a solo or duo trip.
Additional Costs with Charter Fishing
When planning fishing adventures in Cabo San Lucas, anglers have to set a budget for their fishing trips. There are additional costs with charter fishing.
Captains provide anglers with everything that’s needed to experience fishing. However, anglers may also prepare things like food, water, sunscreen, etc.
According to the rules and regulations in Mexico, anglers have to buy a license to fish in local waters. The vast majority of captains can help you with purchasing a license in Cabo San Lucas.
Plus, anglers have to buy baits. It’s possible to purchase baits from local fishing stores.
Some charters also provide anglers with the cleaning of fish. However, it’s necessary to pay for fish cleaning.
And of course, anglers should take into account all these things when planning a budget for their fishing trips in Cabo San Lucas. Add the additional costs to your trip’s budget.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cabo San Lucas, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Huatulco, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mexico, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the cost of San Diego fishing charters, please check out this helpful article I wrote. 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. This article will answer all your questions to learn how to fish in Cabo without knowing Spanish.
