los cabos — cabo san lucas
Where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. One of the world capitals for marlin, with a large fleet and fishing grounds near the harbor.
Cabo San Lucas sits at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Underwater banks and deep water near shore bring bait and predators within a short distance of the harbor. Striped, blue and black marlin, sailfish, dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo are the targets of trolling and live bait. Near beaches and rocks, roosterfish is the prize of light tackle fishing. The fleet ranges from pangas to offshore sport fishing yachts, with daily departures from the marina.
best season
Fishing year-round. From June to November, with warm water, is the season for blue and black marlin, dorado and tuna; October has the most famous tournaments. Striped marlin is more common in winter and spring.
Local rules: Conapesca sport-recreational fishing permit required for each angler on board. Under NOM-017-PESC-1994 (amended 2013), marlin, sailfish, swordfish, dorado, roosterfish and tarpon (sábalo) are reserved for sport fishing within 50 miles of the coast; bag limit of 1 billfish per angler per day and 2 between dorado and roosterfish, within a limit of 10 fish; excess fish are returned alive to the sea. Billfish may not be filleted on board. Cabo Pulmo National Park, on the Gulf coast, has Conanp zoning with preservation subzones. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Los Cabos International Airport, in San José del Cabo, about 40 minutes by car from the Cabo San Lucas marina.
- facilities
- Marina with a large rental fleet, from pangas to yachts, hotels of all levels, fishing shops and a fish cleaning and freezing service.
- country
- Baja California Sur, Mexico
tip
For roosterfish, leave early in a panga and work the beaches with live bait. Release the marlin and keep the dorado for dinner.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Mexico
Anyone fishing from a boat needs an individual recreational-sport fishing permit (permiso de pesca deportivo-recreativa), issued by Conapesca and obtained online through the e5cinco system, with fees paid per day, week, month, year or excursion. 2025 values reported by Conapesca: 1 day, MXN 204; 1 week, MXN 510; 1 month, MXN 766; 1 year, MXN 1,021; excursion, MXN 1,453 (adjusted every year). Fishing from land does not require a permit; spearfishing requires an individual permit (NOM-017-PESC-1994, amended in 2013).
- Marlin, sailfish, swordfish, sábalo/chiro, roosterfish and mahi-mahi (dorado de mar) are reserved for sport fishing within 50 nautical miles of the coastal baseline.
- Sea catch limit: up to 10 fish per angler per day, with a maximum of 5 of the same species. Billfish (marlins, sailfish and swordfish), sharks and giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas): 1 per day. Sábalo, mahi-mahi, roosterfish and baya: 2 per day. In freshwater, 5 per day. Fish caught beyond the limit are released alive back to the sea.
- Fishing within 250 m of beaches with bathers and of commercial fishing boats or nets is prohibited. Sport-caught fish may not be sold, and billfish may not be filleted on board.
- In natural protected areas, sport fishing is only allowed under the terms of the decree and each area's management program (Conanp); many have closed zones and stretches for catch and release only.
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official DOF — Modificación a la NOM-017-PESC-1994 (pesca deportivo-recreativa), publicada em 25/11/2013Species reserved within the 50-mile zone, bag limits (item 4.9) and permits
- official Conapesca — Permiso de pesca 2025 en México: guía fácil de requisitos y documentosSport and recreational permit through the e5cinco system; 2025 prices
- technical Pronatura Noroeste / Conanp — Compendio del Programa de Manejo del Parque Nacional Cabo PulmoSummary of the zoning and management plan rules, presented by the park's management