A Beginner's Guide to Deep Sea Fishing in Cabo San Lucas
While San Jose del Cabo has a historic center with a grand plaza and mission church, Cabo San Lucas has its marina. All roads lead to the marina in Cabo, and the daily parade of boats going into and out of the harbor is a testament to the ongoing popularity of sport fishing here.
On a recent trip to Cabo to inspect homes and experience some of the local sites and attractions, we went on a team fishing trip. This was the first time for many of us, and we're excited to share what we learned on our trip!
Hiring a Boat in Cabo San Lucas
First, you must arrange a boat to take you and your party out for the day. There are many charter companies operating out of Cabo San Lucas. We chose to work with Pisces, which has an established name and large fleet; we rented a 31 ft. boat called the Rebecca. The boats have bathrooms and a table for indoor eating if needed.
Pricing for Private Deep Sea Fishing Charters
This is where things can get confusing and downright murky. The price of our charter covered up to six people and included a very basic lunch and beverages, including water and cold beer.
There are lots of little extras that come up in the discussion that can make it feel like you're being nickel and dimed, but we understand that it's all quite normal. Here's what we mean.
In addition to the charter fee, you will also need to budget for the following expenses, which are not included in the initial price: Fishing Licenses, Docking Fee, and Tips for your crew.
Fishing Licenses – the cost per person is $16, with a 16% sales tax; minors under 18 do not need a license. This is paid at the dock.
Docking Fee – there's a docking fee of $100 that you need to pay at the marina.
Tips – the tips for your crew are not included in your fee. You can add an additional 10 – 20% on the cost of the charter.
In sum, we paid a little over $1,000 for our fishing charter.
Trip Duration
The day starts early, very early. You are to be at the dock for a 6:30 a.m. departure, where you will pay for your fishing licenses and be introduced to your crew.
They have coffee and some snacks available for the anglers for free, so you can fuel up before you board your boat. There was also a vendor selling breakfast items outside of the dock area, which looked and smelled pretty good!
The entire trip lasts from roughly 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
What Happens Once on the Boat
Once on board and acquainted with your crew (we had a pilot and a deckhand), you'll depart the dock and join the flotilla, which consists of boats making their way out into the open waters.
On the way out of the harbor, you may stop for live bait, as we did, and then continue on your way out into fishing zones offshore. You'll get to experience the beauty of the sunrise on the water as you power out to the fishing sites.
What You’ll Catch
The waters here are teeming with good-eating fish. We wanted mahi mahi, known here as dolphin fish. But there is plenty of game fish in the water, including wahoo, tuna, snapper, and the area's famed sailfish.
There are limits on the number of fish you can catch, and it is very popular to catch and release billfish. This is a conservation practice that involves catching the fish, taking a quick photo, and then releasing it back into the water. The crew will guide you on the proper handling techniques to ensure the fish's survival. Someone in our group caught a marlin, which we released back into the waters to swim another day.
Where You Go to Catch Fish
We wanted mahi mahi, so we stuck fairly close to the shore along the Pacific side of the peninsula. We caught five mahi mahi, each weighing about 12 lbs. Once we had our fish, we went a bit further offshore, and that was where we hooked our marlin—smallish at around 60 lbs.
To catch the big game fish, you'll need to go to deeper waters further offshore. We were told that you will travel up to 20 miles to hunt for the big ones. The winning anglers in the Bisbee tournament, which wrapped up when we were there, caught a massive 583 lb. blue marlin, taking over $206,000 in prize money.
What It’s Like to Catch Game Fish
Hooking a fish is an exhilarating experience. There's a surge of anticipation in the boat as the deck hands prepare you to reel in your catch. Then, it's a test of your strength and patience. The fish we brought in were only around 12 – 15 lbs., but they put up a strong fight. The entire process of reeling them in took about 20 minutes once the fish was on the line.
You only keep fish you plan to eat or take home; otherwise, all fish should be released.
How Do You Take Fish Home
The fishing charter company will likely fillet your fish for you and/or pack them up in ice if you wish. If you want them to pack the fish and get them ready for transport home, they will take a day to prep. We had ours filleted and separated into five bags, which we brought home and froze ourselves.
Raising of the Flags and Other Fun Facts
You will notice flags on boats returning to the harbor that show which fish were caught and the quantity. You will notice that we have a marlin flag, with a "T" flag below it, signifying for "tag and release."
Also, because the harbor is so busy, and there is so much fish coming in and out of the wharf, there are some colorful characters who make the best of out of a fishy situation. Namely, there is a seal who likes to jump onto the rear of boats and take any bait or other fishy snacks available, and, once of the dock, there are a few pushy pelicans who will boldly hop onto your boat and steal bait fish!
Flying Fish
You'll need to check with your airline about the rules for bringing home fish. However, the general guideline is that it will need to be frozen and packed in a leak-free cooler, and then checked as baggage. I was able to pack my portion into a watertight, soft cooler and then seal it in my checked bag.
What Else to Bring
If you tend to get seasick, beware, the water can be rough. Bring the usual things you need for the beach, like sunblock and towels, and any particular snack that your group prefers. You will have plenty of water, beer and a basic lunch pack provided.
Get out there and catch dinner when you're down in Cabo – it will probably be the most delicious fish you ever eat. And don't forget to pick the perfect Exotic Estates Cabo Villa for your group!
