Mexico Fishing Vacations

Mexico has a long coastline and a lot of fishing, but for most traveling anglers the first trip is Los Cabos, at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Our coverage starts with Cabo San Lucas.

Why Los Cabos

Los Cabos sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, and both support inshore and offshore fishing. The tourism board says more marlin and swordfish are caught here than anywhere else in the world, and sportfishing runs all year. It is also an easy international trip from the United States: San José del Cabo International Airport (SJD) is about a 23-mile drive from Cabo San Lucas and is served by several major U.S. airlines.

How the seasons run

• November to March: striped marlin, the winter billfish.
• July to October: blue and black marlin, which is why the big billfish tournaments are held in October.
• July to November: dorado (mahi-mahi).
• September to January: yellowfin tuna.
• Late summer and early fall: wahoo and sailfish.
• Year-round: roosterfish, jacks, grouper and snapper inshore.

The tourism board rates fall and winter as excellent for all-around fishing, and the Sea of Cortez has no real low season offshore. For billfish timing month by month, see our Cabo marlin season guide.

Storms are the main planning factor. Los Cabos counts mid-May through September as its storm season, and the official eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30. That overlaps the summer billfish months, so keep plans flexible and consider travel insurance.

Choosing a base

Cabo San Lucas is the center of the charter fleet and the tournaments. San José del Cabo is closer to the main airport. The East Cape, running from San José del Cabo north toward Cabo Pulmo National Park, has offshore grounds within a few miles of shore and surf fishing for roosterfish and jack crevalle.

Licenses and entry

Mexico’s sport fishing permits and rules come from CONAPESCA, the national fisheries commission. You need a license to fish from a boat. In Los Cabos, charter packages typically include it, and it can also be bought at the marina. Limits and protected species rules change, so confirm with your charter and CONAPESCA before every trip. Catch and release is the general rule for billfish.

U.S. travelers should check the State Department’s Mexico page for current entry requirements and travel advisories before booking. See our fishing licenses guide, choosing a fishing charter and warm-weather winter fishing for more planning help.