A Striped Marlin goes airborne right at the boat aboard Tom Lansing's boat Extraction in Cabo San Lucas during a wide-open bite on the Golden Gate Bank in November of 2008.
FISHING CABO SAN LUCAS AND THE EAST CAPE OF BAJA WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN THIS SECTION
Cabo San Lucas has been and continues to be one of the world's greatest sport fishing destinations, and with good reason. Known as the "Marlin Capital of the World", the waters of Cabo San Lucas benefit from the merging of two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Nutrient rich waters driven by offshore currents lure a variety of large game fish species to the area providing year-round action on species like Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish, Dorado, Tuna and Wahoo, just to name a few. Throw in outstanding surf and fly-fishing and you have the makings of a true sport fishing enthusiast's dream destination.
While world class billfishing is an experience you're sure to enjoy, join us and the rest of the ecologically conscious anglers who practice proper catch-and-release techniques. Help ensure that the thrill of landing a trophy billfish will live on for others to enjoy.
In this section of Cabo's Best, you'll find all types of information that will help make your Cabo San Lucas fishing adventures a great success. Take the time to check out the best in Cabo sport fishing charters, read the latest Cabo San Lucas and Sea of Cortez fishing reports, get fishing tips … even learn what you'll need to do to take your fish home as well as how to cook up Dorado, Tuna and Wahoo like a pro when you get there!
Wahoo can run big in Cabo. The best time of the year for wahoo is July through October.
CABO FISHING TOURNAMENTS IGFA OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP
May 8-13, 2011
Long hailed as the “Olympics” of offshore fishing, the International Game Fish Association’s Offshore World Championship is an invitation-only event.
STARS & STRIPES TOURNAMENT
June 23-26, 2011
The Stars and Stripes Fishing & Golf Tournament established in 1996 has become the largest and most important fundraiser of the year for the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization.
PUERTO LOS CABOS WORLD CUP
October 26-29, 2011
For more information: IG Tournaments
WON LOS CABOS TUNA JACKPOT
November 2-5, 2011
For more information visit: Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot
CABO CHARTER FISHING WITH POCHOS CHARTERS We do a whole lot of fishing in Los Cabos and we have a few favorites when it comes to charter fishing companies. One of those favorites is Pochos Charters. Why? Owner Carlos Vazquez takes great pride in his fleet of boats and maintains them in peak operating condition. In fact, Carlos designs and build many of the boats in the Pochos fleet and being an avid angler himself, he builds them to fit Cabo's specific fishing conditions so you get a boat that is purpose built providing solid platforms for fishing in Southern Baja. Another reason we love fishing with Pochos is we like to take some of our catch over to his restaurant just a few steps away from where he docks his boats. For about $7 a person, his chefs will prep the day's fresh catch several different ways and load the plates up with tasty side dishes as well. Take a couple of minutes to watch the video below to get an idea of the quality and types of boats Pochos has to offer. And if you decide to book a charter, tell 'em Cabo's Best sent ya!
WORLD RECORD FISHING World record fish have been caught in Cabo San Lucas in remarkable numbers and the variety of species that make the list are impressive. Currently, Cabo San Lucas lays claim to nearly 70 world records including catches in the all-tackle, line-class and fly-fishing categories. Throw in a whole bunch more records caught in the waters of Baja California Sur and you're into triple digit counts. Not many places offer up the chance at setting a new world record but Los Cabos can and does.
RECORDS CAUGHT IN CABO SAN LUCAS
Dorado (also known as dolphinfish or mahi-mahi) from 52 to 85 pounds with the current 80 pound line class record belonging to Jim Dillon, owner of Salvador's Sport Fishing. The fish was caught in July of 2001 and weighed an even 85 pounds!
Jodie Johnson holds 5 fly rod records for Almaco Jack on 4 to 16 pound tippet. The 50 pound line class and all-tackle record for Almaco Jack still belongs to Howard Hahn who landed a 132 pound beast just up the coast in La Paz back in 1964. Jacks add 10 more records to the list for Cabo, those being Green and Pacific Jack Crevalle.
Rounding out the list are;
• Pacific Sierra Mackerel
• Striped Marlin
• African Pompano
• Roosterfish
• Skipjack
• Greenbar Snapper
• Pacific Snook
• Swordfish
• Yellowfin Tuna.
If you're looking to learn more about fishing for world records, we highly recommend joining the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). As part of your membership you get the World Record Game Fishes book that includes all the rules and regulations of record fishing, complete listings of all records as well as open or vacant records waiting to be caught and great how-to articles. The IGFA is also deeply involved in the conservation of marine species including game fish. For more information or to join them now, visit the IGFA online.
Sara Hayward's world record wahoo caught in
Cabo San Lucas is pictured above. Below is one
of many cow yellowfin tuna caught every year.
Surf fishing in Cabo San Lucas. Photo courtesy of Gary Graham's Baja on the Fly. SURF FISHING IN LOS CABOS AND THE EAST CAPE Surf fishing is a great way to spend time exploring the coast of Los Cabos and the East Cape. You'll find many well known spots such as "Rooster Alley" in Los Frailes as well as discover some of your own secret spots. There are companies that offer guided surf fishing trips, some that utilize ATV's to cover more shoreline while sight-fishing roosters, sierra and even yellowtail within casting distance of shore.
An often overlooked fish for surf anglers in Cabo San Lucas is the Pacific snook. Excellent fighters, especially on light tackle, they grow big her in Los Cabos. Look for brackish water where current rips come together and don't forget about delta areas like the San Jose Estuary. Any area where freshwater meets salt and the visibility is low, snook tend to hide just waiting to ambush a bait or lure and a 30-40 pound snook has plenty of fighting power!
If you're looking for some sierra action, remember to use light wire leaders as these toothy critters will bite you off quick and clean.
A good source for surf fishing info, even guided surf fishing trips, is Jansen Lures in the heart of old town Cabo. A four hour trip goes for about $75 per person and it includes transportation and tackle. Fishing licenses are not needed from shore, only on boats. From May thru August, roosterfish pile onto schooling baitfish that round the point pushed by warm water from the Sea of Cortez and Jansen Lures knows full well that big roosters are ripe for the taking with a little local knowledge and know-how.
Lures like these metal lures above work well when surf fishing in Cabo San Lucas.
If you're thinking about bringing your own gear, at minimum a 7-9 foot medium stiff rod paired up with either a conventional casting reel or a good quality spinning reel spooled up with 30# braid and a topshot. A good selection of metal lures like Krocodiles, Kastmasters and Megabaits should be in your bag as should some crank baits including Rapalas and a few poppers and surface walkers. Bring along some wire leader material as well.
Plastic swim baits work well also, bring along a selection of 1/2 to 4 ounce lead heads and paint them up in a few different colors like red, white and blue. If you want them to really get bit, get a little glue, some glitter and make em sparkle. Finish those off with a dot of white paint for an eyeball... very fishy!
Another great source for tackle is Minerva's Baja Tackle which claims the title of "largest tackle shop in Baja" and rightfully so. Chances are if Minerva doesn't have it, it doesn't exist. If your timing is right, you may just run into Luis, one of Minerva's employees but in all reality, a part of the family. Luis can dial you in on what to use when and where, plus he's just plain funny and downright likable.
A NOT SO FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO A SPORT FISHING CHARTERA young couple saves up their hard earned cash for a vacation in Cabo. One thing they know they just have to do is get out on the water and catch some of those marlin they've heard about. In fact, the first place they went after checking into their hotel was the marina and my what a display it was. Boat after boat after boat. So many, but how do you know which one's a "good" one, wondered the couple.
"Well, look at all the flags on that one" the young man says, "that's got to be a good one!"
The young lady figures her beau knows what he's talking about, but just out of their vision is someone listening in who knows he doesn't.
"My friend, let me tell you that you are absolutely right!" he says. "I know the captain of that boat, he is my cousin and he is a great fisherman."
"Really?' says the young lady.
"Yes, he is my cousin and we are very close. He takes me out fishing when he doesn't have a charter, like tomorrow," her new friend tells her.
"But I have to help my mother tomorrow and cannot fish."
"The boat is available tomorrow then?" asks the young man.
"Sure... you want it?" he asks.
And so it goes on with haggling over price and what time should we be there followed by "let me call him to let him know" immediately followed by "okay, it's all set, I just need the deposit.... $350." He gives the young couple a receipt and is on his way with a "buena suerte!" (good luck!).
So what happened next? You probably guessed it, the real captain did have a charter and not a soul knew who his "cousin" was. Moral of the story... book with a coyote – the name given to these scam artists by reputable charter companies and captains – and it's no fishing for you.
I know, that would never happen to you, right? Well, these guys are pretty slick and trust us when we tell you that many a wise character has fallen for their routines. Although it might not happen all that often, if it happens to you it will be one to many times, so don't take the risk of ruining a great vacation.
The single best piece of fishing advice we can give you is to ALWAYS deal with an established, reputable charter company and you'll never have to worry about a thing – other than can you pull in one more fish! Find trustworthy Cabo charter operators right here.
