FISHING

the HookSet

RANKED AS ONE OF THE TOP SPORTFISHING DESTINATIONS, LOS CABOS IS AN OUTSTANDING SPOT FOR ANGLERS YEAR-ROUND.

By Nick Honachefsky

Ernest Hemingway fished here. In fact, Los Cabos was a favorite spot for the original Old Man and the Sea. That should be enough to convince any fishing aficionado to cast a line in Los Cabos. But if literary legends aren’t enough to convince you, the fishing sure will. Los Cabos offers a wide array of sportfishing opportunities and is world renowned as one of the top fishing destinations. Inshore, you’ll hook snapper grouper and the wild-looking roosterfish. Offshore waters deliver world-class

Chartering a Boat

Whether you’re a newbie or an expert fisherman, all makes and models of anglers can enjoy sportfishing in Los Cabos, as there are plenty of options. Stop by the Pisces Fleet, which offers a variety of options for inshore and offshore fishing, starting with inshore options on 22-foot panga boats for half-day, fourhour fishing jaunts, from 7 a.m. to noon, and roughly $250 to $375. Offshore, the Pisces Fleet hosts a complete line of luxury sportfishing vessels up to 70 feet long, showcasing an all-inclusive operation, complete with bait, tackle, premium rods and reels, packed lunches, and stocked fridges with cold beer, soda, and water. Fullday charters on the standard sportfishing boats of 25 to 32 feet run roughly $550 to $900 for a half-day of fishing. Midsize sport fishers of 31 to 42 feet will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a cost of $1,000 to $1,400 for billfish and offshore tuna, while larger 48- to 80-foot sport yachts equipped with maximum luxury will charter a daylong 30- to 60-mile run for an average fee between $3,000 and $6,000. If you are a solo angler, look into buying a more affordable “share” on a charter to split the cost. wahoo, dorado, and tuna on the menu. Fishing can be a swift 3- to 4-hour day or extend to a full-day, 12-hour marathon, with all the rewards that keep you coming back. So, what’s on tap?

BATTLING BIG GAME

The prolific purple-blue waters where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés merge off the tip of Land’s End at Cabo San Lucas, mark the jumpingoff point for the Baja sportfishing fleet. Big game is the target as open-sea species like marlin, dorado, wahoo, tuna, and more patrol the submarine seamounts from 3 to 60 miles off the coastline.

BIG GAME IS THE TARGET AS OPEN-SEA SPECIES LIKE MARLIN, DORADO, WAHOO, TUNA, AND MORE PATROL THE SUBMARINE SEAMOUNTS.

fishing, and many seasoned anglers consider Los Cabos waters the absolute number one

spot among all the world’s oceans to target the stripeys. Both blue and black marlin, ranging

from 200 to 600 pounds on average. become the day’s catch. Marlin is caught by dragging trolled ballyhoo baits or squid spreader bars and daisy chains behind the boat at a five- to eight-knot pace.

There’s no mistaking when a fish hits the bait as the huge gold 80 to 130 class reels will zip or drag and thick, sturdy fishing rods will be bent like overloaded catapults. The optimal marlin season extends from September through midMarch, with expected average catches of four to six marlin a day. Dorado, or mahimahi, is another sought-after offshore species, most notably due to its delicious taste on the dinner table. Dorado averages 10 to 40 pounds in size, and trolled baits will also claim the golden beauties. Peak mahimahi season is February through April. Wahoo are lightning-fast speed demons that will hit trolled lures moving at a fast clip between 10 and 14 knots. Many Los Cabos restaurants consider their flaky white meat a delicacy. For wahoo, plan your trip around the summer months. Sushi lovers set out to target yellowfin tuna on the offshore humps as the rubyred lean meat of the fish is desired more

than any other species brought on deck. September through March is prime time for tuna. Charter boats will provide all the rods and reels you need offshore to battle the beasts, plus they will pack lunches and stock the fridge full of beer, soda, and water for your utmost comfort on your day offshore.

CLOSE TO THE COAST

You don’t have to sail far offshore to

experience lights-out fishing in Los Cabos. Many small charter boats and pangas will fish right outside the main harbor and troll along the coastline from a few hundred yards off the beach up to two miles for a full- or half-day‘s fun fighting fish. You generally won’t find any marlin around, but the players within inshore waters include some prize catches like grouper, snapper, jacks, cabrilla, and the king of all fish in Los Cabos – the atavistic roosterfish, adorned with a vast and amazing coxcomb dorsal fin that spikes out of the water’s surface! Many anglers travel from across the globe to target the roosters, or El Gallo, in Los Cabos waters, known for being the most

LAST YEAR THE BISBEE’S BLACK AND BLUE TOURNAMENT AWARDED OVER $9.725 MILLION IN CASH PRIZES!

productive rooster grounds in the world. Buena Vista Oceanfront & Hot Springs Resort along the East Cape and Sea of Cortés specializes in roosterfish on the inshore grounds. Generally, small boats will troll live bait like sardines behind

the boat, tricking fish into swimming up from the rocky bottom. Other ways to tackle inshore species include casting topwater poppers that churn and splash on the surface, mimicking a fleeing baitfish, which the gamefish find irresistible. If the seas are calm, your captain may drift over the rockpiles with cut chunk bait to catch the bottom dwellers. Remember, many restaurants around the Los Cabos marina will cook your freshly caught fish for a small fee. Simply bring the fillets to the chef and let them work their magic to prepare and serve your fish the finest way possible — Baja style!

While there’s plenty to do on land in Los Cabos, you’re literally missing the boat if you don’t plan a day of fishing. Try something new for the first time or realize a long-standing ambition. Sportfishing in Los Cabos makes dreams come true!

» FOR A FULL DETAILED LISTING OF TOURNAMENTS AND DATES, GO TO visitloscabos.travel/events.

Fishing Tournaments

Los Cabos hosts many fishing tournaments during the fall months that pit the skills and knowledge of captains and anglers against each other for some serious jackpots. Six main tournaments hit the Los Cabos shores. Even if you don’t fish a tournament, it’s a blast to attend the weighins and after-parties. Last year the Bisbee’s Black and Blue tournament awarded over $9.725 million in cash! You read that right! Plan to visit these tournaments in October and early November 2023: >>Los Cabos Billfish Tournament >>Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore >>Bisbee’s Black and Blue >>Western Outdoor News Cabo Tuna Jackpot