Look, we get it. You typed “best time to fish in Cabo” into Google and now you’re staring at fifteen different charts that all say something slightly different. One site tells you January is the month. Another swears by August.

We’ve been running fishing charters out of Cabo San Lucas since 1999 — over 25 years of watching these cabo fishing seasons shift and repeat. So instead of giving you another generic chart, we figured we’d explain what actually happens on the water, season by season, and help you pick the right window for whatever you’re chasing.

Fair warning — there’s no single “best month.” What there is, honestly, is a best month for you, based on the species you want and when you can get away from work. Let’s get into it.

Cabo Fishing Seasons

A Quick Word on Why This Place Fishes So Well

You probably already know Cabo is good. But do you know why it’s good?

Here’s the short version. Cabo San Lucas sits at the tip of Baja, where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez slam into each other. One side is cold and nutrient-heavy. The other is warm and teeming with bait. That collision creates something pretty special. Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez “the world’s aquarium.” He wasn’t being dramatic.

For anglers coming down from the United States, here’s what that geography translates to:

• Warm water year-round, so pelagic species stay active every month
• You’re on fish fast — sometimes 20 minutes from the dock
• Crazy underwater structure (canyons, ridges, seamounts) that concentrates bait
• Over 800 documented fish species in the surrounding waters

There’s a reason they call Cabo the Striped Marlin Capital of the World. That title came from decades of boats going out and coming back with fish.

The Four Cabo Fishing Seasons (Yes, There Are Four)

First-timers often talk about “the fishing season in Cabo San Lucas Mexico” like it’s one thing. It’s not. The los cabos fishing season is really four distinct windows, each with its own personality:

• Winter (December through February)— This is striped marlin territory. Also solid for yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
• Spring (March through May)— The transition months. Underrated. Great variety if you’re flexible.
• Summer (June through September)— Blue marlin, dorado everywhere, big yellowfin, sailfish. The headliner season.
• Fall (October and November)— Tournament time. Arguably the best overall fishing of the entire year. More on that later.

Now let’s talk about each one in detail.

Winter: December Through February

This is the season that put Cabo on the map for billfish anglers. Water temps on the Pacific side drop into the low-to-mid 70s, and striped marlin respond by showing up in serious numbers. Our crews see fish tailing on the surface everywhere, dorsal fins cutting through the water while they chase bait near the top. On a good day, boats release three, four, sometimes five marlin before lunch.

Beyond the marlins, you’ll find yellowfin tuna ranging from little footballs (5 to 20 lbs) to proper fish in the 50 to 100 lb class around the Gordo Banks. Wahoo fishing picks up on high-speed trolling runs on the Pacific side. And if you enjoy bottom fishing – grouper, snapper, sierra mackerel and the Sea of Cortez side produces all winter long.

One thing we always tell guests: if the best time to fish in Cabo San Lucas for you also means escaping a Midwest February, winter is your answer. Cabo sits at 75 to 80 degrees while half the country is shoveling driveways. Crowds thin out after New Year’s, charter availability opens up, and you’ve got world-class marlin fishing practically to yourself.

Just bring a jacket for the morning boat ride. Once you hook into your first striped marlin of the day, trust us, you won’t need it.

Spring: March Through May

Spring doesn’t get the attention it deserves. We’ll say that right up front.

What happens is this – water temperatures start climbing through the mid-70s, and the ocean enters a transition phase. Winter species (striped marlin, wahoo) haven’t left yet, but summer species (dorado, roosterfish) are starting to arrive. You end up with this overlap where the variety on any given day can surprise you.

Striped marlin hang around through March and into April. Yellowfin tuna action picks up as warmer water pushes in. The first dorado start showing up around floating debris and weed lines – usually April and May. And inshore? Roosterfish come alive along sandy beaches and rocky points. That’s a bucket-list catch for a lot of fly fishermen.

March through May is one of the better-kept secrets of the cabo san lucas fishing season. You get two seasons’ worth of species in one trip, and charter pricing tends to be friendlier compared to peak summer and tournament windows.

Summer: June Through September

Alright. This is the main event. When somebody asks us about the best time to fish in Cabo and they want the big-name species, summer is usually what they’re picturing. And it delivers.

June through September, water temps push into the 80s. The warm-water pelagics pour into the region, and the fishing changes character completely.

Blue marlin is the headliner. They start showing in June, and by July through September, you’re in peak season. Fish in the 200 to 500 lb range are common enough that our crews aren’t surprised by them. The ones over 800 lbs — those still get everyone’s heart rate up. Black marlin show too, less frequently, but when they do, it’s something else entirely. Pure power.

Yellowfin tuna get big in summer. Really big. We’re talking 100, 150, 200+ lb fish that will absolutely empty a reel if you’re not ready. Dorado are everywhere — colorful, acrobatic, and frankly some of the best-tasting fish in the ocean. Wahoo stay consistent. Sailfish become more abundant and put on the kind of aerial show that makes for great photos.

Summer is when our tournament-winning crews really shine. These captains have been reading temperature breaks, bird patterns, and bait movements in these waters for decades. And if you’re worried about the heat — daytime highs hit the mid-90s in July and August – most of our sportfishers and yachts have air-conditioned cabins. You’ll be comfortable.

Fall: October and November – The One Most People Miss

Here’s something we’ve been telling guests for years: if we could only fish two months in Cabo, we’d pick October and November. A lot of seasoned anglers feel the same way.

Why? Because fall combines everything. Water temps are still warm enough for blue marlin, but they’re starting to cool just enough for striped marlin numbers to build back up. Dorado are still abundant and aggressive. Yellowfin tuna? Some of the biggest fish of the year get caught in October. Wahoo run along the Pacific ledges. Roosterfish bite inshore.

And it’s tournament season. The biggest fishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas – Bisbee’s Black and Blue, the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – stack up in October for a reason. The organizers know this is when the fishing peaks. The marina buzzes with energy. Crews are fired up. There’s nothing quite like it.

If you’re coming from the United States and you want to maximize your shot at landing a variety of trophy fish on a single trip, late October is the sweet spot. Summer species haven’t left. Winter species are arriving. Everything overlaps.

Month-by-Month Species Table

Here’s a quick-reference table for the fishing seasons in Cabo. Fish don’t read calendars and water conditions vary year to year, but this is a reliable guide based on what we see from our fleet.

Peak = best action | Good = reliable catches | Fair = present but less consistent | — = uncommon

Want the visual version? Our Cabo Fishing Chart breaks it down with real data from our fleet reports.

So When Should YOU Go? It Depends on What You Want.

We hear this question every single day at the office. “When is the best time to fish cabo san lucas?” And every time, we ask the same thing back: what are you after?

• Marlin is the priority?Striped marlin – book December through March. Blue marlin – July through October.
• You want fish you can take home and cook?Dorado, yellowfin, wahoo, snapper. Summer and fall give you the most options.
• Family trip, some beginners in the group?Spring or early summer. Dorado and smaller tuna cooperate nicely. Our cruiser fleet has comfortable boats that work for all experience levels.
• Want to feel the tournament energy?October, no question. The Bisbee’s tournaments and Los Cabos Billfish Tournament run back-to-back.
• Don’t care what species, just want a great day?Late October or late May through June – those transition windows give you the widest mix.

Planning Tips We’ve Picked Up Over 25 Years

Most of our guests fly in from cities across the United States. After doing this since 1999, here’s what we’d tell a friend who’s booking their first trip:

• Book early if you’re coming during peak seasons.October tournament season and the December-through-February marlin window fill up. Our best boats get reserved months out.
• Go full day if you can.A full-day charter lets the crew actually run offshore, find the temperature breaks, and put you where the fish are. Half days are fine, but full days produce more.
• Call and ask what’s biting. Conditions change week to week. Our team tracks live fish reports and they’ll give you an honest answer.
• Everything’s included.Our charters come with licenses, live bait, food, drinks, and tackle. Pack sunscreen and a camera. That’s about it.
• Getting there is easy.Direct flights from most major U.S. cities land at San Jose del Cabo Airport (SJD). The marina is about 30 minutes from the terminal.
• We practice catch and release on billfish.Marlin and sailfish go back in the water alive. Our crews know how to revive them properly. It keeps the fishery strong for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cabo Fishing Seasons

Q1) What month has the best fishing in Cabo San Lucas?

Honestly, there isn’t one universal answer. Striped marlin peak in January and February. Blue marlin hit their stride July through September. If you want the best overall variety, October is hard to beat because summer and winter species overlap.

Q2) Can you fish year-round in Cabo?

You can. The fishing season in Cabo San Lucas Mexico genuinely runs all twelve months. The Pacific and the Sea of Cortez keep gamefish moving through the area no matter what time of year you visit.

Q3) When’s the cheapest time to go?

Spring. March through May offers better charter pricing, lower hotel rates, and the fishing is still solid — striped marlin, early dorado, yellowfin tuna.

Q4) Do I need a fishing license?

Yes, Mexican law requires one. When you book with Cabo Magic, we include your license in the charter price. Bait, food, drinks, tackle — all covered.

Q5) Is winter fishing actually good in Cabo?

Very. December and January sit right in the middle of peak striped marlin season. Tuna, wahoo, and bottom fish all produce well too. Don’t let anyone tell you winter is the off-season down here — it’s not.

Q6) What size boat should I book?

For offshore marlin and tuna, a sportfisher in the 35 to 60-foot range gives you the speed, range, and deck space you need. Smaller groups or inshore trips do well on a 24 to 32-foot cruiser.

Book the Right Cabo Fishing Season for Your Trip

Here’s the bottom line. The los cabos fishing season runs all year. Every month has something worth chasing. The trick is matching your travel dates to the species you care about most – and fishing with a crew that actually knows where to find them.

That’s what we’ve been doing at Cabo Magic Sportfishing for over two decades. Same ownership, same leadership, same commitment to putting American anglers on fish since day one.

Got questions about which cabo fishing season lines up with your schedule? Send us a charter request or just pick up the phone.

Reach us at: – U.S. / Canada: 619-819-8634 or 888-475-5337 (toll-free) – Mexico Direct: 011-52-624-237-4257