Keith Lusher 05.07.24
One of the most exciting fishing trips I have ever been on came on a recent vacation to Cabo San Lucas. On the trip, I experienced multiple hook-ups while trolling for tuna and was able to land a striped marlin, dorado, and tuna, which were a personal best for me. If you’ve never experienced fishing along the Baja California Peninsula you’re missing out on a one-of-a-kind experience that matches the uniqueness of the city of Cabo San Lucas.
With Cabo San Lucas being a year-round travel destination for folks in the US, I was able to connect with Arturo Chacon, the owner of Tag Cabo Sportfishing. Chacon knows the waters on the Pacific side of the peninsula as well as the Bay of Cabo San Lucas. Tag Cabo is a first-class sportfishing operation that I vouch for when visiting Cabo. Chacon and his crew are very personable and there to serve you so that you can do what you came to do – Catch big fish!
This month Chacon said the spring winds that they’ve seen are starting to die down making fishing on the Pacific side easier. “The offshore action has been particularly exciting, with striped marlin and dorado making up a big portion of the haul,” he said.
Chacon said his clients are catching these fish on both live bait and dead. For those visiting Cabo, the offshore action is the main attraction, but for those who are looking for shorter trips, Chacon said his inshore trips are producing as well. These are fishing trips that are on the eastern side of the peninsula in protected waters. I recommend these trips for families if you are looking to bring along the wife and kids. Chacon said they have been using 10 oz. jigs in 250 feet of water. “You can catch a lot of smaller fish like this and those are good if you’re looking for fish to clean and eat,” he said. “Every once in a while you’ll catch a big one here and that’s exciting.”
For those interested in surf fishing, roosterfish, and Spanish mackerel are starting to move in. “Nearshore fishing has been productive. Roosterfish and Spanish mackerel are being caught while surf fishing, adding an extra dimension to the fishing experience,” Chacon said. “The sight of these fish cruising through the surf is a thrilling sight for anglers of all skill levels.”
In May, the water temperature is in the upper 70s making surf fishing another option. “The warming water is creating great conditions for pelagic fish to draw closer to the shore which allows anglers to target these fish close to the shoreline,” he said.
As the calendar turns from May to June, Chacon said the fishing will get even better, with sailfish and tuna becoming the more prevalent fish to harvest.
Another unique feature of fishing in Cabo San Lucas is the return to the marina. I highly recommend bringing your catch to one of the restaurants that line the port. They’ll clean the fish and serve them back to you which is a fantastic option for those who don’t want to be bothered with work on their vacation!
