Los Cabos Fishing Seasons
Los Cabos offers world-class fishing 365 days a year, but each species has its peak season. Use our comprehensive month-by-month guide to plan your trip around the exact fish you want to catch. With over 40 species available and October widely considered the single best month overall, you'll find productive fishing no matter when you visit.
Month-by-Month Species Availability
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Marlin | ||||||||||||
| Blue Marlin | ||||||||||||
| Black Marlin | ||||||||||||
| Pacific Sailfish | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin Tuna | ||||||||||||
| Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | ||||||||||||
| Roosterfish | ||||||||||||
| Sierra Mackerel | ||||||||||||
| Amberjack | ||||||||||||
| Snapper | ||||||||||||
| Grouper |
Best Bets by Month
January
69°FCool waters, calm seas. Excellent striped marlin and bottom fish.
February
68°FCoolest month. Prime striped marlin, good wahoo action.
March
69°FWater warming. Wahoo peak begins. Striped marlin still strong.
April
72°FTransition month. Tuna arrive, wahoo at peak, inshore heats up.
May
75°FSummer species arrive. Best month for variety; 6+ species available.
June
78°FPeak big game starts. Blue marlin and dorado galore.
July
81°FHot fishing. Triple-digit blue marlin days possible.
August
83°FPeak summer heat. Best blue marlin month. Dorado at peak.
September
83°FWarmest water. Still excellent for all summer species.
October
81°FTHE best overall month. Every major species available. Bisbee's tournament.
November
76°FFall peak. Wahoo return. Striped marlin season reopens. Tuna jackpot.
December
71°FWinter fishing prime. Striped marlin at peak. Whale watching begins.
Detailed Seasonal Breakdown
Winter (December - February)
Winter is the premier season for Striped Marlin in Los Cabos: the main reason Cabo earned its reputation as the "Marlin Capital of the World." Water temperatures range from 66-72°F, creating perfect conditions for these acrobatic billfish. December through February offers the most consistent striped marlin fishing of the entire year, with many boats releasing multiple fish per day.
Sierra Mackerel are abundant and provide excellent light-tackle action close to shore. Grouper and Snapper fishing remains excellent year-round on rocky bottoms and structure. This is also peak whale watching season (December-April), so your fishing charter comes with the bonus of seeing humpback whales breaching in the distance.
Best for: Striped Marlin, Sierra, Bottom fishing, Whale watching
Spring (March - May)
Spring is the most diverse fishing season in Los Cabos. As water temperatures rise from 68°F to 75°F, the transition brings together the tail end of winter species and the arrival of summer migrants. Wahoo fishing peaks in March and April, with the famous "Wahoo Banks" (Gordo Banks) producing consistent catches of these lightning-fast predators.
Yellowfin Tuna begin showing in greater numbers by April and May, with fish ranging from 20-150 pounds. The first Blue Marlin of the year typically arrive in May. Inshore fishing for Roosterfish and Jack Crevalle heats up as the water warms. By May, you can target up to 6 different game fish species in a single day.
Best for: Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna (late spring), Striped Marlin (early spring), Roosterfish
Summer (June - August)
Summer is peak big game season in Los Cabos. Water temperatures reach 78-85°F, bringing Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Pacific Sailfish, and massive schools of Dorado into Cabo waters. This is the season when the Gordo Banks truly shine, with world-class yellowfin tuna fishing producing fish over 200 pounds.
Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) are at their peak abundance from June through August, with vibrant bulls in the 20-40 pound range. Roosterfish are thick along the beaches. The famous "Cabo Fever" bite (when multiple species feed aggressively simultaneously) is in full swing. Summer is also tournament season, including the Pelagic Triple Crown and the lead-up to Bisbee's.
Best for: Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish, Roosterfish
Fall (September - November)
Fall is widely considered the best overall fishing season in Los Cabos, with October being the single best month of the year. Why? Because every major species is available simultaneously: Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, and Wahoo are all in the water at the same time. It's also the heart of tournament season, culminating in Bisbee's Black & Blue (October): the world's richest fishing tournament with an $11.5M+ purse.
The annual Wahoo run returns in October-November, providing some of the fastest action of the year. Yellowfin Tuna fishing continues to be excellent. Dorado start to thin out in November but are still present. The first Striped Marlin of the winter season appear in October and build through December.
Best for: Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo (Oct-Nov), Striped Marlin, Dorado (early fall), Blue Marlin (early fall)
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