Makaira nigricans

Blue Marlin

A warm-water billfish that can grow very large and is a defining target of Cabo's summer and fall offshore fishery.

Size Class: Large pelagic; Individuals vary widely
Planning Window: Jun–Nov; Follow warm water
Fishery Class: Billfish; Combined special limit
2026 Bisbee Fishing: Oct 21–23; Entry and awards outside these dates

Overview

Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) are powerful tropical and subtropical pelagic fish. Around Los Cabos, they are primarily planned as a warm-water target, with exact timing and fish size varying by year and water mass.

Cabo San Lucas hosts Bisbee's Black & Blue. The 2026 event runs October 19–24, with fishing October 21–23. Prize money and team count depend on actual entries and optional jackpots.

Identification

Blue marlin have a deep body, pointed first dorsal fin, and blue upper coloration fading toward a lighter belly.

Sex and age produce a very wide size range; adult females grow much larger than males. Avoid treating a charter brochure's weight range as a local average.

Seasonal planning

The current Baja California Sur guide emphasizes June through November for blue marlin on the Pacific side of Los Cabos. The useful window expands or contracts with warm water, forage and offshore conditions.

Where crews look for blue marlin

Open-water structure

Banks and seamounts cover broad areas; their value changes with bait, current, water, and range.

Warm-water edges

Compare current imagery with live observations of water color, bait and surface activity.

Bait and forage

Recent fleet and forage observations are more useful than an old trophy photograph or copied coordinate.

Range check

Distant grounds require a suitable vessel, fuel plan, weather window, and realistic dock-to-dock time.

Common techniques

Kite fishing

A specialized surface presentation that depends on wind, space, legal bait, tackle, and crew experience.

Lure trolling

Lure size, spread, speed, and tackle are adjusted to the boat, sea state, bait, and target.

Teasers

Dredges or teaser chains may raise fish without a hook; retrieval and presentation require a coordinated crew.

Bisbee's Black & Blue Tournament

2026 · October 19–24

Fishing is October 21–23. The official format includes release points and qualifying weighed black and blue marlin; it is not an all-release tournament. Payouts depend on entries and optional jackpots.

Conservation

Release is preferred

Mexico’s general sportfishing rule allows one retained fish total from the marlin, sailfish, swordfish, shark and giant-sea-bass group per angler per day; that fish counts as five toward the ten-fish marine allowance. It is not one of each. Many Cabo crews release marlin, but practices and tournament formats vary. Confirm current rules and release expectations before departure.

Planning a blue marlin trip?

Compare warm-water reports, boat capability, tackle and release practices.

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