Cabo San Lucas

[TimBuck2]

Marlin Capital of the world!! I booked a trip for the first week of Feb.. Any recomendations for Charters?

[traveler]

you've come to the right place my friend:)

I've been fishing Cabo for about 10 years...it gets under your skin:) Where are you staying? As for charters, How much would you like to spend? Charters in Cabo are actually very affordable when you compare them to other top notch marlin destinations, heck, they're a downright bargain. If you want to spend the $$ on an air conditioned, top notch boat you can expect to pay upwards of 1,000/day, but most of the charter fleet consists of 28-33 ft older boats in the 500-600 range, and thats what I've always used. I fished with Pisces for years, and they are a very good outfit with reasonably price boats. The last couple years I've been fishing with Redrum, and they do a very good job. But the first call I'd make is to Renegade Mike sportfishing...he's only been in Cabo 3 years, but has built a great rep in that time. I fished with him for the 1st time this trip, and he may well be my go-to guy in the future.

I just got back last thur. from an 8 day Cabo trip, but got caught in a tropical storm, and fishing was about as slow as I've ever had it there. Theres another one barreling down on Cabo right now, but it just got downdraded, so hopefully it won't do much damage. You'll be safe in Feb:)

Cabo's a great time, let me know if you have more ??'s...

[bassNspear]

i didnt get to go out on a charter when we were there, just ran out of time, but everyone that i talked to said make sure you go if you get the chance. Its awesome down there. Make sure you go and hang out at night around the bars to see the town at its best!

[Xplorer]

traveler,

I have a family vacation booked the last week of March next year, what type of species would be in season then? We're staying about 12 miles east of downtown Cabo. Are marlin still available or would a panga style trip in the gulf be a better option?

Thanks for any insight, I know from your past posts that you're the CSL guru on here.

And if Cheffery is still around feel free to add any info as I recall you being down there often also (and if i remember you stayed on the gulf side).

Thanks!

[traveler]

Xplorer; To be honest, march-may would probably be my least favorite time to fish Cabo (by the calender) but don't let that dampen your spirits too muc...theres always exceptions to the rule, pretty much always some marlin around, and it's way better than here in late march! Because it's not a busy time, I'd suggest you wait till a month or so before and see how things look before diciding on a fishing plan. I can check current conditions with people down there i trust anytime.

Heres some good news though...I've been pretty much exclusivly chasing marlin down there, but I did a charter with a new guy this time down that comes very well reviewed and was fun, a good fisherman, and very informative. He really likes the (in his opinion) very underlooked inshore fishery in Cabo, from the surf to pangas, and the time period he recommended was march-June. Everybody in Cabo is trying to sell something:) but I've heard this before, and he knew specifics, and I'd give it (and him) a try for sure if I were going to be there that time of year. And one of these years I will be, which would be a huge step for me, making a trip at a time I knew my marlin odds were not at thier best. Inshore fishing would likely be for Yellowtail, Groupers, jacks,sierra macks, and roosterfish. Some great eating and some C&R. Let me know if it's something you want to puruse and i'll speak with him some more and get more specifics...

Also, since you're staying out on the corridor (which I've never done) you should be able to find some sort of shorecasting out that way, although it's not something I've heard great things about. The pangas up the sea of cortez, out of san jose, are an option, but my couple of times up there doing that have met with limited sucess, but they were not during thier prime time, so maybe not the best odds. Eric Brickston with Gordo banks pangas is the man up there if you opt to try that. Again, waiting to see how the bite is going won't do you any harm here, and might be a big help. What hotel are you staying at?

[Xplorer]

Not sure off the top of my head (the Mrs usually picks, I'm happy about anywhere ). I know that I'm about 2/3 of the way to los cabos, and its all-inclusive as we're taking our first grader. Shore casting would be a blast, I've done it in Maui and Kauai, as well as the Keys. If your friend would suggest some tackle to take along that would be awesome.

I missed my chance at some offshore beasts last fall as I was in PV the first week of Nov. Was hoping to get out to corbetina for YFT and marlin, but just didnt work out. I do know that we will be back in PV again during that timeframe (anniversary) so hopefully I'll get a chance at a cow someday!

Thanks for any help!

[Tony Holland]

Was down last year during in January.

Was wonderful had a great time. We went out of Pisces Sportfishing. You can google and find them. Not the cheapest but great outfit.

[traveler]

Actually Pisces is pretty price competitive. I fished with them the first few years in Cabo, tracy Ann is a great boat of thiers. And jan. is still a pretty good month, especially early.

X...as for the shore casting, theres a shop in Cabo called "Jensens" right next to the Mar De Cortez hotel. He's the man for shorecasting there, I'd check with him for local info once you arrive. if you have basic shore/surf gear you're in good shape; some iron (Kastmasters, Krocs) in whatever weight your gear is sized for (1-4 oz?) and some poppers (they sell them down there, I think Jensen makes them as well) for roosters/sierras. I'm sure he can help with locations as well.

If you want to contact the guy I know, he's "Renegade Mike". Do a search, he'll pop up:) He runs a nice 31 bertram, and if theres any tuna around he's the man.

Can't believe you were in PV in Nov. and didn't get out!! Next time for sure...

[Xplorer]

20th anniversary plus not being able to find anyone else that wanted to share a boat equaled no trip. I did contact 2 charters beforehand and gave them my contact info if they had someone drop or needed another on the boat but it never worked out. Next time for sure (already saving for it!)

[traveler]

alright...ya get a pass this time:) If you really save some coin, try to get out with Josh Temple...he's the man down in PV, but he's pricey for sure. I think there are a couple brothers as well, one's named Manny I think. Osuma?? something like that. I think they're a little chepaer but still do it right.

[Xplorer]

I called and talked to Josh's wife before I went but they were booked solid. I also talked to Manny and his brother,they were the ones I was on "standby' with along with one other that i cant remember (was referred by Manny). The Osuna bro's are top-notch down in PV. Figure'd it just wasnt my time.

I'll ask agian this spring.

Adios and vaya con dios!! :- )

[TimBuck2]

Traveler, Thanks for all your insight. I got sidetracked in the Ice Fishing Forum and forgot I posted this. I'm staying at the RIU Santa Fe. There will probably be three couples going so I was looking at some of the 1000/day outfits. I tried to find a chart of the peak seasons for Blue/Black/Striped Marlin. I found one that said only the Striped Marlin would be at peak. Is this true from your experience around the first week of Feb?

TB2

[JimBuck]

I got out to Cabo in January a few years back and we had some dynamite fishing for striped marlin and dorado. Our outfitter was Pisces and we fished out of Ruthless with Leon Camacho and Ernesto Moyron. Between those 2 they have more than 60 years guiding and are absolutely great people. Pisces seemed to be fairly competitive compared to other outfitters and have a great operation. Good luck with what ever you do. I'm probably going to be going back there sometime this Winter to do it all over again. Nothing beats running n' gunnin' for Marlin all day.

[traveler]

Timbuck; You can find a few "charts" on fish timing, they're all pretty general. Here's my take from experience; blues/blacks...go somewhere else:) Cabo gets some in Aug-end of oct., but there are better places.

Stripers; sometimes good as early as August, but from Nov-Dec is the best period of the year hands down. Then steady, if declining action thru march. I like jan. better than feb., but ya fish when you can, and early Feb. could be great. I'd fish a new moon if possible, or at elast avoid the full.

Theres a lot of seasonal location change for the stripers, there might be a bite going on that only the bigger, faster boats are getting in on, while the bulk of the charter fleet is too slow (or too cheap to spend the gas$$) to get in on. Not much you can do when that happens, except pay big $$ for a fast boat if you really want to play.

Are you planning on fishing 6 of you? In that case, a 40-ish ft. boat (and 1,000 + a day) is probably right. Sorry, i don't have much for recommendations for that, as I'm always on smaller boats. If you want, I can check with a few folks and get a couple straight up recommendations for you. otherwise, if you're only fishing 4, I have some fav's.

[traveler]

Jimbuck; I've fished most of Pisces boats, including Ruthless. Agreed, good crew and Pisces is a solid, resonably priced outfit. The bite has been red hot the last several years till mid-Jan., get back early if ya can.

[TimBuck2]

As far as I know we are fishing 6. That could change. I'm the one that's really pushing the charter. I'm going fishing, whether I have the others going along or not. If I'm stuck with a cheaper, in shore, outfit so be it. I'd hate to miss out on a chance at a Marlin though. It would be nice to split a 1000/day boat among 6 of us. That's what I'm hoping for. I'll check back with you when I get a little closer to my trip if you don't mind. Right now doubting the support of my traveling companions is counter productive. I guess I'll believe it when I step on the boat.

Thanks,

TB2

[TimBuck2]

OK so I'm now 15 days from my trip and as luck would have it one of the guys had his Cancer flare up and he had to go on radiation therapy again. He's not going to feel up to getting on the water. That leaves 4 possible and more than likely just me and the wife. That drops us out of the fancy 1000/day outfits. I'm looking to spend around 500.00 including tip. Now this may seem like a silly question, but what kind of bathroom facilities do the smaller rigs offer? My wife always seems to have a #1 or #2 attack at the most inopportune times. Striped Marlin is my hope, but an In Shore trip for Dorado and Roosters or whatever is hungry is acceptable.

All advice is appreciated.

TB2

[traveler]

Timbuck...sorry to hear about your friend, hope it works out OK for him.

Fishing is only so-so in Cabo right now, kind of been a slow season. But there are still marlin to be found.

Most inshore fishing is done from pangas, so nix the head. That, plus it's a poor time of year for inshore. Mostly just sierra mackeral...if you want to catch 5-8 lb fish you can do that around here.

A smaller cruiser (28 ft variety) will have a stand up head, should work, although it's nothing fancy. Under 500.00 with tip is tough. Pisces has thier 28' bare boat at 445.00, but with bait, 2 licences and tip you'll come in at about 575-ish.

If there are more than the 2 of you, I fished on a 31 Bertram a couple years ago called the "Checkmate". Good boat, and at 475 a good price. A little more than the 28's, but it's bigger, faster, and would be better for 3 or 4.

There are a few cheaper boats around, and you certainly could find a "deal" by walking the docks, but I just can't recommend it. For every deal like that I've heard of that worked out I've heard of 5 where it was either a total ripoff or just a bad experience. Bite the bullet and book with a decent company. Pisces has been around forever, for the $$ they're hard to beat.

Do a search for either Pisces or checkmate sportfishing...good luck! Wish I was heading down in 2 weeks:(

[TimBuck2]

Thanks for the advice Traveler.

[traveler]

no problem...report back, eh?

[minnducker]

If you just want to fish, and not party in Cabo, and save about 50% on your trip, search on the WEB for Van Wormer resorts in Los Barilles B.C.S.

Package costs for 4 nights and 3 full days charter fishing including food and lodging is around a grand per person. More if you're in a beachside condo with kitchen, living room patio and TV, less if in a motel type room. Both are good. Los Barilles is a small town about 50 miles north of Cabo. Van Wormer has 3 hotels on the beach with pools, bars etc.. 95% of the clients are fisherman. Packages are VERY reasonable and include food, lodging and charters. Extras are bar bill, bait ($20/day), tips and fish processing. (Do the processing at the "Smokehouse", reps are at the dock when you come in, processing at the hotel is only cleaning and freezing, but it's nice to get some smoked.) Been going there for years for big yellow-fin and dorado in September. No complaints and bargain pricing.

They have daily several shuttles daily back and forth to SJD airport, just arrange with them for your group's flight times..

[traveler]

I can't argue the value of the van Wormer properties...they've been serving fishermen for a long time, though I've never been to one. A couple of things though...Cabo is hands down the better marlin destination. 2 oceans, and a lot of very skilled marlin cappys. And they also get plenty of dorado and tuna. Personally, I don't like organized, scheduled shuttles, meals, etc...I'd rather do, drive, and eat when and where I please. I'm jus not the all inclusive type I guess. But it's a good fishery up there, and you'll likely get by cheaper, though not 50% ...Cabo can be done a lot cheaper than most guys think...