Cabo Fishing Charters - Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most commonly asked questions about Cabo fishing charters can be found below. Curious about something not covered here? Contact us directly, and we will respond to you right away! Our Cabo San Lucas fishing blog also contains a lot of helpful information, news and tips.
Charter Questions - Booking & Payment
How do I book a charter?
You are welcome to book one of our Cabo fishing charters through our booking page found here, or you can reach out to us directly by phone, text or email. We are available to assist you with questions and with your charter reservation seven days per week.
Is the full cost due at time of booking?
No. We only require a deposit to confirm your charter date and boat. Any remaining balance can be paid up to and including the morning of your charter. It is important that we receive deposits promptly, as we get a lot of charter bookings from Cabo resorts, transportation companies, travel agents and other non-fishing tour operators as well as from our regular charter guests and referrals from them. Our availability can change quickly by the hour and by the day.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept most every form of payment for your fishing charter including credit and debit cards, PayPal, CashApp, Venmo, Zelle and cash.
What's included in your charter prices?
Our Cabo charters pricing includes: boat, crew, gear, tackle, rigging, ice, bait and Mexico sportfishing licenses for everyone within your group.
Do you have shared charters?
For the most part, no, all of our charters are private which is the case with most Cabo sportfishing charters. While the notion of sharing a charter may seem appealing to save money, they are often problematic and you can read more about this on our blog here.
Cabo Fishing Questions
When is the Cabo San Lucas fishing season?
We are often asked when is the best time for sport fishing in Cabo San Lucas? Fishing is generally good year-round in Cabo however, October is universally considered one of the best months for sportfishing in Cabo. Its for this reason that most of the major fishing tournaments are held here in October. Other months can be productive for different species. You can also refer to this general guide on what is typically biting by month here with our Cabo San Lucas Fishing Season Guide.
Is fishing in Cabo San Lucas the same as deep-sea fishing?
A lot of people are accustomed to bottom fishing, which is commonly referred to as deep-sea fishing, where the boat stops periodically, and anglers drop their tackle to the sea floor. In Cabo, we are technically still deep-sea fishing but we are primarily trolling, with the boat in constant forward motion. This method is the most effective for big-game sportfishing as it allows for covering the maximum amount of area to entice a strike.
Do you use fish finders?
A lot of people associate fish finders with fishing success from their experiences with "deep sea" fishing in the U.S., and watching Bass tournaments on television for example. In the waters of Cabo San Lucas, the vast majority of the time, we find and catch marlin, dorado, sailfish, tuna and wahoo right on the ocean surface, as this is where the schools of baitfish are found. This renders fish finders mostly useless since they are designed to scan at a deeper level than 1-2 feet. Of our boats that are equipped with fish finders, we rarely need to use them.
Where are you located and what time should we arrive?
Our location at the Cabo San Lucas marina.
We are at the "C" dock in the Marina Del Rey section of the larger Cabo San Lucas marina, between the Cruise Ship Terminal and Marina Mercado, where Peatonal Marlin street dead ends at the marina. Our location with a map can also be found on our contact us page here.
What time should we arrive at the marina and how long are your fishing charters?
We recommend arriving at our location within the marina at 6:15 a.m. for a 6:30 a.m. charter departure. Our charter durations are half day for five hours and for a full day, of eight hours. If you would like to adjust your arrival and departure times, please let us know. Additionally, we can also do afternoon charters that typically run a half day.
Do you provide transportation services to and from the Cabo San Lucas marina?
We do not provide transportation service to the Cabo marina and recommend arranging transportation through your resort concierge, a taxi or using Uber. Some resorts do not allow Uber onto their property. We can also connect you with one of our trusted transportation partners that services the Cabo San Lucas area, if needed. If you choose to use Uber, simply type Top Anglers Sportfishing Charters Cabo as your destination, and they will bring you right to us.
How about food and drinks? What do we do with our catch? Are kids allowed to fish?
Food and drink options.
You are more than welcome to bring any food, drinks and snacks that you like aboard for your fishing charter. There are several small mercados in and around the Cabo San Lucas marina that open very early. Or, we do have a menu of those items for an additional fee if your preference is for us to provision them for your charter and our menu is available upon request.
What can we do with the fish we catch in Cabo?
You have several options. Your fish can be cleaned, vacuum sealed, flash frozen and delivered to you the day of your departure to take back home with you. You can also take your fish to one of the many restaurants in and around the Cabo San Lucas marina to have it prepared. If you decide that you don't want your catch, you are more than welcome to offer it to our crews for their own consumption. Please note that it is illegal for any Cabo fishing charter to clean fish for guests and can result in significant fines for both the charter and for charter guests.
Are kids allowed on the charters?
Absolutely! We welcome kids and families aboard and have had many young anglers, some as young as two years old on our boats. Sportfishing in Cabo is an activity that everyone can do, enjoy and experience.