Sea of Cortez · Mexico

Cabo San Lucas fishing forecast

52 Good of 100

Cabo San Lucas is a saltwater fishing spot in Sea of Cortez, Mexico. Anglers here target Striped Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September, October, November.

Quick answer

Best monthsMay, June, July, August

Top speciesStriped Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi

Score now52/100

Local rulesMexico

Today’s verdict

Ranks #381 of 407 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+23.3Current+18.0Chlorophyll+7.7

Working against it

Marine heatwave-2.0

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

05:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

dawn 13:15

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	30.7 °C
Wind	26 km/h from NW, gusting 32 km/h
Wave height	2.2 m at 13 s
Current	0.15 m/s toward WSW
Pressure	1012 hPa
Depth	132 m
Cloud cover	100%
Chlorophyll	0.13 mg/m³
Salinity	34.1 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	14 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.3 m at 2 s
Ground swell	1.6 m at 13 s from SSW
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.15 → 0.05 m/s

The water here is 5.3 °C warmer than the October average of 25.4 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 60.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas currently scores 52 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 30.7 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +23.3: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Current +18.0: moving water concentrates bait
Chlorophyll +7.7: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Seamount effect +6.0: underwater structure forces nutrient flow up
Waves +5.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +3.8: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift

What’s biting now

The model expects today: yellowfin-tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, striped-marlin, spotted-bay-bass, pacific-bluefin-tuna, california-corbina, kelp-bass

Bite windows

Moon

Waxing Crescent · 4% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Cabo San Lucas:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-09-22, 74/100

1 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type

Gulf

Gulfs are partly enclosed and typically calmer and more protected than the open ocean, which can extend fishable conditions in wind.

Approximate bottom depth: 132 m

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · harbor

On-site: parking · launch ramp · bait shop

What you can catch

Striped Marlin

Kajikia audax
Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares
Mahi-Mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

Best months by species at Cabo San Lucas

Striped MarlinKajikia audax
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Mahi-MahiCoryphaena hippurus

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (CONAPESCA) — Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (SADER)

Mexico

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
Mahi-MahiOfficial source	2/day	—	—
Dorado is limited to 2 per angler per day and counts toward the 10/day total. It is one of the nine species reserved exclusively for sport fishing within 50 nautical miles of shore — commercial sale is prohibited.
Striped MarlinOfficial source	1/day	—	—
Billfish ("picudos") are limited to ONE specimen per angler per day and count as 5 organisms against the 10/day total. Marlin, sailfish and swordfish are among the nine species reserved exclusively for sport fishing within the first 50 nautical miles from shore — sale is prohibited. Tag-and-release is strongly encouraged. Confirm with CONAPESCA.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal sport-fishing permit (permiso de pesca deportivo-recreativa) required for everyone aboard a vessel fishing in Mexican waters, regardless of age or whether they personally fish. Fishing from shore or a pier does NOT require a permit. Permit terms: daily ~$127 MXN, weekly ~$318 MXN, monthly ~$476 MXN, annual ~$635 MXN. Buy from CONAPESCA online or authorised vendors., non-residents Same federal permit applies to visiting anglers and is sold online by CONAPESCA and by state tourism portals (e.g. Baja California). Charter/panga operators usually arrange permits for clients — confirm before departure. Underwater (spearfishing) requires an individual permit.

FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only and are not a legal source. Mexican sport-fishing rules are set federally by CONAPESCA (NOM-017-PESC) but daily limits, reserved species and protected natural areas (ANPs, e.g. Cabo Pulmo, Revillagigedo, Banco Chinchorro) carry extra restrictions, and rules change. The overall limit is 10 organisms per angler per day, maximum 5 of one species. Always carry a valid permit when fishing from a vessel and verify current rules with CONAPESCA before fishing.