Piscatorial Potpourri

Intro | Catch-and-Release | Marlin | Other Species | Tackle | Travel Tips

The waters off Cabo San Lucas hold not only an abundance of gamefish, but an amazing variety as well. Dorado, roosterfish, tuna, and wahoo are among the most-sought-after gamefish in the area, and amberjack, sierra mackerel, ladyfish, and jack crevalle are also readily available.

Dorado. Also known as dolphin, and mahi mahi, these fish are known for their speed and spectacular jumps. They school up off Cabo during the middle months of the year. A fly fisher stands a better chance of catching dorado on a fly than any other saltwater species. School fish average 15 to 35 pounds. Giant dorado (up to 90 pounds) are often solitary fish, rarely caught on a fly.


Dorado live exclusively at the ocean's surface and take poppers and other surface flies with ferocity. They seem to enjoy hanging around bouys, floating seaweed, logs, and other debris on the surface, and guides will often seek out these objects, knowing there are dorado below.

Roosterfish. These members of the jack family are among the most respected and desirable sportfish in the Pacific. With a range from Chile to the Baja Peninsula, these bruisers inhabit the surf around Cabo San Lucas, and provide true inshore fishing.


Cabo San Lucas is home to perhaps the greatest concentrations of roosterfish in the world. These are the most wary of all the gamefish around Cabo, and fly selection and presentation is critical.

Many experienced saltwater anglers consider roosterfish to be second only to permit in difficulty to take with a fly rod. The most common fishing technique around Cabo is to troll a small live bait fish (remember the word "cabito" when you buy your bait from a bobbing boat at dawn) slowly behind the boat. When the cabito gets nervous, he's reeled in quickly and pulled into the boat. The boats's motors are thrown into neutral and the fly fisher makes a cast to the now visible cruising roosterfish. Hookups per cast are low, but once made, the battle and eventual "photo opportunity" of the brilliantly colored and uniquely shaped roosterfish make it all worthwhile.

Tuna. Pound-for-pound, tuna have more strength and stamina than any fish in the sea, and they are one of the most popular gamefish in the area. Yellowfin tuna are most prevalent in the area of Cabo San Lucas July through December. Easily identified by their body shape and yellow fins, the second dorsal and anal fins are super-extended, and a mature yellowfin tuna has a golden or iridescent blue stripe running along its side from eye to tail. Most yellowfin around Cabo will run 8-30 pounds, but large specimens can weigh up to 300 pounds.

Surprisingly, experienced saltwater fly fishers say small minnow imitation patterns work better than big ones with this species. Lefty Kreh has said in print that patterns down to three inches long can be highly successful with this and other tuna species.


Wahoo jump higher, and have a greater top speed, than any other open-ocean sport fish.

Black skipjack tuna are also a popular target, and many claim these are the strongest of all the tuna. Most skipjacks in the Cabo area are between 8-15 pounds, with the largest specimens topping the scales at 20 pounds.

Wahoo. Wahoo are most prevalent around Cabo early and late in the year. Unlike many species around Cabo, they don't school up. Experienced saltwater anglers report that wahoo usually run in groups of five or six. They can grow to six feet long and weigh 100 pounds. Nicknamed "cheetahs of the sea," wahoo are without a doubt, the fastest, highest-jumping gamefish in the waters off Baja California.


Wahoo teeth are small, but they are interlocking, and razor-sharp. These fish require special considerations when rigging a leader, and are always dangerous to handle.

Amberjack, sierra mackerel, ladyfish, and jack crevalle ('toro' or bull) are all readily available near shore around Cabo. If a fisherman is content with these "inshore" species, he or she need never take a long boat ride out of Cabo San Lucas.
Pacific Jack Crevalle are not targeted by a great many fishermen around Cabo, but they are great fly rod quarry. They are often found schooling close to shore, crashing bait on the surface. Called "toro" by Spanish-speaking locals, these fish fight long and hard.

Trip Timing
One of the great things about fishing out of Cabo is that with the exception of hurricane season, you can go any month of the year and expect to catch fish. The best fishing often occurs in the winter. The winter weather in Cabo is almost always predictable, with daytime temperatures in the 80s, and the nights cooling down into the 70s.

If you're after a certain species, you have to go specific months of the year. If you fly to Cabo in March hoping to catch blue marlin, you are likely to be disappointed. Use the chart at www.baja-anglers.com/Species/index.html (click on the bottom left link)to help you time your trip to coincide with periods of historic abundance. It is important to remember that fishing is fishing--even the most carefully prepared plans can be disrupted by unseasonable weather or mood changes in the fish.

On-Line Catalogs
A.A. Outfitters Full service, fully stocked flyshop located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Allen Brothers Quality Fishing Flies Quality is more than just a word. We use Daichii hooks and all our beadheads are tied with tungsten. Check out unique variations on a lot of the classics, plus our original patterns! Angler's Pro Shop The finest products the fly fishing industry has to offer. Bighorn Fly and Tackle Shop Montana's premium fly shops, lodging and guide service. We're dedicated to helping you experience the best Montana has to offer. Bob Henley's TIE-A-FLY 19 traditional patterns. TIE-A-FLY kits have all materials needed to tie them, instructions/illustrations, a pre-tied fly to use as a model. Gary LaFontaine's "The Book Mailer" Every angling book & media in print—10% off 3 or more. LaFontaine fly patterns & materials. FREE anti-catalog. Crystal Fly Shop Online Store Quality products at reasonable prices from Winston, Elkhorn, St. Croix, Galvan, Solitude, Idylwilde, Chota, etc. Many items 15-35% off. Custom Fly Rod Crafters Fly rod building components, tools & supplies. Dan Bailey's Online Fly Shop Outfitting fly fishermen since 1938. Equipment & information to make your next fly fishing trip be a memorable one. Fly Fishing Flies & Gear Shop RiverBum.com for premium FLIES and GEAR from Simms, Sage, Fishpond & more ... Free Shipping on orders over $25!		FlyShack.com High quality, hand-tied flies. Assortments from $.60/fly. Great selection and excellent service. Free Shipping. FlyShopCloseouts.com Now—new and expanded—with much more brand name fly fishing tackle and gear at huge savings. Save 30-50% on quality brands you will recognize in an instant. Galloup's Slide Inn Online Fly Shop Full online store offering cutting-edge flies, equipment, and the best streamer selection found anywhere in the U.S. Hills Discount Flies Fly shop quality flies at wholesale prices. Over 1,000 patterns. Check out bargains in "Hot Deals" section. Hooked On Flies 65¢-69¢ a fly. That's 3 flies for less than the retail price of one fly. 450+ Trout Fly Patterns! Madison River Fishing Co. Spring is coming! We have TONS of new gear this year. Cloudveil, Simms, Sage, Under Armour, Vosseler Reels and lots more. Click or call 800-227-7127 for catalog. www.ShopUltimateAngler.com Your steelhead and smallmouth specialists featuring Simms, Sage, Patagonia, Orvis, guide services, local fishing reports and more!