The tuna bite out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina is excellent right now, and it is producing across every size class. Schoolies from 20 pounds are eating sardines on the chum line, and the big fish are still out there: this week Captain Pancho put a client on a 192 pound yellowfin from a 23 foot panga after a 90 minute fight. Dorado, marlin and wahoo have all gone slow, but that is about to change. October starts in a week, and that is when the best fishing season of the entire year begins in Los Cabos.
Check the live San José del Cabo weather and sea conditions before your trip so you fish the right window.
Check the Live Weather Report
Daliken Sportfishing Report
Today's Conditions
Today is the full moon, the Harvest Moon, and that matters more than most anglers realize. A full moon means spring tides, the biggest tidal range of the month and the strongest current push. That moving water is exactly what stacks the bait and turns the tuna on, which is a big part of why this bite is firing the way it is. The trade-off is that fish feeding heavily under a bright full moon at night can be less aggressive at midday, so the early window matters even more this week.
Tide, Moon and Currents
On a full moon spring tide the water moves hard, which keeps the bait tight and the tuna feeding on the edges. We plan the run so first light and the morning tide movement line up. For exact times the day of your trip, check the live weather and tide report linked above.
192 Pounds, From a 23 Foot Panga
This is the story of the week and it deserves the headline. Captain Pancho put his angler on a 192 pound yellowfin tuna that ate a slow-trolled live skipjack, and then came the hard part: one hour and thirty minutes of stand-up fighting from the deck of a 23 foot panga, our smallest boat.
Understand what that means. A panga that size has no fighting chair, no tower, and a low freeboard. Every inch of that fish had to be earned by hand while the captain worked the boat. Ninety minutes of that is a serious physical test, and landing a fish of that class on that boat is the kind of day an angler remembers for the rest of his life. The scale does not lie, and neither does the photo.
The Bite Right Now, Species by Species
Here is the honest breakdown of what our crews are seeing this week.
Yellowfin Tuna, Schoolies 20 to 40 lb
Excellent and steady. These fish are coming on the sardine chum line, and that is the whole technique: get a live chum going, keep the sardines flowing, and let the school come up to you. This is the high-action fishing where the whole boat stays busy and everyone goes home with fish.
Yellowfin Tuna, Big Grade 100 lb+
The trophy target, and they are here. Big fish are eating slow-trolled live skipjack over the banks. This is a patience game on heavy stand-up gear, and when one eats you had better be ready to work. The 192 pounder this week proves what is swimming out there.
Dorado
Slow right now. You may pick one up as a bonus while working the tuna grounds, but they are not a realistic target this week. This is normal for the tail end of September, and it is exactly the kind of thing that flips fast once October conditions settle in.
Marlin and Wahoo
Both slow. The billfish have thinned out compared to peak summer and the wahoo have been scarce. We keep a rigged ballyhoo and a lure in the pattern in case one shows, but neither is worth building your day around right now.
October Is the Best Month of the Year Here
If you are reading this trying to decide when to come, here is the honest answer: book October. The season turns in about a week, and October is widely considered the best fishing month of the entire year in Los Cabos.
What changes is that everything comes back at once. The dorado, marlin and wahoo that are slow right now typically fire back up, while the tuna bite that is already excellent keeps going. That overlap is what makes October special, it is the one stretch where you can realistically target multiple trophy species on the same trip. It is also why October is peak tournament month in Los Cabos, the fish are simply there.
The flip side is that October books out. If you want specific dates, message us now rather than later.
The Week Ahead
Here is the verified forecast for the coming week so you can pick your window. The short version: Tuesday is the day to avoid if you are sensitive to rough water, and conditions improve noticeably heading into October.
| Day | High / Low | Wind | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 26 | 91° / 78°F | 9 to 19 mph | Scattered showers, fishable |
| Sun, Sep 27 | 90° / 80°F | 12 to 22 mph | Showers around, chop building |
| Mon, Sep 28 | 91° / 79°F | 15 to 27 mph | Windy, rougher ride |
| Tue, Sep 29 | 95° / 78°F | 17 to 30 mph | Windiest day of the week |
| Wed, Sep 30 | 93° / 76°F | 7 to 19 mph | Wind easing, improving |
| Thu, Oct 1 | 91° / 77°F | 6 to 18 mph | Best window, October opens |
Monday and Tuesday are the rough days. With wind gusting to 30 mph on Tuesday, the ride offshore will be uncomfortable and a panga is not the right boat for it. If your dates are flexible, aim for Wednesday or Thursday, when the wind drops back and the water lays down. If your dates are not flexible and you are on a windy day, take the bigger boat, the extra freeboard and the smoother hull make a real difference. Forecasts shift, so always confirm with us the day before.
Tactics That Are Working
What We Are Running
- Schoolie tuna technique: live sardine chum line. Keep a steady flow of sardines going to bring the school up and hold them behind the boat, then feed a hooked sardine into the chum naturally with no drag on it
- Big tuna technique: slow-trolled live skipjack over the banks at 1.5 to 2.5 knots, just enough to keep the bait swimming upright and natural. Let the fish eat before you come tight
- Schoolie setup: 30 to 50 lb class rods, 6500 to 8000 spinner or a 30 class conventional, 50 to 65 lb braid to 40 to 50 lb fluorocarbon, 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook, light drag at first
- Big fish setup: heavy stand-up 80 to 130 lb class, 50W to 80W two-speed with real drag capability, 100 to 130 lb main to a 200 to 300 lb leader, 9/0 to 11/0 circle hook, harness and gimbal belt are not optional
- Billfish standby: keep a rigged ballyhoo ready in case a marlin or wahoo shows while working the tuna grounds
- What to bring: sunscreen, hat, polarized sunglasses and plenty of water. Highs are still in the low 90s and the humidity is heavy
Pancho and Fredy on How to Fish This Week
Captain Pancho says the big fish are absolutely there, and he has the 192 pounder to prove it, but you have to commit to the program. Put out a live skipjack, work the banks, and be patient. You may sit a long quiet stretch before the bite that makes your trip. Come physically ready, because a fish of that class will test you, and on a panga there is nowhere to hide from the fight.
Captain Fredy recommends the sardine chum line for anglers who want a day where everyone catches. Get the chum going early, keep it consistent, and the 20 to 40 pound fish will come up and stay with the boat. It is the higher percentage play, especially with families or first-timers aboard.
Both agree on the same two things. First, leave the marina at first light, because with this full moon spring tide the morning current is the best window of the day. Second, if your dates are flexible, wait for Wednesday or Thursday when the wind drops, and if you can push your trip into October, do it.
Ninety minutes, a 23 foot panga, and 192 pounds of yellowfin. The tuna are wide open right now, and October has not even started yet.
From the Day on the Water
Book Your Trip
Our fleet runs daily out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina in San José del Cabo, the quieter side of Los Cabos away from the Cabo San Lucas crowds. As this week proved, even our smallest panga can put you on a fish of a lifetime. Choose the boat that fits your group:
Fish With Us From the Cabo San Lucas Side
On the Cabo San Lucas side instead? Our California 32ft runs out of Cabo San Lucas with legendary Captain Roberto and quality gear including Shimano Talica reels. Same honest fishing, no need to cross to San José.
Looking for a Bigger Boat?
Larger groups, or anglers who want more range and a smoother ride on the windier days, can see the full lineup on our fleet page.
View the Full FleetBrowse our latest Los Cabos fishing reports for the full week of catches and conditions out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina.
Questions or custom dates? Message us on WhatsApp at +52 624 205 0563
