Daliken Sportfishing — San José del Cabo
Plan your trip around peak seasons. See when each species is most active off San José del Cabo — so you book at exactly the right time.
Updated April 2026 · Based on 10+ years of local data by Daliken Sportfishing
| Species | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Marlin | Fair | Fair | Low | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Blue / Black Marlin | Low | Low | Low | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Fair | Low |
| Yellowfin Tuna | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Fair | Good | Fair | Fair |
| Mahi-Mahi (Dorado) | Low | Low | Low | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Low |
| Roosterfish | Good | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Low | Low | Fair | Good | Good |
| Sierra Mackerel | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Low | Low | Low | Fair | Good | Very Good | Excellent |
| Wahoo | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Fair | Low | Low | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Fair |
| Snapper / Grouper | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Amberjack | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Low | Low | Fair | Good | Excellent | Good |
Striped Marlin
Peak: May – Jul & Oct
The signature catch of San José del Cabo. Best offshore with a full sportfisher.
Blue / Black Marlin
Peak: Jun – Aug
Trophy-class billfish. Warm summer waters bring the biggest individuals.
Yellowfin Tuna
Peak: May – Jun
Hard-fighting and delicious. Found in offshore schools from spring onward.
Mahi-Mahi (Dorado)
Peak: Jun – Sep
The most colorful fish in Baja — and one of the best to eat. Summer staple.
Roosterfish
Peak: Mar – Apr
Iconic inshore species with a fierce fight. Best on pangas near the beach.
Wahoo
Peak: Feb – Mar & Sep – Nov
The fastest fish in the sea. Two peak windows make it a great target year-round.
Sierra Mackerel
Peak: Jan – Feb & Dec
Excellent winter fishing. Great for beginners and perfect for ceviche.
Snapper & Grouper
Peak: Oct – Feb
Bottom-fishing giants. Reliable year-round, at their best through winter.
Amberjack
Peak: Feb & Nov
Powerful reef fighter. Underrated — and one of the strongest pulls you'll feel.
San José del Cabo sits at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. This geography creates one of the world's most productive sport fishing zones — with year-round activity and a rotating cast of species that peaks at different times throughout the year.
Fall is the golden season. October through December brings peak conditions for multiple species at once: striped marlin, wahoo, snapper, and amberjack are all at their best simultaneously. This is also the period when the largest blue marlin are most likely to be encountered offshore. If you can only come once, plan for October or November.
Summer is ideal for pelagics. June through September delivers the best action for dorado (mahi-mahi), blue and black marlin, and yellowfin tuna. Water temperatures rise and bait concentrations push offshore game fish closer to the coast. This is the season for serious billfishing on our deep sea fishing charters.
Winter and spring are underrated. January through April means excellent sierra mackerel, roosterfish, snapper, and wahoo. Sea conditions are calm, crowds are lower, and charter rates are the same — making this a smart time to book for families and first-time anglers on our inshore panga charters.
Ready to plan your trip? Read our full Best Time to Fish guide or check our latest fish reports for current conditions.
Tell us what you want to catch — we'll match you with the right boat and the right month.
Fishing calendar for San José del Cabo by Daliken Sportfishing. Best time of year to catch marlin, tuna, dorado, roosterfish, snapper, and more. Plan your trip with local experts and discover top fishing months in Baja California Sur.