The yellowfin tuna are still the main event out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina, but the most effective zone has tightened up this week. Tuna are showing at the Iman Bank, San Luis Bank and the Gordo Banks, with San Luis producing the most consistent fishing right now. School-grade yellowfin from 30 to 40 pounds are eating live sardines, while the larger tuna are coming on slow-trolled small live skipjack. Marlin and wahoo fishing remains very slow. The positive change is at El Cardon, where dorado activity has increased and a small blue-and-white trolling lure has been the most effective presentation. Start with tuna at San Luis, keep the heavy gear ready, and use El Cardon as the smart dorado option.
Check the live San José del Cabo weather, wind, waves and sea conditions before your trip so you fish the safest and most productive window.
Check the Live Weather Report
Daliken Sportfishing Report
Today's Conditions
Peak summer water is holding tuna and bait across the Iman, San Luis and Gordo Banks, but San Luis is giving us the best combination of marks, bait and repeatable bites. The waxing gibbous moon is building toward full on Thursday, August 27, so the tidal range and current will increase through the week. On Sunday the early rising tide leads into a 7:15 AM high, creating a useful morning window. Start early, watch how fast the boat drifts, and adjust weight on the sardine rigs rather than fishing one setup all morning.
Tide, Moon and Currents
The morning rise toward the 7:15 AM high tide is the first window to work. Set up up-current of the tuna marks and let the sardines move back naturally. As the moon builds toward full, expect quicker drifts later in the week and be ready to add weight or shorten the presentation. Tide times above are local predictions for San José del Cabo; wind and offshore conditions can shift the actual drift, so check the live report before departure.
Weather Outlook, August 23 to 29
The week stays hot and humid. The first three days carry the best chance of a shower or isolated thunderstorm, followed by a drier and mostly clearer pattern from Wednesday into Saturday. Forecasts can change quickly in late August, so the live marine dashboard should make the final call.
| Day | Conditions | High / Low | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Aug 23 | Light showers, partly cloudy | 91 / 81°F | About 14 mph |
| Mon, Aug 24 | Broken clouds, showers possible late | 92 / 79°F | About 9 mph |
| Tue, Aug 25 | Broken clouds, isolated thunderstorms | 92 / 80°F | About 9 mph |
| Wed, Aug 26 | Morning clouds, mainly dry | 92 / 80°F | About 10 mph |
| Thu, Aug 27 | Scattered clouds, hot | 94 / 79°F | About 11 mph |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Scattered clouds, hot and humid | 94 / 81°F | About 10 mph |
| Sat, Aug 29 | Morning clouds, mainly dry | 94 / 81°F | About 9 mph |
San Luis Is the Most Effective Tuna Bank Right Now
Yellowfin tuna are present at the Iman Bank, San Luis Bank and the Gordo Banks, but San Luis is where the fishing has been most effective this week. The reliable program is live sardines for 30 to 40 pound tuna. Start up-current of the marks, keep a measured chum line going and let a lively sardine swim naturally rather than burying it under too much weight.
The larger yellowfin are a different commitment. Those fish are eating small live skipjack slow-trolled over the bank. Keep the skipjack swimming cleanly, use the heavy tackle from the start and give the tuna enough time to turn before coming tight on the circle hook. Iman and Gordo still deserve a look when the bait and marks line up, but the first recommendation this week is San Luis.
Marlin and wahoo fishing is very slow. Keep a pitch bait and an appropriate trolling rod ready because an incidental fish can still appear, but do not build the entire day around either species right now. The highest-percentage plan is tuna first, followed by the improving dorado bite at El Cardon if the bank does not develop.
The Bite Right Now, Species by Species
Here is the honest breakdown from El Cardon to the offshore banks.
Yellowfin Tuna, 30 to 40 lb
Good and most consistent at San Luis Bank, with additional fish at Iman and the Gordo Banks. Live sardines are the key. Use a small circle hook, the lightest leader the water allows and only enough weight to keep the bait in the bite zone. A steady, controlled chum line is more effective than dumping bait all at once.
Larger Yellowfin Tuna
Slow-troll a small live skipjack on the heavy outfit. Bridle or rig the bait so it swims straight, run the boat just fast enough to keep it active and avoid turning sharply across the bank. This is a patience program, but it is the right presentation for the larger tuna showing this week.
Dorado at El Cardon
Dorado activity has increased in the El Cardon area. The best lure has been a small blue-and-white trolling lure. Fish it where it runs cleanly near the edge of the prop wash, work current lines, bait and any floating structure, and keep a live bait or casting setup ready when the first dorado shows.
Marlin and Wahoo
Both remain very slow. A marlin may still inspect a tuna bait or a trolling spread, and an isolated wahoo is always possible around a clean edge, but these are bonus fish this week. Do not leave a productive San Luis tuna bite to chase scattered reports without fresh signs of bait or feeding activity.
Dorado Activity Is Improving at El Cardon
The dorado side finally moved in the right direction this week. El Cardon is showing more activity, and the most effective presentation has been a small blue-and-white trolling lure. Keep the lure compact, make sure it is tracking cleanly and stay close to bait, color changes, current seams or floating material. Once one fish is hooked, keep the boat moving long enough to look for followers before clearing every line.
Start at San Luis, Then Let the Marks Decide the Day
My first call this week is San Luis Bank. Leave early and use the rising water into the 7:15 AM high tide to find the bait and set the first sardine drift. If you want steady action, fish live sardines for the 30 to 40 pound tuna and keep the chum controlled. If your priority is one large yellowfin, tell the captain before the first setup so the crew can commit to the small live skipjack program and heavy tackle. If San Luis does not show bait, deep marks or clean drifts, check Iman or the Gordo Banks rather than waiting on dead water. El Cardon is the best change of plan: pull the small blue-and-white lure and look for dorado around current lines and moving bait. Marlin and wahoo stay rigged as opportunities, but they are not where I would spend the best hours of the morning.
Recommended Tackle by Target
The three productive programs this week require different outfits. Match the gear to the target instead of asking one setup to do everything.
| Target | Rod and Reel | Line and Leader | Hook or Lure | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowfin tuna 30 to 40 lb |
7 ft medium-heavy rod, 6500 to 8000 spinner or 30 class conventional | 50 to 65 lb braid, 30 to 50 lb fluorocarbon leader | 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook with a live sardine | Use the lightest leader and weight the conditions allow; keep the sardine lively |
| Larger yellowfin tuna | Heavy stand-up rod, 50W to 80W two-speed lever drag | 100 to 130 lb main line, 200 to 300 lb leader | Heavy circle hook matched to a small live skipjack | Slow-troll straight and let the fish turn before increasing drag |
| Dorado El Cardon |
6.5 to 7 ft 30 to 50 lb rod with a conventional or heavy spinner | 30 to 50 lb main line, 40 to 60 lb leader | Small blue-and-white trolling lure | Run the lure cleanly near bait and current edges; keep a casting bait ready |
Our boats carry the tackle needed for these programs. Anglers bringing personal gear should have a true heavy outfit ready before slow-trolling a skipjack. Large yellowfin and summer predators punish undersized tackle, and a long fight reduces the chance of bringing the fish to the boat in good condition.
Techniques We Recommend This Week
What We Are Running
- San Luis sardine drift: locate bait and deep tuna marks first, position up-current, nose-hook a lively sardine and feed it back naturally with a measured chum line
- Adjusting to current: begin with the lightest presentation possible, then add small amounts of weight as the drift increases instead of jumping directly to a heavy sinker
- Large tuna program: slow-troll a small live skipjack just fast enough to keep it swimming strongly, avoid sharp turns and use the heavy outfit from the first pass
- Dorado at El Cardon: troll a compact blue-and-white lure near bait, color changes, current seams and floating structure; keep another rod ready for followers
- Hooked dorado: keep the first fish in the water briefly when safe so the school stays close, then cast a live bait or small lure to the followers
- Marlin and wahoo: keep one suitable setup ready, but treat them as opportunity fish and protect the productive tuna window
- Weather strategy: leave early, carry strong sun protection and recheck storms, wind and waves before departure throughout this hot and humid week
San Luis first: sardines for 30 to 40 pound tuna, small live skipjack for the larger fish. If the bank does not develop, El Cardon and the small blue-and-white lure are the smart move for dorado.
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. The bigger boats have the range and heavy gear for the San Luis, Iman and Gordo Banks tuna program, while the pangas are an excellent fit for two or three anglers on a focused day. Choose the boat that fits your group:
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