The billfish are putting on a show out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina this week, led by the sailfish. Sails have been active all along the stretch from El Cardon to the Iman Bank, giving anglers spectacular acrobatic fights. The striped marlin bite has slowed a bit, but black marlin have shown up on the Gordo Banks high spot, and the yellowfin tuna are still going strong at the San Luis Bank. Dorado are a coin flip at about 50 percent right now. The one challenge is the sharks, which have been thick and making the tuna fishing tough. Plenty of action for anyone ready to fish.
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
Peak summer conditions have the water warm and the pelagics active. We are on a waning crescent moon approaching the new moon, which means the tides are building back toward the spring range with stronger current, and that moving water has the billfish and tuna feeding. South wind has come up on some mornings, but the early window has been the best, both for the bite and for beating the heat. The sails have been especially active along the El Cardon to Iman stretch, and the tuna are stacked at San Luis.
Tide, Moon and Currents
Approaching the new moon, the tides are building toward the spring range with stronger current, which keeps the bait and the billfish active on the banks. We time the run so the early 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.
Sailfish Active from El Cardon to Iman
The sailfish are the standout this week. Active all along the stretch from El Cardon to the Iman Bank, the sails have been lighting up the spread with their signature tail-walking, acrobatic fights. They are one of the most spectacular sport fish in the ocean to watch and to catch, and right now the numbers are there. Trolling rigged ballyhoo and lures along that productive stretch is raising them, with a pitch bait ready for the ones that pop up on the teasers. We release every sailfish, a quick photo and back in the water, so bring your camera and get ready for a show.
Sailfish and Striped Marlin Released
The sailfish and striped marlin you see in this week's photos were all released alive, a quick photo boatside and revived back into the water to fight another day. We are committed to releasing our billfish to keep this fishery strong. The one exception this week was a black marlin that unfortunately did not survive the fight despite our efforts, which happens on occasion with these powerful deep-fighting fish. When it does, nothing goes to waste and the fish is shared and used. Releasing healthy billfish whenever possible is core to how we fish at Daliken.
The Bite Right Now, Species by Species
Here is the honest breakdown of what our crews are seeing from El Cardon out to the offshore banks.
Sailfish
The headline bite. Active and consistent from El Cardon to the Iman Bank, eating rigged ballyhoo and lures on the troll. Spectacular acrobatic fighters and a blast on lighter billfish gear. All released. If you want to raise multiple billfish in a day, this is the target and the zone right now.
Black and Striped Marlin
Black marlin have shown up on the Gordo Banks high spot, a powerful trophy target worth the run. The striped marlin bite has slowed a bit compared to earlier in the summer, but they are still around in the mix. Lures and rigged ballyhoo, pitch bait ready for both.
Yellowfin Tuna
Still very active at the San Luis Bank, which has been the go-to tuna zone. Live caballito and sardines around the schools have been producing. The tuna are there and eating. The catch is the sharks, so getting them to the boat before the sharks do is the real challenge this week.
Dorado
The dorado bite is a coin flip right now, running about 50 percent. Some days they show and eat well on lures and ballyhoo, other days they are scarce. When they do come, they are a welcome bonus and some of the best eating in the ocean, but they are not the sure thing this week.
Heavy shark activity is making the tuna fishing tough. The sharks have been thick around the San Luis tuna grounds, and they have been taking hooked tuna during the fight before we can get them to the boat. It is a frustrating part of summer fishing when the bait and predators stack up. Our crews manage it by fighting fish fast and moving off the sharks when they zero in, but it is worth knowing that landing every tuna is not guaranteed right now.
Chase the Sails, Hunt the Tuna Early
With the sailfish this active, my call is to work the El Cardon to Iman stretch trolling ballyhoo and lures for the sails, which are the most consistent and most fun bite right now. If you want tuna, we run to the San Luis Bank, but I will be honest, the sharks are thick there and landing them is a race, so we fish fast and stay mobile. For a trophy shot, the black marlin on the Gordo high spot are worth the run. Whatever you choose, leave the marina at first light. The early window is the best bite and the coolest part of the day. We release our sailfish and striped marlin, so come get some spectacular photos and let them swim off strong.
What to Bring Aboard
Peak summer sun in Los Cabos is intense on the water. To make the most of your day, bring sunscreen, a hat, polarized sunglasses and plenty of water. We keep the boat stocked, but the heat this time of year is serious, so staying hydrated and covered up makes all the difference. A light long-sleeve sun shirt goes a long way, and the early morning is both the best bite and the most comfortable time to fish.
Tackle and Gear
What We Are Running
- Sailfish setup: 30 to 50 lb gear, rigged ballyhoo and lures trolled from El Cardon to Iman, pitch bait ready, all released
- Black and striped marlin setup: 80 to 130 lb stand-up gear, 200 to 500 lb leaders, lures and rigged ballyhoo, pitch bait with live caballito
- Tuna setup: 40 to 60 lb test, live caballito and sardines around the schools at the San Luis Bank, fight them fast to beat the sharks
- Dorado setup: 30 to 50 lb test, 40 to 60 lb leaders, small lures and ballyhoo when they show
- Sun protection: sunscreen, hat, polarized sunglasses and plenty of water are essential in this heat
- Bait: rigged ballyhoo, live caballito, sardines and trolling lures all key this week
Sailfish firing from El Cardon to Iman, tuna stacked at San Luis, black marlin on the Gordo. August billfish fishing in Los Cabos is in full swing, sharks and all.
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 for the offshore billfish and tuna, and the pangas are perfect for the nearshore bite. 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 space, range and amenities for the offshore run 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
