The offshore bite lit up this weekend out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina. Blue marlin and sailfish are both in the mix now, joining the strong striped marlin action that has been the backbone of the summer season. Add quality yellowfin tuna, dorado while trolling and the ever-active roosterfish inshore, and you have a full-blown billfish summer taking shape. When the blues and the sails show up together, you know Los Cabos is in its prime.
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
The water is warm on the Cortez side and cooler blue offshore, and the billfish are using the clean current edges to feed. We are on a waning moon heading toward the new moon, which means neap tides with a lighter range, so timing the day around the tide changes matters. South wind has come up on some mornings, but the mornings have still been the best window, exactly when the marlin and sailfish are traveling with the small tuna schools along the current edges. Get out early and you put yourself right in the action.
Tide, Moon and Currents
On a neap tide the water moves less, so the bite windows are tighter and the solunar major periods around the tide changes become the key. The billfish are traveling the current edges with the bait, so we run the clean blue water and read the color changes. For exact times the day of your trip, check the live weather and tide report linked above.
Blue Marlin and Sailfish Are On
This is what the summer billfish season is all about. Blue marlin and sailfish are both in the offshore mix now, joining the strong striped marlin action that has been consistent for weeks. The blues are the trophy every offshore angler chases, and the sailfish add spectacular surface fights, tail-walking and lit up in the spread. Trolling lures and rigged ballyhoo on the clean blue water is raising them, with a pitch bait ready for any fish that comes up hot on the teasers. When you can raise a blue, a sail and a striper on the same day, you are fishing one of the best billfish destinations on the planet at its peak.
The Bite Right Now, Species by Species
Here is the honest breakdown of what our crews and the rest of the fleet are seeing from the shoreline out to the offshore banks.
Blue Marlin and Sailfish
The headline. Blue marlin are showing offshore as the water warms, and sailfish have joined the billfish bite with their signature acrobatic fights. Trolling lures and rigged ballyhoo on the clean blue water, pitch bait ready. These are the trophy fish that made this coast the Marlin Capital of the World.
Striped Marlin
Still the backbone of the offshore bite, with consistent action around the 1150 Bank, Herradura, Palmilla and the Gordo Banks. Multiple hookups in a morning are common. The stripers are traveling with small tuna schools along the current edges, best at the early bite window on live caballito and slow-trolled ballyhoo.
Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado
Tuna are holding over the porpoise schools offshore, with quality fish taking live caballito slow trolled over the top. Dorado in the 30 to 40 lb range are coming while trolling for marlin on lures and ballyhoo, a great bonus fish on any offshore day.
Roosterfish and Inshore
The shoreline stays productive. Roosterfish and jack crevalle are active along the beaches from Palmilla to the East Cape on live caballito and green jacks, with smaller ones on sardines. All roosterfish released. The best light tackle fight in the region if you want to skip the offshore run.
Get Out Early and Chase the Billfish
With blue marlin, sailfish and striped marlin all in play, this is a billfish week and the early bite is everything. My call is to leave the marina at first light and run to the clean blue water, working the current edges where the billfish travel with the bait. Trolling lures and ballyhoo raises them, and we keep a pitch rod with live caballito ready for the ones that come up on the teasers. On this waning moon and neap tide, the morning tide movement is the key window, so an early start puts you right in it. If you want to mix in some light tackle action, the roosterfish are still going on the beach. Tell us what you are after and we will build the perfect day around it.
Tackle and Gear
What We Are Running
- Blue marlin and sailfish setup: 80 to 130 lb stand-up gear, 200 to 500 lb leaders, trolled lures and rigged ballyhoo on the clean blue water, pitch bait with live caballito ready
- Striped marlin setup: 80 to 130 lb rods, 200 to 400 lb leaders, slow-trolled ballyhoo and live caballito along the current edges at first light
- Tuna setup: 30 to 60 lb test, live caballito slow trolled over the porpoise schools offshore
- Roosterfish setup: spinning gear with 30 to 50 lb braid, live caballito and green jacks along the shoreline from Palmilla to the East Cape
- Finding the fish: read the water color and current edges for the billfish, watch for porpoise and bird activity for the tuna
- Bait: live caballito, green jacks, rigged ballyhoo and sardines all key this week
Blue marlin, sailfish and striped marlin all in the same water. When the billfish stack up like this in July, Los Cabos shows exactly why it earned the title Marlin Capital of the World.
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 hunt, and the pangas are perfect for the inshore roosterfish 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
