What's biting, and when
Something is in season all year, but the target species change. Striped marlin are the winter and spring fish, usually best from about January through July. Blue and black marlin arrive with warm summer water, peaking roughly July to October. Dorado (mahi-mahi) are strongest in the summer months, especially July and August. Yellowfin tuna are caught year-round, with peaks in summer and autumn.
October is widely considered the best all-round month: striped, blue and black marlin, wahoo, yellowfin and dorado can all be in the water at the same time. It is also tournament month, so book charters early.
- Striped marlin: ~January to July
- Blue & black marlin: ~July to October
- Dorado: summer, best July to August
- Yellowfin tuna: year-round, peaks summer to fall
- Wahoo: strongest in late summer and fall
Licenses and bag limits
Mexico requires a sportfishing license from CONAPESCA for fishing from a boat, and the rule covers everyone on board, of any age, whether or not they fish. Licenses are sold for one day, one week, one month or one year, through CONAPESCA's online system or authorized sellers. Many Cabo charters arrange licenses for the group; confirm this when you book. No license is needed to fish from shore.
Daily limits are set per angler: one billfish (marlin, sailfish or swordfish), up to two dorado or roosterfish, and a general limit of ten fish per day with no more than five of one species. Most Cabo crews encourage releasing billfish.
Catch and release
Releasing billfish is standard practice in Cabo. Crews will usually tag or photograph a marlin boatside and let it go, and keep tuna, dorado or wahoo for the table. Many marina restaurants will cook your cleaned catch; ask before you arrive.
Tournament rules support this. In Bisbee's Black & Blue, all billfish other than blue and black marlin must be released, and only blue or black marlin of 300 lb or more count for the weight prize. Roughly 88% of marlin caught in the 2024 event were released.
Bisbee's tournaments: watch the weigh-ins
Bisbee's Black & Blue began in 1981 with six boats and has grown into one of the richest fishing tournaments anywhere. Its biggest purse so far was $11,651,300 in 2022. In 2026, Bisbee's Los Cabos Offshore runs October 12 to 17, and the Black & Blue follows October 19 to 24, with fishing days October 21 to 23.
The weigh station is on the marina in front of Puerto Paraíso mall and is free and open to the public from 2 to 9 p.m. on each fishing day. From Villa 1 it is a short walk along Médano Beach to the marina.
