Cabo has been known as one of the great sportfishing destinations in the world for decades. And after spending plenty of my own time on the water here, I can tell you that you don’t need to be an experienced angler to understand why.
You also don’t need to own a boat, know every knot, or have any idea what lure to use.
You need a good captain.
In Cabo, the Captain Matters More Than the Boat
There are plenty of impressive fishing boats in Los Cabos, and there is nothing wrong with wanting a comfortable day on the water. But if your priority is catching fish, I would choose my captain before I chose my boat.
The best local captains are on the water constantly.
They know where the fish have been moving. They know what has been biting. They understand the currents, water temperatures, bait and seasonal patterns. More importantly, they know when yesterday’s fishing spot isn’t today’s fishing spot.
That local knowledge is difficult to replace.
When choosing a Cabo fishing charter, ask about the captain’s experience, licensing, what is included in the charter, whether fishing licenses are provided, and their policies regarding catch and release.
If you are serious about fishing, I would also ask how often the captain is actually on the water.
There is a big difference between somebody who occasionally takes people fishing and somebody who makes his living doing it.
What Can You Catch in Cabo?
The waters surrounding Los Cabos offer an incredible variety of sportfish throughout the year.
Marlin put Cabo on the international fishing map, particularly striped marlin, but depending on the season and conditions, anglers also come here for blue and black marlin, dorado, tuna, wahoo, roosterfish and other species.
Part of what makes Cabo so unique is its geography.
At Land’s End, the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. That gives us access to very different fishing environments within a relatively small area.
Some days you head toward the Pacific. Other days the action takes you up the Sea of Cortez or toward the East Cape.
Again, this is where having the right captain becomes important.
Fishing Is Part of the Cabo Lifestyle
This is also something I see increasingly in real estate.
Years ago, the Cabo luxury real estate conversation revolved heavily around two things: ocean views and beachfront.
Those things obviously still matter. But today’s buyers tend to ask much more detailed questions about how they are actually going to live here.
Where do I play golf?
Where can I keep my boat?
How quickly can I get to the marina?
Where do we surf?
Where can my family spend the day?
How close am I to the activities I came to Cabo to enjoy?
Those questions can completely change which community makes sense for someone.
Where Should Fishermen Buy Real Estate in Cabo?
If fishing and boating are going to be a significant part of your Cabo life, location deserves some thought.
Puerto Los Cabos is an obvious starting point. The marina in San José del Cabo provides convenient access to the Sea of Cortez and fishing grounds toward the East Cape. For someone who wants boating and fishing integrated into everyday life, it can be an excellent fit.
On the other end of the Corridor, Cabo San Lucas has one of the area’s best-known sportfishing marinas and immediate access to both the Pacific and Sea of Cortez.
Then you have the communities throughout the Tourist Corridor. Depending on the property, these can give you the privacy, golf, beach clubs and amenities of Cabo’s luxury communities while still keeping either marina within reasonable reach.
There isn’t one “best” location.
It depends on what you actually plan to do here.
And that is a conversation I think gets overlooked far too often in real estate.
Buy for the Life You Actually Want
I have always believed that buying Cabo real estate should start with lifestyle and work backward to the property.
A golfer and a fisherman may have completely different definitions of the perfect Cabo house.
So might someone with a boat, someone with young kids, or someone who plans to spend six months a year here.
The house matters. The view matters. The investment matters.
But after the transaction is finished, what really matters is what your Tuesday morning looks like.
For me, a pretty good one involves getting on the boat early, finding some fish, and getting back in time for lunch.
If that sounds like your version of Cabo too, reach out. I’m happy to talk fishing, real estate, or both.
Justin Dow
Cabo Life Real Estate
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