FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CABO FISHING

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO FISH IN CABO?
There really isn't an off-season when it comes to fishing in Cabo. We're probably most famous for our billfish (marlin, sailfish, swordfish) and while November thru January often produce the most billfish hookups we still see billfish every month of the year.   Same goes for the most popular gamefish and table fare species like dorado, tuna, snapper and sierra. To get a better idea of when certain species are most plentiful, take a look at our Fishing Seasons Chart.       

HOW LONG IS A FULL DAY FISHING CHARTER?
We only offer full day fishing charters... and with good reason. Most folks want to catch fish! Sometimes that's easy, sometimes it's not – and when it's not you often have to venture farther out from port to get on the bite. A full day with us is 8 hours aboard the boat. That allows us to run to any one of the dozen spots we focus on to put our clients on hungry fish.           

WHAT TIME SHOULD WE SHOW UP AT THE BOAT?
We suggest arriving at our dock at 6:30am – you’re welcome to arrive earlier to capture the action that happens in the marina as Captains and crews get ready for their clients. You’ll find Minerva II and Minerva III tied up just inside Gate #1 (also called Striped Marlin) at the docks adjacent to the Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort & Spa. If you have a smartphone use this GOOGLE MAPS LOCATION link to find us – and you can share that location link with the rest of your group and your driver whether that’s a taxi, Uber or yourself.

DO I NEED A FISHING LICENSE?
Fishing Licenses are a requirement for every member of your charter, whether they are fishing or not – as per Mexican Law. Fishing licenses must be purchased in advance. We can assist you in acquiring your licenses and if you’ve booked an All-Inclusive Charter we will be in touch to get the information we need to secure your licenses. If you have booked a bare boat purchase your fishing licenses online via www.sportfishingbcs.gob.mx. Should you have any difficulty in acquiring your licenses, please contact us at least 3 business days in advance, so we can assist. Waiting until the morning of your charter can be a problem. At minimum, you may find yourself wasting valuable fishing time while waiting in line to purchase them in the marina. Don’t make that mistake is our best advice.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Bring a light jacket for cool mornings, and it's wise to have both a long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirt or tank top for our famously sunny days. A good sunblock with a high SPF of 50+ is advisable, as the sun down here is usually more intense than the majority of clients are used to. You are in the Tropics! Lip balm is also a good idea. A good pair of UV filtering sunglasses is a must, if you don't have a good pair, come into our tackle shop, we have them. 

Next, bring a camera if you have one, or you can use your smartphone to capture photos and video of your day on the water. If you bring an SLR camera, it's wise to have a polarized filter to cut out glare. 

Flip-flops are okay, but you might find them to be a bit lacking when it comes to keeping your footing. A good pair of sneakers with non-marking soles are a better bet. 

If you're prone to seasickness, we recommend you take a seasickness pill an hour or two before you board and make sure to stay hydrated. Dehydration is the leading cause of seasickness, so drink lots of water and avoid hard alcohol or heavy drinking the night before and during your day of fishing. 

You can bring personal fishing gear, although it’s really not necessary as our boats are fully equipped with rods, reels and terminal tackle. 

If you’re not on an All-Inclusive Charter, remember to bring food and drink of your own!  

WHERE WILL WE BE FISHING? HOW FAR OUT?
There are about a dozen seamounts, canyons and banks located off the coast of Los Cabos. The spots we fish most are the Gordo Banks, the 1150, San Lucas and Santa Maria Canyons as well as the infamous San Jaime and Golden Gate banks. About the farthest we'll run is 25-30 miles out of port, either up the Sea of Cortez are around the corner to the Pacific Ocean side of the Cape. Click the following link for our map of fishing hot spots in Los Cabos.        

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY CATCH?
It is illegal to fillet/clean your catch at sea or in the marina. If you want to keep the fish you catch, we will help arrange for fish-cleaning and packaging. We highly recommend Griselda’s Smokehouse for that service. Griselda will have a staff member come pick up your catch when you return to the marina. They will process your fish, flash freeze and hold it until the day you head home. We suggest bringing an ice chest/cooler (not styrofoam, a hard sided cooler!) to pack the flash frozen fish for travel home. 

When you arrive at the airport, they may want to inspect the cooler’s contents, so don’t tape it shut until after that occurs. Once cleared, use duct tape to seal the cooler securely shut for transport. If there’s extra room in the cooler, use some towels or even dirty clothing to fill in that airspace before you tape. It helps keep your fish frozen until you get home. It’s okay to put ice in the cooler heading to the airport, but it’s often required that you remove the ice and ice melt before the cooler is placed in the cargo hold. Best to remove it before you check the cooler onto your flight. 

Another great way to enjoy your catch is to have it prepared at one of many restaurants that do a fantastic job of preparing your fish in myriad ways - battered and fried, sauteed, veracruz style, fish tacos and more. Ask us for recommendations... we're happy to share our favorites!  

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOUR BOATS TAKE FISHING? 
In accordance with safe boating practices our charter boats, the Minerva II and Minerva III, can accomodate up to 6 passengers and carry safety gear for each of those passengers. If you have a group that is larger than 6, we may be able to help you book the appropriate charter boat through one of many trusted charter operators that offer larger boats.

CAN KIDS TAKE PART IN CHARTER FISHING TRIPS? 
You bet they can!   While infants and toddlers probably aren't a good idea, we've had plenty of youngsters discover their love of the ocean and fishing while on a Minerva's fishing charter. Take extra care to pack sunscreen and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have some Pedialyte or other electrolyte drinks aboard in case of dehyrdration or seasickness. If you need seasickness medication, let us know and we'll point you to the right stuff at one of the local pharmacies. Last but not least, if you're bringing exceptionally young, small children it would be wise to bring a properly fitted life jacket as most adult use jackets may not fit well enough to provide protection. 

ARE YOU CATCH AND RELEASE ON BILLFISH?
We're avid fans of preserving our fish stocks and that includes using circle hooks with live/dead baits and practicing catch and release of billfish. While you're under no obligation to release the billfish you catch – although we adhere to Mexican Fishing Regulations and that limits the keeping of billfish to one per day. There is NO limit to the number of fish, including billfish, that you catch and release.   Minerva's greatly appreciates anglers who understand the value of conserving billfish stocks and we ask that you take photos as opposed to taking billfish. The best photos are the ones taken with the fish in the water being prepared for a successful release! 

If you have other questions about fishing limits and laws in Mexico, visit the following link for a good overview on Mexican Fishing Regulations.