Private Fishing Trip “All Inclusive” in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo’s best fishing days can turn into something much bigger than a trip for marlin. You might reel in striped marlin, dorado, wahoo, tuna, roosterfish, or barracuda, then spot whales and dolphins on the ride. The private boat gives your group room to choose between big-game fishing and more frequent smaller catches. The fishing can be excellent, with several trips producing marlin and large dorado. I also like that the price covers equipment, bait, licenses, lunch, and drinks, so you can arrive ready to fish.

There is a real catch, and it is not always in the water. Crew quality and communication appear to vary, and a few serious complaints involve shortened trips, unclear handling of caught marlin, food that was not offered clearly, and pressure around tips or taxidermy. You should confirm the captain, boat, fishing plan, trip length, and fish arrangements before leaving the dock.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to four: Your group does not share the fishing deck with strangers.
• Eight hours on paper: A full day gives you time to chase billfish or switch to species that bite more often.
• Cabo’s two-water setting: The route can reach the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, with views of El Arco and Chileno Bay.
• Gear and bait are supplied: Rods, tackle, live bait, and fishing licenses are included.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect lunch, snacks, bottled water, sodas, and beer.
• Captain assignment matters: Boats and crew vary, so ask who will operate your trip and agree on the plan first.

What your $625 private charter buys

The price is $625 per group of up to four, not per person. With four people aboard, that works out to about $156.25 each for roughly eight hours on the water. For a private boat with a captain, first mate, equipment, live bait, licenses, lunch, and drinks, that can be a fair deal, especially if your group wants a full fishing day rather than a short shared outing.

The value changes if only two people book. The same group price then works out to $312.50 per person, so you should decide how much privacy and control are worth to you. A private trip is useful for families, couples who want a quiet boat, or friends with different fishing goals. You can discuss big-game fishing, smaller species, sightseeing, and the pace of the day without negotiating with strangers.

Pickup is not included. You need to reach the meeting point at Cabo Sportfishing Crew, IGY Marina E Dock, Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 18, in central Cabo San Lucas. The trip ends back there. Fish cleaning is also not included, so ask before departure where your catch can be processed and what extra charge, if any, applies.

The description covers food and drinks, but gratuity is not listed as an included item. Since some complaints involve confusion about tipping, ask the crew directly at the start. A quick conversation is easier than a tense one at the end of a long day.

Leaving Marina Cabo San Lucas

Your day starts at Marina Cabo San Lucas, where the captain and first mate meet your group. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the experience is offered in English. The exact boat can vary. Possible boats include Blue Tail, Blue Tail II, El Pargo, Reel Tequila, Robalo, and others available that day.

That changing boat assignment is worth noting. Do not assume the boat name, captain’s name, or start time until the operator confirms it. One poor experience involved confusion over the start time, boat, and captain. I would save the meeting details on your phone and ask the dock staff to point you to the correct crew.

The boat is supplied with rods and fishing gear, so you do not need to haul your own tackle through Cabo. The crew also provides live bait and fishing licenses. You should still ask what personal items to bring, since the supplied information does not specify clothing, sun protection, medication, or seasickness needs.

The first mate is important here. This person usually helps set lines, changes bait, explains how to use the rod, and assists when a fish strikes. Several strong trips involved crew members such as Andres, Luis, Jorge, Gustavo, Joel, Alex, Juan, Jose, Freddie, Ruben, Tito, and Ivan. These names reflect different reported outings, not a promise that a particular person will be assigned to you.

El Arco and the first run offshore

The route includes El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, the famous rock formation at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. It is one of the most useful sightseeing parts of the trip, particularly if someone in your group likes dramatic coastal views as much as fishing.

Do not read the stop list as a promise of a long shore visit at every location. This is a fishing charter, not a beach-hopping cruise. The captain may pass near El Arco, circle for photos, or include it as part of the route while moving toward fishing grounds.

From here, the boat can continue into the Pacific or toward the Sea of Cortez. That choice matters because fishing conditions, target species, wind, water temperature, and wave height affect the day. Some outings produced marlin within minutes of reaching the fishing area. Others spent hours searching and caught little or nothing.

The crew’s approach also matters. On good days, the mate may keep changing baits and tackle to improve your chances. Joel was praised for trying different bait and tackle during one successful trip, while another group felt the crew changed bait too few times. Ask how often the crew plans to adjust the setup if the fish are not biting.

Chileno Bay, Playa el Chileno, and calmer options

Chileno Bay and Playa el Chileno appear in the route as scenic points along the Cabo coast. These stops add variety to a long day at sea, giving you coastal views and a chance to see another side of Los Cabos beyond the marina and rock arch.

The practical benefit is flexibility. If the fishing plan changes, these areas can form part of a scenic run rather than leaving the group with only open water and quiet lines. Still, the central purpose remains fishing. You should not book this trip expecting a full beach day or time to swim at Playa el Chileno unless the crew confirms that plan.

Conditions can change fast. Reports include calm, productive mornings as well as rough water with three to eight-foot swells. One family still caught roosterfish and sea bass in large swells, while another group spent much of the day fighting seasickness. If you are sensitive to motion, the eight-hour length deserves serious thought.

The crew can help, but they cannot control the sea or guarantee a bite. Ask about the expected conditions before boarding, and be honest about your comfort level. A shorter outing may suit you better if the ocean forecast looks rough, but this particular booking is described as an approximately eight-hour experience.

Playa de los Amantes and the return toward Cabo

Playa de los Amantes, also known as Lover’s Beach, is another scenic Cabo landmark on the listed route. Its value is visual rather than fishing-related. The beach sits near the famous rock formations and provides a memorable coastal backdrop for photographs.

Some outings also included whale watching along with the fishing. Humpback whales were seen jumping near boats during winter trips, and dolphins and sharks were spotted on other days. These sightings are possible wildlife bonuses, not scheduled guarantees. You might see them while moving between fishing areas, but you should book for the fishing rather than count on a whale show.

The route then returns toward Cabo San Lucas and the marina. If the day has gone well, the boat may come back with marlin, dorado, tuna, wahoo, roosterfish, bonito, skipjack, barracuda, or sea bass. Several catches were described as large, including striped marlin around eight to nine feet and a barracuda measuring 55 inches.

The handling of the catch needs a clear conversation. One group was told a marlin trophy would cost $700 to $1,000, then received a much higher taxidermy quote at the marina. Another group said most of its fish was taken for processing while only a small portion was returned. You should ask these questions before keeping a fish:

• How much of the fish can you take?
• Is fish cleaning available, and what does it cost?
• Is a taxidermy or replica service involved?
• What is the exact price before you agree?
• What happens to fish you do not keep?

These are simple questions, but they protect the good feeling you should have after landing a memorable fish.

Big-game fishing or more bites?

Cabo is known for marlin, and many captains will focus hard on that target. That can produce the trip of a lifetime. One group landed three striped marlin, while other outings produced a blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dorado, tuna, and roosterfish.

Big-game fishing also means long stretches of waiting. A marlin may appear quickly, or you may spend hours watching lines without a strike. One family felt ignored after asking to switch from marlin to smaller fish, even though nearby boats were catching other species. This is the clearest lesson from the mixed results: tell the crew what kind of day you want before the lines go out.

If your main goal is a trophy marlin, say so. If you want steady action for children or first-time anglers, ask about tuna, bonito, roosterfish, barracuda, or other available species. Some successful captains asked their groups to choose between big fish and more frequent smaller catches. That short discussion can shape the entire day.

The crew will teach basic techniques and help you use the rods. First-time anglers have landed marlin, yellowfin tuna, barracuda, and other strong fish with assistance from the mate. Children can take part too. One seven-year-old received patient help while reeling in tuna, and another family described two teenage boys catching a large blue marlin.

Food, drinks, and the onboard rhythm

Lunch, snacks, bottled water, sodas, and beer are included. That matters on an eight-hour trip, since you do not need to plan a separate meal while lines are out. The exact menu is not specified, so ask what lunch includes if anyone in your group has food restrictions.

Food should be explained clearly when you board. One disappointing outing involved a family that did not realize food and drinks were available and therefore never touched them. I would ask the first mate to show you the food, drinks, and cooler at the start rather than wait until someone becomes hungry.

The rhythm of the day is simple: run offshore, set lines, watch the rods, fight fish, change bait, eat, and repeat. On productive days, several lines may go off at once. On slower days, the boat can feel quiet, especially if the crew does not talk much or explain the plan.

That is why communication is just as important as equipment. Ask where you are heading, what species you are targeting, and how long you will stay with that plan. A friendly crew can turn a slow fishing day into a pleasant day at sea. A silent crew can make the same empty lines feel much longer.

Boat comfort, weather, and group fit

The boats are described as equipped for comfort, and some outings praised clean, well-maintained vessels. But the exact boat changes, and so does the crew. The boat available at the time of booking may be Blue Tail, El Pargo, Reel Tequila, Robalo, or another vessel.

This trip suits a group that wants privacy and can handle uncertainty. You need patience for changing conditions, a willingness to accept that fishing is never guaranteed, and enough comfort with the sea for a full day aboard. The experience is listed as suitable for most people, and service animals are allowed.

Families should set expectations before boarding. Fishing can be thrilling for children when the action starts, but the waiting can test their patience. Friends who all want marlin may be happy to spend hours searching. A mixed group should agree on a backup plan involving smaller fish and sightseeing.

The rating is 4.7 from 418 ratings, with 93 percent recommending it. That points to a generally strong experience, but the low scores are not all about bad luck. Some concern the crew’s attitude, unclear pricing, missed inclusions, or an early return. I would treat those complaints as practical warnings rather than reasons to assume every trip will go badly.

Booking details and the final call

The experience is commonly booked about 22 days ahead. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the ticket is mobile, which keeps arrival simple. The activity is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

I would book this for four people who want a private Cabo fishing day and are comfortable discussing expectations directly. The strongest results came when the crew worked hard, changed baits, and matched the plan to the group. Marlin, wahoo, dorado, tuna, roosterfish, and whale sightings are all realistic possibilities, but none is guaranteed.

I would hesitate if you need a precise boat, named captain, fixed start time, guaranteed fish, or included fish cleaning. Before paying, confirm the meeting time, assigned boat, captain, target species, included food, tip expectations, and catch arrangements.

Book it if you value privacy and a full day on the water. Skip it if you want a tightly scripted sightseeing cruise or cannot accept rough seas and slow fishing. The price can be good for four people, but the quality depends heavily on clear communication with the crew at the dock.

FAQ

Where does the fishing trip start and end?

It starts and ends at Cabo Sportfishing Crew, IGY Marina E Dock, Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 18, Centro, Cabo San Lucas.

How long is the experience?

The trip lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers one private group of up to four people.

Is fishing equipment provided?

Yes. Fishing equipment, rods, live bait, and fishing licenses are included.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The package includes lunch, snacks, bottled water, sodas, and beer.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You need to make your own way to the marina meeting point.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.