All Aboard! - Fishing Article - Summer 2009 - Los Cabos Magazine

All Aboard! - Fishing Article

By Captain Geaorge Landrum
Los Cabos Magazine - Issue # 20 - Summer 2009 - Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, Mexico

I was on a plane last week on my way back from Oklahoma City, after visiting my father for his birthday (72 and more to go, right Dad?), when I overheard a conversation in the row behind me. I don’t remember the exact words, but the two guys were talking about how a friend of theirs had recommended a charter boat he had previously used and they were worried they would make fools of themselves because of their inexperience.

It was their fist time doing any saltwater fishing, and since the largest fish either of them had ever caught weighed eight pounds, they were apprehensive. Well, they are not the only ones to experience that anxiety on a first trip out. Because many other people are in the same boat when it comes to fishing in Los Cabos, I thought I would explain what the neophyte should expect and share with you the same information I gave to my fellow travelers.

Everyone has a first time at something, whether it is driving a car, getting that first kiss, or catching a marlin. Each of these is a milestone in its own way, and they are important ones, important enough to make you nervous and sweat a little. At least I did. Maybe you are made of sterner stuff. For the majority of the anglers in Cabo, this is the first chance they have had to catch fish longer than themselves. So, chances are when you go out, you will not be the only novice. If you are fortunate enough to have come with a like-minded individual, getting a group together to try out our marlin fishing is an easy thing. But if you are the only one interested in catching a marlin, you need to meet up with someone else; you can take each other’s pictures and share the expenses involved. A great way to find someone with an adventurous spirit is to sit in the pool at you hotel or resort and strike up conversations with your neighbors.

Getting a good group together takes time, but it will pay off in the long run. If you are a member of an angling club or spend any time on one of the many fishing websites, you may be able to find someone else visiting Cabo at the same time. That would make things really easy. It’s important that the people you are fishing with have the same sort of temperament as you. A few of the charter companies have a short list of names of people whom they can call for a shared trip, but make sure you talk with and meet the folks before you go.

We no longer organize split charters because unless the anglers have met before, it is possible to have a guy who drinks heavily and constantly cusses matched up with a sedate older couple hoping to fish with someone like themselves. Talk about a recipe for a miserable trip! When anglers put their own groups together, there is rarely a problem. If the people at the pool are not the type with whom you would like spend eight hours in close quarters, then look elsewhere. At a bar, beach, or café, walking around the marina—maybe stop by one of our tackle stores and strike up a conversation with a fellow customer. Having at least two people on the boat makes the whole experience more pleasant, and on many of the boats four people are even better (plus, it cuts the per person cost). While fishing in a group appeals to many people, there are those who don’t want company; maybe there is only one marlin hookup during the day, and you want the fish to be yours. Going solo eliminates the need to assign rods or draw straws for first fish, but it can get boring.

Cabo San Lucas Sportfishing Charters - Los Cabos, Mexico

The size of the group you end up organizing or joining will determine the size of boat you need to charter, but you can always go as large as you can afford. For a group of two or three anglers, a panga is often the way to go, particularly if you are first-timers. A panga is an outboard powered open boat that measures from 21 to 23 feet in length. They generally come equipped with outriggers and a Bimini top for shade, but rarely have a toilet. A normal panga fishing trip lasts five hours and does not take its anglers very far offshore, but it can if the seas are calm. The panga captains also are usually the owners of the boat and do this type of work because they love it.

These five-hour panga excursions can cost from $150 U.S. to $180 U.S., and you can often make arrangements to extend the time for an additional fee as long as the captain knows it is a possibility ahead of time. The next option is a 28-foot single-engine boat. Licensed to carry up to four persons, they are outfitted with an area inside or under the bridge where you can get out of the sun and typically have a very small bathroom on board. These boats can work the beach like a panga, but can also venture to the offshore banks. The captains sometimes own their boats, but often they are just starting out in the business, trying to work up to a larger boat. At an average cost of $350 U.S. to $450 U.S. for an eight-hour trip, this is an affordable offshore fishing option.

But be aware that if something happens while you’re offshore in a single-engine boat, it may be quite a wait for a tow back to port. The next category of charter boats measure 31 to 33 feet and are among the most common charters in Los Cabos. These boats have decent bathrooms on board and often boast a dining table inside that can seat four people, seating on the bridge for a guest or two, and twin diesel engines. Captains and deckhands are usually on a salary, experienced, and very capable.

At a price that runs from $450 U.S. to $600 U.S. for an eight-hour trip, these charters are licensed to carry up to six anglers, but are much more comfortable with four.

If you have a group of six to eight anglers, you really should splurge on a boat large enough to carry this number comfortably. For a party of six, that means a boat ranging in size from 36 to 42 feet. An eight-person group would require a boat 46 to 50 feet in length. Depending on the size, an eight-hour charter would cost between $750 and $2,500. A number of the larger boats include extras such as lunch or live bait that would have meant an additional charge on smaller charters. Often with a large group, it is easier (and more fun) to book two smaller boats and have a little tournament between them. It also gives people more of a chance to catch a fish if the bite is a bit slow that day.

Almost all the pangas operate with just the captain and anglers on board. On the larger boats, there is normally one deckhand, too, but certain charters may have a second deckhand, likely someone’s son who is in training. Not usually included in the price of the charter are lunch, drinks, live bait, fishing licenses, and tips for the captain and mate. You can bring your own lunch and drinks from your hotel or resort, buy them at the marina in the morning, or make arrangements with the charter company to have them brought aboard the boat in the morning. Purchasing live bait before you leave the marina is a matter of fishing insurance as far as I am concerned.

If you are paying for a charter, get out to the fishing grounds, and find the fish are not interested in artificial lures, the $30 U.S. you would have spent on 10 live baits will seem a good deal. Take money along with you in the morning or have your charter company arrange to add it to your bill. One rule that longtime anglers in Cabo are having a hard time adjusting to is the need for a fishing license. In the old days, they were not sold and no one was checking for them. Things have changed since then, and now everyone on the boat, even if he or she has no desire to fish, has to have a license. They are available at the marina in the morning until 11 a.m. Only cash is accepted, and an individual one-day license costs $140 M.N.

Tips are an important part of the income for the crew of the charter boats. Just as with any service industry, the normal tip is 15 to 20 percent of the overall cost of the boat, depending on how hard the crew worked for you. If you really enjoyed the experience and want to fish with the same guys again, feel free to tip them more. They won’t mind. And it’s important to make sure they want you to fish with them again as well.

A few common boating courtesies should be remembered. Don’t wear hard-soled shoes on the boat; they make you more likely to slip and can leave marks on the fiberglass that are very difficult to remove. If you are bringing your own drinks, make sure they are in cans or plastic bottles; it goes without saying, but broken glass on the deck is not a good thing. Smokers must stay away from the reels with their cigarettes or cigars; hot ash on the line could cause problems. If someone in the group is prone to getting seasick, take Dramamine the night before and on the morning of the trip, or get some ginger candy to eat (that stuff works amazingly well). Feel free to share your soft drinks or water with the captain and mate, but save the beer offer until after you have tied up at the dock. No drugs on the boat; they are against the law in México. If the marines stop you and find drugs like marijuana or cocaine, you are going to jail, and so is the crew.

If you have purchased a weekly fishing license (instead of a daily), make sure you get it back after the officials check it on your departure from the marina in the morning. Another important thing to remember is that it is against the law to have the crew fillet your fish at sea. You could have your fish confiscated, and the crew would get in trouble if the marines were to find fillets on board during a spot check. But if space for the fish becomes a problem, as sometimes happens during a hot tuna bite, the fish can be headed and gutted, as long as the species can still be identified. There are several places at the marina where they will fillet your catch for you after you return. Speaking of your catch, there are limits on the number of fish per species that each angler is allowed. All the crews know these restrictions, so don’t get greedy and ask them to kill more than the law allows.

Depending on how you organized your group, there are several ways to book a fishing charter. A good referral is one of the best ways to decide whom you want to book through, of course, but if you have put your group together and would like to make a reservation before getting here but don’t have a personal referral, search online. Most of the booking agents will be happy to give you references and referrals from happy clients. Already in Cabo? Walk the marina and talk to anglers getting off of charters. The boats normally return between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Ask the anglers how they enjoyed the trip and whether the crew worked hard for them. Then find out (if you like what you’ve heard so far) whom they booked through. There are also several offices around the marina where you can book a boat, and, of course, all the advertisers in this magazine are more than happy to assist you. Make sure you know exactly what is included in your price, that the agent knows how many are in your group, and when and where to meet.

Once you have managed to get your group together, regardless of how large or small it is, these guidelines should help ensure that your charter experience is a good one. You will make unforgettable memories, have photos to prove them, and, it is hoped, catch fresh fish for dinner and maybe some to take home. Most importantly, you likely will have made new friends. With your first experience under your belt, you won’t be worried when you return for the second time, and instead you can be the one giving advice to those who worry about not knowing what to do.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Last Revision - June 1, 2009 - MKS