Cabo San Lucas, known as “The Marlin Capital of the World,” is a fisherman’s dream location. Fishermen come from around the world for a fishing experience of a lifetime. The charter business in Cabo is big business, catering to the first-time fisherman as well as to the most experienced. In order to avoid pitfalls and disappointments, keep in mind the following tips when considering chartering a boat.
How to Choose a Boat
Selection of a charter boat depends on several criteria. If catching fish is your top priority, check boats coming into the harbor from a day’s fishing. You can see what they’ve been catching by the flags they are flying. Blue indicates marlin, yellow is for dorado, white for tuna, and red is for catch-and-release marlin. Don’t pay attention to flags on docked boats, as these may have been in dock for two or three days.
Be sure to look at the condition of the boat and the gear. Ursula’s Sportfishing Fleet, for example, claims to have some of the newest and fastest vessels in town. Chartering a boat equipped in hi-tech electronics and fishing gear may boost your chances of hooking up that trophy fish.
For snorkeling, choose La Princesa or the Spin Doctor. These boats are considered some of the largest sailing catamaran-style boats in Cabo. They offer twice daily, year-round tours, including all equipment, lunch and drinks. If snorkeling is not what you had in mind, take a sunset cruise around the famous arch with an open bar included in the price. The Pez Gato and Buccaneer Queen catamarans are other great options to see the stunning Pacific sunset.
If it’s personal service you’re seeking, Sergio Cortéz, of Paradise Sportfishing, offers a complete package. Sergio will be happy to transport you to and from your hotel to one of the eight yachts, sized from 32’ to 54’. In addition, you may choose to enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch.
George Landrum, of Fly Hooker Sportfishing, provides service from bare-bone to all-inclusive. He’ll make arrangements for your lodging, recommend the best restaurant for taking the catch to be prepared for dinner or get the fish vacuum-packed or smoked. His crew has even taken their clients to a store to buy a cooler for their catch, which perfectly depicts their business’ slogan “We offer a very personal touch.”
When choosing a boat, certainly get references and be sure to check the reputation of the company. If you’re lucky to hook the big one, you want to be sure the skipper and crew can handle it. Also, consider weather protection, the size and weight of the boat, and amenities provided, such as tackle and licensing. Additionally, consider a boat with a head (lavatory), especially when families are included.
Before chartering a boat, decide on what you expect of the trip and the length of trip you want. To help you make this decision, ask yourself a few questions. Are you game for an all-day trip, or just half a day? Ask around to find out if shorter trips are worth it. What if no fish are caught? Be sure to remember that when you charter a boat, you are paying for the opportunity to be on a boat with an opportunity to catch fish––there are no guarantees. There’s a reason they call it fishing and not catching! Hopefully, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery, the striking colors of the water and sky, the camaraderie of the other anglers and crew, and the good fortune of simply being on the water.
Cost Factor
The cost to charter a boat depends on the size of the boat and length of trip. There are charters available for every budget, including a super 26’ panga (flat fishing boat), which can accommodate up to three people. The cost to charter this boat for four hours is approximately $215 U.S. Or for $510 U.S., you may opt to charter a 31’, which has a capacity for up to five people for five hours. If you are looking to splurge, consider a 54’ luxury yacht. Your group, of up to eight people, can enjoy eight hours for approximately $2,800 U.S. At the far end of the spectrum, six adults are able to spend a week on a 111’ yacht for $30,000 U.S.
What to Wear
The experienced captains at Silverados Sportfishing recommend dressing for comfort. “Dress as though you were going to work in the garden on a hot summer day: T-shirts and shorts, long-sleeve shirt as a cover up, baseball-type hat to shade your head and face, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and close-toed shoes, preferably deck-type shoes, are perfect for your day on the water.”
What to Bring
It’s tough to please everyone’s appetite especially at sea. Check with the skipper to see what to bring in the way of food and drink. Most will have fresh water, ice, soft drinks, and a way to keep your stuff cold aboard. Be sure to dispose of trash in receptacles provided, not in the water.
Seasickness
The trick to combating seasickness is to be pro-active, instead of inactive. Don’t fear your day on the water. Start with a healthy, non-greasy, early dinner the evening before and take a commercially available motion sickness medication, such as Dramamine. This helps the body begin to get used to the medication before it becomes necessary. Be aware, Dramamine may make you groggy! Get about eight hours of sleep, which means early to bed, early to rise. Most fishing boats leave the dock at dawn. Upon rising, have a light breakfast (again, non-greasy). Take along ginger ale and/or ginger snaps. Several studies suggest that ginger may be effective in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. If you do begin to feel queasy, focus on the horizon. Look for fish!
Shared Trips
Personalities tend to differ greatly and this is no different when at sea. However, sharing a charter is a great option. By not booking a private charter, you will be able to go fishing for a lower cost.
One of the best ways to experience Los Cabos is to spend the day deep-sea fishing. For the avid fisherman, it is said that even a bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work. It is also said, that all the time you spend on the water is not subtracted from the rest of your life.
