Choosing different sized boats may decide your day’s outing, but is not always a predictor of what you will catch. By Captain George Landrum. Los Cabos Magazine Issue #18 Fall 2008.

For many of our visitors, their first stroll around the marina brings gasps of awe and many photo opportunities while standing in front of the large yachts berthed in the boardwalk front slips. Many are the times when I have passed people who seemed to be wondering what kind of fish are in the water that need such large vessels in order to catch them. I walk on by quietly chuckling. Most of these people are not anglers and do not understand that giant yachts are not needed to catch giant fish.

These large yachts allow the owners to travel in full comfort from location to location, cruising for days at a time with all the luxuries of home while they fish. Most of the anglers I know cannot afford that kind of luxury, but for those who can, yachts as large as 111 feet are available for $55,000 US a week and carry up to 10 passengers.

Maybe you don’t want the full week but would like to live like an oil baron for the day. In that case the same boat would only be $9,500 US. Still too rich for you? Not to worry. How about a 50-foot yacht that 6 anglers can split for $2,400? I know that’s not in my comfort zone when it comes to the amount of money I can spend, and most people I know cannot afford that either. Don’t despair. Cabo has a plethora of charters available in all size and price ranges.

Naturally, the smaller the boat, the less expensive it is, and for most anglers with a small group of up to six, the average 31-foot to 48-foot boat is all that is needed. With daily rates of $500 to $2,000 US, it all depends on your pocketbook and the number of creature comforts that you need. Many of the 31-foot boats are open boats with a bridge overhead providing seats for the captain, mate, and a guest, with the lower portion open for ease of access to the cockpit. A few boats in this size category will have air-conditioning as well, if they have an enclosed cabin. As the size of the boat increases, so does the chance of having an air-conditioned stateroom. There have been quite a few trips when I have gone below to check on my passengers only to find everyone asleep, enjoying the cool air and the chance to sleep off the after-effects of the previous night’s entertainment. These boats also have bathrooms that, while not large, at least offer privacy. Also something to consider is that a larger boat affords you a chance to get away from your boat-sharing mates, escape if you will. Whether it is just to go up front to enjoy the cool wind, or watch the porpoise frolicking in the bow wave, or to get away from that nagging little nephew, a bit of space can be nice relief. These boats are more comfortable for four anglers than for six and a few owners charge for more than four passengers.

If you see some small fishing boats heading out to sea or sitting in one area on the sea, you’re probably seeing what is called a panga. These boats can carry up to three guests. Many anglers opt for smaller boats, and pangas are often the boat I advise clients to book if they have someone with them who has not fished before. A full day on the water in a larger cruiser can be overkill for a young child, or a wife, girlfriend or best friend, if he or she tends to get seasick. These 23-foot panga boats can fish with the big boys when the fish are not too far out to sea, and also allow fishing close to the beach, which is difficult and sometimes dangerous on the larger boats. With the charter price averaging $175 US for 5 hours, the cost is less and the hours shorter, something to consider when checking the depth of your wallet. Of course, there is always a trade-off when you go from large to small. One of the main ones is that very few pangas have bathrooms; at most there might be a small porta-potty. And there is the exposure to the sun. With no enclosed space aboard, a good coating of sunscreen is mandatory, something you need to be quite concerned about, regardless of the boat’s size. Even on the larger boats, where you can get out of the direct sun, sun protection is vital.

Excitement runs high this time of year as the big fish are around and the tournaments are underway. With the extensive press coverage of these events and all the pros coming to town, the big money tournaments often forget that the small boats can catch fish just as well, and sometimes better, than the larger sport fishing boats. As a matter of fact, it was in 1999, the first year of the Western Outdoor News Tuna Tournament, that a local panga brought in the largest fish! Anglers Jaime Piño Arista, with his brother To-o Daniel Gallardo and Miguel Angleles, caught the 218.9-pound Tuna at the Gorda Bank while fishing off of the Estella del Mar, a 23-foot long outboard powered vessel. During last year’s 2007 Bisbee Black and Blue Marlin Tournament, there was a release category for the first time. A 31-foot center console boat made by Contender won $85,000 for the release of 30 Striped Marlin and one Blue Marlin. How’s that for proof that you do not need a large cruiser to hook large fish! Of course, while you can catch large fish from a small boat, there is the matter of comfort, as well as the slightly more important “can you get me there, and how fast” factor. Pangas can scoot along pretty well in smooth conditions, but when it starts to blow, you really appreciate the larger boats. Factor in that we do have occasional unexpected winds with the distance that may be needed to find fish offshore, and often boat size and the charter price become less of a consideration. And as always, there are those creature comforts I mentioned. If a first time angler takes Dramamine the night before the trip and again the morning of the trip, or uses a Scopolamine patch, and if the boat has a TV and a Game Boy, then if the fish don’t bite, things can turn out pretty well anyway on a larger boat.

Regardless of the size of the vessels, they can all catch fish if they are in the right place at the right time. Some people say that it’s just a matter of luck. Most of the time the knowledge, experience, and eagerness of the captain and the crew have more to do with the success ratio. But luck always is a factor. The pangas are most often owner-operated and maintained, reflecting the professionalism and success of the captain. A good captain will make enough money to be able to put some back into his boat and gear. Most of the time on boats over 31 feet in length, the captains and crew are salaried employees of the owner. If the owner is willing to put money into the boat instead of just in his pocket, the gear will also be in good shape.

When considering a larger boat, be sure to get recommendations from other anglers. As a matter of fact, that is a wise thing to do for the smaller boats as well. The best way to accomplish this is to do some research before coming to Cabo; the Internet is the best resource in the world for this. There are many web sites that have forums covering Cabo charter experiences. If that is not possible, then make inquiries of anglers you meet socially, or see walking along the boardwalk. Most experienced anglers fishing Cabo on a regular basis will choose their boats based on the particular desires or needs of that trip, and may often be able to recommend a particularly good boat or charter company based on what you want to do. Usually, fishers will have experience on different sized vessels, and may use a larger boat for the big Blue and Black Marlin that could weigh as mush as 1,000 pounds. On the other hand, I know of anglers who go on the same panga every visit and let the captain decide what is worthwhile fishing that day. Catch and release of one of the big game fish is easier and safer on a cruiser rather than on a panga. If fishers are here for meat fish, they often choose a favorite panga to fish on, particularly if the Dorado and Tuna are close to shore, or if they want to target the inshore species such as Sierra, Yellowtail, Snapper and Grouper.

While speaking of meat fish, I need to remind you that it is against the law for fish to be filleted at sea. This law has always been in place but there was no significant or consequential enforcement until recently. Captains and mates used to do it all the time in expectation of larger tips. Now, more random checks are being done and penalties range from confiscation of all the boat’s fishing gear to the boat being charged a hefty fine. Few boats are willing to take the risk. A number of returning Cabo anglers were not aware of this recent and firmer enforcement, and it did cause some raised hackles. Everyone over the age of 12 aboard any fishing boat must have a fishing license, whether he or she intends to fish or not. Many charter companies supply licenses with the cost of the charter, but most do not, and they are not for sale on the boat, but must be purchased at the dock the morning of the trip. Once again, this is something that only in the past two years has been enforced.

So regardless of the size of boat you choose for your outing, check references, consider the number of and experience of your party, and target a date to fish. Then, start to check out availability, based on these factors and any others considered. Determine the depth of you wallet. And, don’t forget to tip the captain and crew after your trip, 10% to 15% of the cost of the trip is normal, more if their service was spectacular!