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

Big fish, open water, Cabo views. This private eight-hour fishing trip gives your group its own boat, captain, and first mate while you chase marlin, dorado, tuna, wahoo, roosterfish, and more. I like the private format, which lets you set the pace, and I like that rods, live bait, licenses, lunch, snacks, water, sodas, and beer are included.

The price is $625 per group of up to four, a fair deal when the boat is full, though less attractive for only one or two people. Fishing success can never be promised, and a few serious complaints involve shortened trips, unclear fish ownership, mismatched prices for trophy mounting, and pressure around gratuities.

Cabo fishing at a glance

• A full private boat for up to four: You fish only with your own group rather than sharing the day with strangers.
• Two bodies of water in one outing: The route takes you through the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez near Cabo San Lucas.
• Marlin is the headline catch: Dorado, wahoo, tuna, barracuda, roosterfish, bonita, sea bass, and skipjack have also been caught on different outings.
• The package covers the basics: Captain, first mate, rods and tackle, live bait, licenses, food, water, sodas, and beer are provided.
• The scenery is part of the day: El Arco, Lover’s Beach, Chileno Bay, Playa el Chileno, and Playa de los Amantes appear along the route.
• The main caution is clarity: Confirm the exact boat, captain, hours, fishing plan, fish rules, tip expectations, and any taxidermy pricing before leaving the dock.

What $625 buys your group

At $625 for up to four people, the arithmetic is simple: a full group pays about $156.25 per person before any tip. That is reasonable for an eight-hour private charter with equipment, bait, licenses, food, and drinks already covered.

For two people, the same boat works out to $312.50 each. That can still make sense if you value privacy and personal attention, but you should compare it with shared charters or smaller outings before paying. The private setup is most attractive for a family or group of friends who want the whole boat and can split the cost evenly.

The boat assigned may be Blue Tail, Blue Tail II, El Pargo, Reel Tequila, Robalo, or another available vessel. That wording matters. You are buying the experience and boat category, not necessarily one named boat. If a particular vessel or captain is important to you, confirm it in writing before departure.

The package is called all inclusive, but that phrase has limits. Pick-up from your hotel is not included, fish cleaning is not included, and gratuities are not listed as included. Some people also reported confusion about tips, so ask directly before boarding. A clear question at the dock can prevent an unpleasant ending.

Starting at IGY Marina E Dock

Your meeting point is Cabo Sportfishing Crew at IGY Marina E Dock, Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 18, Centro, Cabo San Lucas. The activity ends at the same place.

You need to arrange your own way to the marina because hotel pick-up is not provided. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the mobile ticket makes check-in fairly simple. Still, I would arrive with enough time to find Dock E, identify the crew, and confirm the boat name before stepping aboard.

The usual plan is a morning start, with one reported departure at 6 a.m., but the exact start time should be confirmed. One unhappy party received two different start times, so do not rely on a casual verbal message. Save the booking details on your phone and ask for the meeting time, boat, captain, and expected return time in advance.

The crew includes a captain and first mate. Names reported on different outings include Andres, Luis, Jorge, Gustavo, Joel, Jose, Freddie, Ruben, Alex, Juan, Tito, Ivan, and Felipe. Crew assignments can change, so names from past outings are not a promise about your particular day.

From the marina to El Arco

The boat leaves Marina Cabo San Lucas and heads toward the fishing grounds, passing the famous rock formation at El Arco. This is one of the most useful parts of the route for first-time visitors because you get a classic Cabo photo from the water without booking a separate sightseeing cruise.

The arch marks the meeting area of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. From a fishing boat, you see Cabo from a different angle, and the captain may circle scenic points for photographs. One successful outing also included close views of whales, with the captain adjusting the route for better pictures.

The practical tradeoff is time. Every scenic pass uses minutes that could otherwise be spent with lines in the water. If catching fish matters more than sightseeing, say so before leaving the marina. If you want a relaxed day with photographs, tell the crew that too. The private format gives you a better chance to shape that balance.

Chileno Bay and Playa el Chileno

The itinerary continues toward Chileno Bay and Playa el Chileno. These stops add coastal scenery and may form part of the fishing route, but the experience is not presented as a beach day with a scheduled shore visit.

That distinction is important. You should expect to remain on the boat unless the crew tells you otherwise. The listed stops show the area covered, not a guarantee of swimming, beach time, or a long stop ashore.

Chileno is also a useful marker when discussing your preferred fishing style. Some parties wanted large game fish, while others simply wanted steady action with smaller fish. One of the best outings began with a conversation about that choice and produced wahoo and roosterfish. Ask the crew to explain the plan for the current conditions instead of assuming the day will focus only on marlin.

Playa de los Amantes and the return to Cabo

Playa de los Amantes, commonly known as Lover’s Beach, appears later in the route. Like El Arco and Chileno, it provides a scenic Cabo backdrop and a good chance for photographs from the water.

The final stop is Cabo San Lucas, followed by a return to the original meeting point. The day is listed at approximately eight hours, so keep track of the time yourself. Most people are happy to return when the fish box is full or the sea has become rough, but leaving several hours early is a different matter.

One family reported returning around four hours early after catching a striped marlin. The family believed the captain had limited them to one marlin and then sold much of the fish. That is a serious allegation, and it highlights a practical rule: ask at the beginning about catch limits, protected species, what you may keep, and the exact return time. If the plan changes, get an explanation before heading back.

The fish you might chase

Cabo is famous for billfish, and marlin is the main target on many outings. The catch reports include striped marlin and blue marlin, with one blue marlin described as 8 to 9 feet and another striped marlin close to 9 feet. Those are powerful fish, and even hooking one can become the central memory of your day.

You may also encounter dorado, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, barracuda, roosterfish, bonita, skipjack, sea bass, and sailfish. One party caught three wahoo and several roosterfish. Another caught four roosterfish and sea bass for a meal after the crew explained that cool water made big-game fishing less promising.

That example points to the right expectation. The $625 pays for the boat and service, not a guaranteed catch. Water temperature, bait, weather, location, and luck all matter. Some groups caught several major fish, while others caught only bonita or nothing at all.

Your best move is to tell the captain what kind of day you want. Do you want to spend hours targeting one large marlin, or would you rather switch to smaller species for more frequent bites? Several positive outings began with the crew asking this exact question. One unhappy group said its request to try smaller fish was ignored, leaving the family bored for much of the day.

How the crew affects the day

A strong captain and first mate can make an ordinary fishing day worthwhile. The most praised crews changed bait, adjusted tackle, worked multiple lines, and helped less experienced anglers handle the rods. Joel was singled out for changing bait and tackle regularly. Andres was praised for working hard, while Gustavo was especially patient with a seven-year-old helping reel in fish.

The best accounts describe the crew as active rather than decorative. They set lines, explain techniques, watch the water, and help you manage a hard fight. That assistance matters if you are new to deep-sea fishing or traveling with children.

The experience is not uniform, though. Some people described quiet crews who offered little help unless asked. Others felt the captain focused only on marlin, even after the group requested smaller fish. Since captain assignments vary, your experience may depend heavily on who is aboard.

I recommend asking three questions early:

• What fish are active today?
• How long will we try for marlin before changing tactics?
• What happens to fish we catch?

Those questions are not rude. They are basic charter details, and they help everyone agree on the day’s plan.

Food, drinks, and equipment

You do not need to bring your own rods or fishing gear. The boat provides the equipment, live bait, and fishing licenses. The crew also provides snacks, lunch, bottled water, sodas, and beer.

That makes the package convenient, especially for families or people who do not fish often. You can concentrate on the sea and the rods instead of renting gear or shopping for bait. Several successful outings praised the crew for taking care of the practical work.

The food details are not specific, so ask what lunch includes and when it will be served. One family said its group did not know the food and drinks were available and therefore barely used them. The problem may have been poor communication, but you can avoid it by asking the first mate to point out the cooler and explain the meal plan.

Alcohol is included, but drink sensibly. The boat may encounter swells, and several outings involved rough water. A full stomach, water, and restraint with beer will make the day easier.

Rough water, whales, and motion sickness

A fishing trip is also a long period on a moving boat. Reported conditions ranged from three to four-foot swells to seven or eight-foot swells. One passenger became sick and the group had to return early. Another party spent hours trying not to get sick in large, constant swells.

I cannot promise calm water. If anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, ask the operator about current conditions before departure and plan accordingly. The data provided does not specify medication advice, so speak with a medical professional about suitable options before your trip.

Whale sightings can become a major bonus, especially in winter. Several outings saw humpback whales, including groups breaching near the boat. Dolphins and sharks were also seen. These sightings are not guaranteed, but they can turn a slow fishing day into a memorable day at sea.

The boat also passes scenic places such as El Arco and Lover’s Beach. That helps soften the disappointment if the fish are not biting, but it does not replace clear communication about your fishing goals.

Fish ownership, mounting, and tips

This is the area where I would be most careful. Fish cleaning is not included, and the supplied details do not explain how much of a catch you may keep, which species may be released, or how processing is arranged.

Some parties were offered trophy mounting after catching marlin. One group was told a mount would cost $700 to $1,000, then encountered a taxidermist whose price began at $1,500 and reached $1,800 for the fish caught. Another family believed most of its marlin was taken away after the captain asked how much it wanted to keep.

I cannot verify the circumstances behind those accounts, but the warning is useful. If you want to keep fish, ask before leaving the marina:

• Which fish can we keep?
• How much of the catch is ours?
• Who pays for cleaning and processing?
• Are we releasing this fish or keeping it?
• What is the exact price for any replica or mount?
• Is the price in dollars or pesos?

Do not agree to a mount based only on a rough verbal range. Ask for a written price from the taxidermist before the fish is retained.

Tips are also not included in the listed price. The amount is up to you, but establish that before the end of the day. A few parties reported feeling pressured to tip, including one person who believed the crew objected to the amount offered. A clear conversation at the start is easier than an argument at the dock.

Who will get the most from this charter

This outing suits a group of up to four who wants privacy, a full day on the water, and the chance at a large fish. It is also a good fit for mixed-experience groups because the crew supplies equipment, bait, licenses, and hands-on help.

Families can have a terrific time, especially when a child gets to reel in a fish. The reports include children catching fish and adults sharing turns on large marlin. Still, the sea can be rough, and the day may be tiring, so consider your group’s comfort with boat motion.

Experienced anglers should confirm the fishing plan before paying. If you want serious billfish work, say so. If you want frequent action from smaller species, say that instead. The private boat gives you a better chance of getting the style of day you want, but only if the crew listens.

I would be less eager to book this for someone seeking a polished sightseeing cruise, guaranteed fish, or a clearly defined fish-processing package. It is a working fishing charter, and the quality of the day depends on sea conditions, catch luck, communication, and crew assignment.

Booking advice before you pay

The trip is often booked about 22 days ahead, so reserve early if your Cabo dates are fixed. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the ticket is mobile.

Because the activity is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons, check your schedule carefully. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Before the day, confirm the meeting time, dock, boat, captain, duration, fishing targets, food, drinks, tip policy, and fish rules. Also remember that you must reach the marina yourself and arrange fish cleaning separately if you want to take a catch home.

Should you book the Cabo private fishing trip?

I would book it if you have four people, want a private boat, and care as much about the day at sea as the exact catch. The strongest outings delivered marlin, wahoo, tuna, roosterfish, whales, dolphins, and helpful crew members who worked hard to keep lines active.

I would book with conditions. Get the plan in writing, especially the eight-hour duration, captain and boat assignment, target species, catch ownership, mounting costs, and gratuities. If the crew is willing to discuss those points clearly, the price can be good value and the day can produce a genuine Cabo memory.

If your priority is a guaranteed fish or a low-risk, tightly managed experience, choose carefully. The high rating and many excellent catches show real potential, but the serious complaints show why a private charter requires you to ask questions before the boat leaves the dock.

FAQ

How much does the private fishing trip cost?

The price is $625 per group of up to four people.

How long does the fishing trip last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

Where does the trip begin and end?

It begins at Cabo Sportfishing Crew at IGY Marina E Dock, Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 18, Centro, Cabo San Lucas, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is the boat private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

Is hotel pick-up included?

No. Pick-up service is not included, so you must make your own way to the marina.

What equipment is provided?

The crew provides the fishing boat, fishing equipment, live bait, and fishing licenses. Available boats may include Blue Tail, Blue Tail II, El Pargo, Reel Tequila, and Robalo.

Are food and drinks included?

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

Is fish cleaning included?

No. Fish cleaning is not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes the cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The experience is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons.