Snapper & Grouper Fishing in Cabo San Lucas

Why bottom fishing in Cabo is the most dependable trip we run

Marlin get the headlines, but the rock piles and reefs around Cabo San Lucas are what keep the cooler full. Snapper — pargo in Spanish — and grouper live on structure all year long, and they bite in every season, in almost any weather, within a short run of the marina. When the offshore bite slows or the wind comes up, this is the fishing that saves the day.

It is also the most family-friendly fishing we offer. Bottom fishing means constant action — drop the bait down, feel the tap, wind hard. Kids, first-timers and anyone who wants to take fish home for dinner all love it. And unlike the billfish we release, snapper and grouper are outstanding table fare: your catch can be cleaned at the marina and several local restaurants will cook it for you the same evening.

The species we catch on the bottom

Los Cabos holds a long list of bottom species, and on a good day you can catch four or five different kinds on the same spot:

• Red snapper and other pargo — the prize of the rock piles, hard-pulling fish from 5 to 40 lbs that live tight to the structure
• Cabrilla (leopard grouper) — beautiful spotted grouper, aggressive on live bait, excellent eating
• Broomtail and gulf grouper — the heavyweights of the reef, fish over 40 lbs are caught every year
• Amberjack and yellowtail on the deeper high spots — hard-running members of the jack family over the same structure
• Triggerfish, sierra and miscellaneous reef species — fast action that keeps rods bent between the bigger bites

The spots we fish

We bottom fish within a few miles of the harbour, which means more time fishing and less time running — and a comfortable ride even for guests who worry about seasickness.

• The rocks and reefs off Pedregal and the lighthouse — minutes from the marina, holding pargo and cabrilla year-round
• The rocky points along the Corridor toward San José del Cabo — deeper structure with bigger grouper and amberjack
• High spots and sunken rock piles on the Pacific side — our captains have marked these spots for years and move between them until the bite turns on
• Gordo Banks on the Sea of Cortez side — a deeper option for big bottom fish when conditions allow

How we fish for snapper and grouper

Bottom fishing here is simple, effective and fun. We anchor or drift over the structure and drop baits straight down — fresh-cut squid, sardines or live caballito pinned on a strong hook with enough lead to hold bottom. When a pargo or grouper eats, the fight is a short, brutal tug-of-war: you have to turn their head before they get back in the rocks, and the mate will coach you through it.

When the yellowtail or amberjack are on a high spot, we switch to yo-yo jigs — heavy metal lures dropped to the bottom and wound back fast — which is one of the most exciting ways to catch them. Light tackle makes all of this a blast: 20 to 40 lb gear means every fish feels like a trophy.

Tackle and gear

Everything is provided — every boat in the fleet carries top-of-the-line gear rigged and ready for the bottom:

• Light and medium conventional outfits in the 20–50 lb class, perfect for pargo and cabrilla
• Yo-yo iron jigs for yellowtail and amberjack over the high spots
• Fresh squid, sardines and live bait caught or bought fresh each morning
• Fish cleaning and bagging at the marina so your catch is ready for the grill or the flight home

What a snapper and grouper trip includes

Half-day and full-day charters with an experienced captain and mate, all bait and tackle, drinks, ice, burritos or sandwiches, and two fishing licences included — additional licences are $25 each and there are no hidden fees. Bottom fishing trips on the pangas and inshore boats are our most affordable charters and the best option for families and groups of mixed experience. Multi-day discounts are available.