Surf fishing in Los Cabos is one of the few places on earth where you can stand on dry sand and hook a 40-pound roosterfish. The Baja peninsula drops into deep water within casting distance of the beach, so gamefish that normally live offshore push right into the wash chasing mullet, sardines and sierra.
This guide covers everything you need to plan a beach session in Los Cabos: which beaches fish best on the Pacific side and inside the Sea of Cortez, what you can catch month by month, the rods, lines and lures that work here, the Mexican fishing license rules that apply from shore, and the safety details that catch visiting anglers out.
Everything below comes from guides who fish these beaches year-round — not from a brochure. If you'd rather skip the trial and error, we run guided 4x4 surf trips to the same stretches described here.
Best surf fishing beaches in Los Cabos
Los Cabos is really two fisheries separated by Land's End. The Pacific side, from Solmar out toward Migriño, is bigger water with heavier swell and coarse sand — great for roosterfish and jack crevalle, unsafe for wading. The Sea of Cortez side, from Chileno up through San José del Cabo and the East Cape, is calmer, clearer and more forgiving for first-timers.
The single biggest factor in success is mobility. Fish move with bait, swell and water temperature, so the beach that produced yesterday can be empty today. Walk, drive and cover ground rather than committing to one spot.
- Solmar Beach (Cabo San Lucas, Pacific) — steep drop-off right off the sand, strong current, good early-morning roosterfish and jack crevalle. Never swim here; fish from dry sand only.
- Pedregal Beach (Cabo San Lucas, Pacific) — rocky points either side of open sand, holds snapper, cabrilla and jacks around structure. Best on a rising tide at first light.
- Migriño and the Pacific beaches north of town — long open sand, 4x4 recommended, the classic run-and-gun roosterfish beat from May through October.
- Chileno and Santa María (Corridor, Sea of Cortez) — reef edges within casting range, sierra and small jacks; check local swimming-zone rules before casting.
- San José del Cabo estuary mouth and hotel-zone beaches — sandy with bait pushed into the corners, reliable sierra and jack action November through March.
- La Ribera and the East Cape — the most productive sand in the region for big roosterfish; wide beaches, easier wading and long stretches you can have to yourself.
- Punta Perpetua and remote 4x4-only beaches — the least pressured shoreline in Los Cabos; access, not fish, is the limiting factor.
Species you can catch from the beach
Surf fishing in Los Cabos is a mixed-bag fishery. On a good morning you can land four or five species without moving beaches.
- Roosterfish (pez gallo) — the headline fish. 15–30 lbs is average from the sand, with trophies of 50–100+ lbs landed every season. Catch-and-release only, and they take fast-moving lures worked parallel to the wash.
- Jack crevalle — 5–25 lbs, present nearly year-round, and pound for pound the hardest pull you will feel from the beach.
- Sierra mackerel — winter school fish, 3–8 lbs, nonstop action on spoons and small stickbaits. Wire or heavy fluoro bite tippet saves lures.
- Snapper (cubera, dogtooth, coconaco) — 10–20 lbs, tucked tight to rocks and ledges, so fish heavier leader near structure.
- Cabrilla (grouper) — ambush feeders on reef edges and drop-offs, common on the Pedregal and Corridor rock beaches.
- Ladyfish, needlefish and small trevally — constant light-tackle entertainment between the bigger bites.
Surf fishing seasons in Los Cabos, month by month
Los Cabos fishes from the beach 365 days a year, but what you target changes with water temperature. Water runs roughly 70°F in February and climbs past 85°F by September.
- December–March (70–74°F) — prime sierra season. Big schools push into San José del Cabo and La Ribera; light tackle, spoons and fast retrieves. Some jack crevalle mixed in, fewer roosterfish.
- April–May (74–78°F) — the transition. Roosterfish start showing on the Pacific beaches and East Cape as mullet return; jacks are everywhere.
- June–September (80–87°F) — peak roosterfish season. Mornings before 9am and the last hour of light produce the biggest fish of the year. Also peak heat — carry more water than you think you need.
- October–November (78–82°F) — the sleeper months. Warm water, thinning crowds, roosterfish still around and sierra beginning to return.
- Any month — first light and the last 90 minutes of daylight beat midday by a wide margin. A rising tide into the top of the tide is the most consistent window.
Gear and lures for surf fishing in Los Cabos
Beach fishing here is closer to light offshore fishing than to typical surfcasting: fewer, bigger fish, long casts and hot runs. Bring or rent gear that can stop a fish in a rip.
- Rod: 9–13 ft surf rod rated for 1–4 oz, medium-heavy with a fast tip for casting distance and lure control.
- Reel: 5000–10000 size spinning reel with a sealed drag — sand and salt kill cheap reels in a week.
- Line: 30–50 lb braid for distance and hook-setting power at 80+ yards.
- Leader: 40–80 lb fluorocarbon; go to the heavy end anywhere near rock, and add a short wire bite trace when sierra are thick.
- Lures: 4–7 inch stickbaits and pencil poppers for roosterfish and jacks, casting spoons for sierra, soft-plastic swimbaits when the bite is finicky.
- Bait: on our guided trips we fish artificial lures that imitate mullet, sardines and mackerel. If you are fishing on your own, live mullet or fresh shrimp under a float will also produce.
- Essentials: polarized sunglasses, reef-safe sunblock, a long-sleeve sun shirt, 3+ litres of water per person, and shoes you can run in — rooster fishing is a walking game.
Mexican fishing licenses and beach rules
Every angler fishing in Mexican waters — including from the shore — needs a CONAPESCA sport fishing licence. They are inexpensive, available by the day, week, month or year, and enforcement does happen on the popular beaches.
Roosterfish are a catch-and-release species for sport anglers: keep them in the water, support the fish horizontally for a photo and release quickly. Local bag limits allow up to 10 fish per day with no more than 5 of one species, and no billfish or roosterfish retained.
On guided trips your licences are handled for you. Two licences are included with every Tag Cabo trip; additional licences are $25 each.
- Never wade or turn your back on the water on the Pacific beaches — Solmar, Pedregal and Migriño have lethal shore break and undertow.
- Fish from dry sand on the Pacific side; save wading for the Sea of Cortez beaches and the East Cape.
- Respect posted swimming zones at Chileno and Santa María, and cast well clear of swimmers.
- Pack out everything, including cut line and lure packaging.
How a guided surf fishing trip in Los Cabos works
If you have a few days in town, a guided trip removes the guesswork: we already know which beaches are holding bait this week and which are blown out by swell. Trips typically start before sunrise, cover two to four beaches and run four to six hours.
- Round-trip transportation from your hotel or rental
- Off-road 4x4 access to remote beaches you cannot reach in a rental car
- Professional guide: Martin Almazan
- All rods, reels, terminal tackle and lures included
- Two Mexican fishing licences included; extra licences $25 each
- Water and shade breaks, plus beach selection based on real-time swell, wind and water temperature
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time for surf fishing in Los Cabos?
- June through September is peak roosterfish season from the sand, while December through March is the best sierra fishing. Regardless of month, fish the first two hours of daylight and the last 90 minutes before dark — midday is the slowest period on every beach.
- Do I need a fishing licence to fish from the beach in Los Cabos?
- Yes. Every angler fishing in Mexican waters needs a CONAPESCA sport fishing licence, including from shore. Daily, weekly, monthly and annual licences are available. Two licences are included on guided Tag Cabo trips and additional licences are $25 each.
- Can you catch roosterfish from the beach in Cabo?
- Yes — Los Cabos is one of the best places in the world to do it. Roosterfish of 15 to 30 pounds are common from the sand, with 50 to 100+ pound fish landed every season, mostly on the Pacific beaches and along the East Cape. Roosterfish are catch-and-release for sport anglers.
- What is the best beach for surf fishing in Los Cabos?
- For roosterfish and jacks, the Pacific beaches near Solmar, Pedregal and Migriño, plus the East Cape sand around La Ribera. For calmer water, sierra and easier wading, fish the Sea of Cortez side around San José del Cabo and the Corridor beaches.
- Is surf fishing in Los Cabos safe?
- On the Sea of Cortez side, yes. On the Pacific beaches the shore break and undertow are dangerous — fish from dry sand, never wade and never turn your back on the water. Heat is the other real risk: start early and carry at least three litres of water per person.
- Do I need my own gear?
- No. All rods, reels, leader and lures are provided on guided trips. If you prefer your own setup, bring a 9–13 ft surf rod, a 5000–10000 size spinning reel, 30–50 lb braid and 40–80 lb fluorocarbon leader.
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Surf Fishing in Los Cabos photos
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