Los Cabos Fishing Report – Early October 2026
Cabo San Lucas fishing report for October 1–15, 2026: striped marlin and sailfish, plus wahoo, dorado and tuna, with 85–87°F water from NOAA satellite data.
Three anglers with a striped marlin on the deck, early October 2026
October 1–15, 2026 | Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur | Top Anglers Sportfishing Charters
Key takeaways
- Billfish ruled the first half of October: striped marlin and sailfish showed up in most of our crews’ photos.
- Wahoo, dorado and tuna came in on the same offshore trips.
- The water stayed very warm, 85–87°F (29.6–30.8°C), according to NOAA’s preliminary satellite data.
- The new moon fell on October 10, right in the middle of the period.
Water and moon
| Sea surface temperature | 85–87°F (29.6–30.8°C), average 86°F (30.2°C) |
|---|---|
| Start → end of period | 87°F → 86°F |
| Moon | Last quarter on October 3 and new moon on October 10 (first quarter came on October 18, just after this report). |
Water temperature: NOAA daily sea-surface temperature (OISST v2.1 near-real-time, satellite and buoy blend; preliminary values that NOAA may adjust slightly) for the open water just south of Cabo San Lucas (22.6°N, 109.9°W). NOAA data available through October 15 at the time of writing. Source. For today’s numbers see our fishing conditions page.
What was biting
Striped marlin
Striped marlin were the headline of these two weeks, with fish coming over the transom on several of our boats from October 6 on. October is the start of their best season in Cabo, and it usually only gets better into winter.
Pacific sailfish
Sailfish were right there with the marlin, including a few big fish with the full sail up for the photo. In Cabo we follow a local rule of one billfish per boat per day, and we encourage releasing them.
Wahoo
A long, heavy wahoo came in on October 13. Wahoo hit lures on the troll at high speed, and your crew handles the gaff and those razor teeth.
Dorado (mahi-mahi)
Dorado were still around in the warm water, bright blue and green, and great eating.
Also seen: tuna on October 15.
Photos from our boats
Two anglers with a sailfish, with the coast of Los Cabos behind the boat, October 2026
Angler with a wahoo, October 2026
Angler with a dorado in the cockpit, October 2026
Three young anglers with a sailfish, October 2026
Two anglers with a sailfish on the deck, October 2026
Angler with a tuna in the cockpit, October 2026
Planning a trip for this time of year?
October is one of the best months of the year to fish Cabo for variety: striped marlin and sailfish offshore, with wahoo, dorado and tuna on the same trips. Book a full day (about 8 hours) on a sportfisher so your captain has time to run where the billfish are.
- What’s biting in October, species by species
- Our fleet, from the 23’ panga for inshore roosterfish to the 60’ Hatteras for a full offshore day
- Live prices for every boat, with captain, crew, tackle, bait, ice and water included
- How to tell a striped marlin from a sailfish
Book your charter direct with our family or message us on WhatsApp at +1 307 221 1291.
How we put this report together
This report is based on the photos our captains and crews sent from their trips during these dates. We don’t publish catch numbers we can’t verify. Water temperatures come from NOAA and moon phases are calculated for Cabo San Lucas time.
