Los Cabos Fishing Report – Late October 2026
Cabo San Lucas fishing report for October 16–31, 2026: dorado, striped marlin, sailfish and yellowfin tuna, with 85.6–87.7°F water from NOAA satellite data.
Three young anglers with their dorado at the Cabo sign in the marina, late October 2026
October 16–31, 2026 | Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur | Top Anglers Sportfishing Charters
Key takeaways
- Dorado were the fish of the second half of October, on family half days and full offshore days alike.
- Striped marlin and sailfish kept biting offshore, with yellowfin tuna on some of the same trips.
- Closer to shore, jack crevalle and sierra gave the younger anglers plenty of action.
- The water stayed very warm, 85.6–87.7°F (29.8–31.0°C), according to NOAA’s preliminary satellite data.
- The full moon fell on October 25.
Water and moon
| Sea surface temperature | 85.6–87.7°F (29.8–31.0°C), average 86.5°F (30.3°C) |
|---|---|
| Start → end of period | 86.5°F → 86.1°F, after a peak of 87.7°F on October 21 |
| Moon | First quarter on October 18 and full moon on October 25 (last quarter comes on November 1). |
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 30 at the time of writing. Source. For today’s numbers see our fishing conditions page.
What was biting
Dorado (mahi-mahi)
Dorado showed up in more of our crews’ photos than any other fish these two weeks, from kids’ first fish to solid bulls held up by the deckhands. Warm water near 86°F keeps them close, and they are some of the best eating fish in Cabo.
Striped marlin and sailfish
Billfish kept biting offshore. Late October leads into striped marlin’s best months in Cabo, which usually run through winter. In Cabo we follow a local rule of one billfish per boat per day, and we encourage releasing them.
Yellowfin tuna
Yellowfin came in on some of the offshore days, a good bonus when the boat is already running for marlin.
Jack crevalle and sierra
Closer to shore, a big jack crevalle gave one angler a real fight, and the younger crews had fun with sierra, a spotted mackerel that bites fast and is great for a first catch.
Photos from our boats
Angler with a dorado on the deck, late October 2026
Two anglers with a striped marlin, late October 2026
Angler with a yellowfin tuna in the cockpit, late October 2026
Two young anglers and a deckhand with a dorado, late October 2026
Two guests and a deckhand with a dorado, late October 2026
Angler with a sailfish in the fighting chair, late October 2026
Angler with a big jack crevalle on the deck, late October 2026
Young angler with a sierra, late October 2026
Planning a trip for this time of year?
Late fall gives you the most variety of the year in Cabo: billfish offshore, dorado and tuna on the same trips, and easy action close to shore for kids. A full day (about 8 hours) on a sportfisher gives your captain time to run where the marlin are.
- What’s biting in November, species by species
- Our recommended boats for an offshore day: the 35’ Bertram for up to 8 anglers, the 40’ Fiorentino with air conditioning for up to 10, and the 33’ CABO Express
- The whole fleet and live prices for every boat, with captain, crew, tackle, bait, ice and water included
- Fishing with kids in Cabo
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. Some photos were enhanced for size and sharpness. 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.
