Fishing in Cabo San Lucas in May: What’s Biting
In May, the peak species in Cabo are striped marlin, roosterfish, Pacific crevalle jack, black skipjack, almaco jack, Pacific dog snapper, barred pargo and silky shark. Here’s everything that’s in season, and what you might see from the boat.
At their peak 8
The best month for these.
Also biting 15
In season, in good numbers.
Possible 14
Around, but not reliable this month.
Wildlife to look for in May 14
Rules to know in May
- Closed season: no shark or ray fishing in Mexico’s Pacific waters from May 1 to July 31.
- Billfish: 1 per angler per day by law; in Cabo we follow a local rule of 1 per boat per day, and we encourage releasing every billfish.
- Up to 10 fish per angler per day, no more than 5 of one species; gulf grouper (baya) 2 per day. License & limits →
Questions
What fish are biting in Cabo San Lucas in May?
At their peak: striped marlin, roosterfish, Pacific crevalle jack, black skipjack, almaco jack, Pacific dog snapper, barred pargo and silky shark. Also in good numbers: dorado (mahi-mahi), yellowfin tuna, wahoo, Pacific sierra, California yellowtail, striped bonito, bigeye trevally, Mexican needlefish, leopard grouper, colorado snapper, finescale triggerfish, yellow snapper, Pacific white snook, giant hawkfish and shortfin mako.
Can you see whales in Cabo in May?
It’s not whale season; sightings in May are occasional.
Is shark fishing allowed in May?
No. Mexico’s Pacific closed season for sharks and rays runs May 1 to July 31. We release every shark all year.
Seasons come from each species page: scientific studies and local fishing reports. They change from year to year; check the latest fishing report before you book.