Mexican fishing license in Cabo San Lucas
In Cabo, everyone aged 12 and older aboard a fishing boat needs a Mexican sport fishing license, even if they don't fish. With Top Anglers one license is included in every charter price, and we add the rest for $29 each.
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Who needs one
- Everyone aged 12 and older on a boat that is fishing, whether or not they fish.
- Children under 12 do not need one.
- Fishing from the beach or a pier does not require a permit (NOM-017-PESC-1994, section 4.3), but the daily limits still apply.
- The license is personal and non-transferable, and it must be carried during the trip and shown to the authorities if they ask.
What it costs with us
One license is already included in the price of every charter. Each extra license is $29 per person per day. That covers the government fee, processing through authorized FONMAR agents and taxes, so there is nothing else to pay or fill in.
How to get it
With us: when you book, send the full name of everyone aged 12 and older who will be on the boat. Each license is issued in the person's name, and we have them ready at the dock.
On your own: you can also buy a sport fishing permit from the authorities yourself. You need the full name and address of each person and the length of the permit, and you must carry a printed or phone copy. If you do, tell us when you book so we don't buy a second one.
How many fish you can keep
Daily limits under NOM-017-PESC-1994 (as amended in 2013):
| All species combined | 10 fish per angler per day |
|---|---|
| Any one species | No more than 5 (for example tuna, wahoo, snapper) |
| Dorado, roosterfish, tarpon (sábalo) and gulf grouper (baya) | 2 per angler per day, which the norm counts as equal to 5 fish of other species |
| Billfish (marlin, sailfish, swordfish) | 1 per angler per day by law, and counts as 5 of the 10. In Cabo we follow a local rule of 1 per boat per day. |
| Giant sea bass (pescada) | 1 per angler per day, and it counts as 5 of the 10 |
| Sharks | 1 per angler per day, and it counts as 5 of the 10. Whale, white and basking sharks, sawfish and all mantas and devil rays can never be kept. All sharks and rays are closed in Pacific waters from May 1 to July 31. We release every shark. |
| Released fish | No limit, as long as they go back alive and in good condition |
We strongly encourage releasing all billfish and any fish you won't eat. See the species guides for each fish: dorado, roosterfish, striped marlin, all species.
Questions
Do I need a fishing license in Cabo San Lucas?
Yes, if you are on a boat. In Cabo, everyone aged 12 and older aboard a fishing boat needs a Mexican sport fishing license, even if they don't fish. With Top Anglers one license is included in every charter price and each extra one is $29.
Do passengers who are not fishing need a license?
Yes. In Cabo the license is required for everyone aged 12 and older on board a boat that is fishing, not only for the people holding a rod.
Do children need a fishing license?
Children under 12 do not need one.
Do I need a license to fish from the beach?
No. Mexico's sport fishing rules (NOM-017-PESC-1994) say fishing from shore does not require a permit. The daily catch limits still apply.
How much does a fishing license cost with Top Anglers?
One license is already included in every charter price. Each extra license is $29 per person per day, which covers the government fee, processing through authorized FONMAR agents and taxes. We take care of the paperwork; you only send us each person's full name.
How many fish can I keep?
Up to 10 fish per angler per day, with no more than 5 of one species. Dorado and roosterfish are limited to 2 each. By law each angler may keep one billfish, which counts as 5 of the 10, but in Cabo we follow a local rule of one billfish per boat per day, and we encourage releasing all billfish.
This page is a guide, not legal advice. Rules and fees can change; the authorities have the final word.