Top Anglers vs Picante

Top Anglers and Picante are both tournament-tested charter companies in Cabo San Lucas. Both placed at the 2025 Bisbee's Black & Blue: Picante's Magic Touch took first place and our 45' CABO Express crew won a prize. Both know how to put anglers on billfish.

They serve different segments. Picante is a premium operation built almost entirely on Cabo Yachts, with no budget options. Top Anglers covers the full range, from $453 pangas to luxury sportfishers, with everything included in the price.

Disclosure: Top Anglers Sportfishing Charters is our company. Information about Picante comes from their public website as of March 2026 and may have changed; please check with them directly. Top Anglers prices on this page are live from our booking system.

At a glance

Picante Sportfishing figures from their public website as of March 2026; Top Anglers prices live from our booking system.

Company background

Top Anglers

Top Anglers was founded in 2004 by Captain Victor Vargas at Marina Principal in Cabo San Lucas. Today the Vargas family runs a fleet of 20 boats from 23 to 60 feet, working with a hand-picked group of local captains and boat owners. Victor Jr runs operations, Max handles strategy and guest relations, and Andy runs administration.

Every booking goes through the family: online on our booking page, or by WhatsApp, phone or email. There is no booking platform, no call center and no booking fee, and the price you see includes captain, crew, tackle, bait, one fishing license, dock fees and taxes.

Picante Sportfishing

Picante was founded in 1995 and positions itself as the premier tournament fleet in Cabo San Lucas ("Fish with the winners!"), reporting over $4.6 million in tournament winnings and a fleet of company-owned Cabo Yachts. They have a US office in Chino Hills, California, and a dock office at Puerto Paraíso, and also run a yacht sales and brokerage business.

Tournament credentials

Top Anglers

• 2025 Bisbee's Black & Blue: prize winner (our 45' CABO Express crew)
• 33rd CIPS-M Big Game World Championship (France): Victor Vargas captained a team that placed first on two of three days
• 2025 Pan-American Billfish Championship: Jason Bailey, a longtime friend of the Vargas family who helps our US guests plan their trips, earned bronze for Team USA
• Organizers of a CIPS-M World Championship and the 2024 German National Championship

Picante

• 2025 Bisbee's Black & Blue: first place (Magic Touch)
• $4.6 million+ in reported lifetime tournament winnings
• 30 years of tournament competition

Fleet philosophy

Top Anglers built a diverse fleet for every angler who visits Cabo: 20 boats from 23 to 60 feet, including pangas, Bertrams, Uniflites, Owens, a Blackfin, CABO Express and Flybridge models, a Blackwatch, a Viking and a Hatteras.

Picante built a uniform tournament fleet around one brand. Eight of their nine sportfishing boats are Cabo Yachts; there are no pangas and no boats under 31 feet. They also offer the 110-foot Panache for group events.

Booking

Top Anglers

Book online with live prices: choose the boat and date, the team confirms availability, and you pay a 50% deposit by card through a secure link. The balance is paid at the dock and you get a ticket with a QR code.

• Victor: +52 624 122 1643 (WhatsApp or call)
• Andy: +1 619 600 9061
• Victor Jr: +1 307 221 1291
• Email: contact@topanglerscharters.com
• Book online

Picante

Picante books through a website inquiry form or by phone (US 1-714-442-0644, Mexico +52 624 143 2474). Per-boat pricing is not shown on their website.

Our verdict

Choose Top Anglers for flexibility in boat size and budget, live all-inclusive prices, inshore options, and direct contact with the family running your trip.

Choose Picante if you want to fish only on Cabo Yachts, want the 110-foot Panache, or prefer booking through a US office.