Home > The Seven Best Top Anglers vs Pisces
Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas
Top Anglers and Pisces are two of the most established fishing charter companies in Cabo San Lucas. Pisces has been on the water since 1980. Top Anglers since 2004. Both operate out of the marina, both put anglers on marlin, tuna, and dorado year-round, and both have tournament credentials.
But they are very different operations. Pisces runs 34 boats with contracted captains and a corporate booking system. Top Anglers runs 13 boats owned and operated by the Vargas family with direct booking and no middlemen.
This page breaks down the differences so you can decide which one fits your trip.
Disclosure: Top Anglers Sport Fishing Charters is our company. We present Pisces fairly using information from their public website and booking platform. All data verified as of March 2026.
Company Background
Top Anglers
Top Anglers was founded in 2004 by Captain Victor Vargas with a single boat at Marina Principal. Over 22 years, the Vargas family grew the operation to 13 vessels while keeping every boat owner-operated. Victor still captains trips. His son Victor Jr. runs daily operations as COO. The family handles every booking directly.
When you call Top Anglers, you are talking to the people who will be on the water with you. There is no call center, no booking platform, and no commissioned sales team between you and the captain.
Pisces Sportfishing
Pisces was founded in 1980 and is one of the longest-running charter operations in Cabo San Lucas. Over 45 years, they have built the largest fleet in the marina with 34 boats ranging from 28-foot standard cruisers to a 116-foot Azimut Bennetti superyacht.
Pisces operates at a scale that no other Cabo charter matches. Their captains fish 300+ days per year, and some crew members have spent their entire careers with the company. They publish weekly fishing reports on their blog that are widely read by anglers planning Cabo trips.
Pisces earned the IGFA Lifetime Achievement Award for Conservation and was the first fleet in Mexico to switch exclusively to circle hooks for live bait fishing. Their tagging program, run in partnership with Grayfishtag Research, lets anglers name and track released fish online.
Fleet Comparison
Top Anglers: 13 boats, 23' - 45'
Top Anglers' fleet is built to cover every type of fishing trip in Cabo, from budget-friendly inshore pangas to tournament-class sportfishers.
Inshore and light tackle (1-3 anglers)
23' Panga -- $450 half-day / $570 full-day
26' Shamrock -- $650 half-day / $750 full-day
Offshore (4-6 anglers)
30' California -- $750 half-day / $850 full-day
31' Bertram -- $800 half-day / $900 full-day
33' Bertram -- $900 half-day / $1,000 full-day
32' Blackfin -- $1,100 half-day / $1,250 full-day
Premium offshore (6-8 anglers)
35' Bertram -- $1,100 half-day / $1,200 full-day
38' Bertram -- $1,200 half-day / $1,400 full-day
Tournament class (8-12 anglers)
35' CABO Flybridge -- $1,700 half-day / $2,100 full-day
36' Black Watch -- $1,700 half-day / $2,150 full-day
40' Florentino -- $1,300 half-day / $1,500 full-day
44' Viking -- $1,700 half-day / $2,300 full-day
45' CABO Express -- $1,700 half-day / $2,300 full-day
Every price includes captain, crew, fishing licenses, tackle, live bait (when available), ice, water, dock fees, and taxes. No additional charges.
Pisces Sportfishing: 34 boats, 28' - 116'
Pisces organizes their fleet into four tiers. Specific per-boat pricing is not listed on their website and must be obtained through their booking system or by phone.
Standard Cruisers (28'-31') -- from $445
9 boats including Bertrams, Uniflites, and a 29' Black Fin. These are the entry-level offshore boats, most with twin fighting chairs and shade covers.
Midsize Cruisers (35'-40') -- from $1,100
7 boats including Cabo Flybridge models, a 35' Bertram, a 37' Viking Billfish (2018), and a 40' Cabo Express. This is where the fleet steps up significantly in comfort and fishability.
Large Cruisers (42'-55') -- from $3,500
8 boats including Cabo Flybridge models, Vikings (46', 48'), a 55' Sunseeker yacht, and a 55' Viking. The 48' Viking Listo features a Seakeeper stabilizer. The 42' Hot Rod won first place at the Bisbee's East Cape Tournament.
Luxury Cruisers (60'-116') -- from $1,200
10 boats ranging from a 60' Sea Ray to the 116' Azimut Bennetti Capella. The 66' Viking Friday Bank has a Seakeeper stabilizer. The 80' Tag Team is a Viking Skybridge. This tier includes vessels configured more for luxury cruising than dedicated sportfishing.
What to know about Pisces pricing: The starting prices listed ($445, $1,100, $3,500, $1,200) are category minimums shown on their main website. Individual boat rates require contacting Pisces directly. Their booking page does not display prices inline. The "$1,200" luxury tier minimum likely reflects a shorter trip or smaller luxury vessel, as the 116' Capella would command significantly more.
Reviews and Reputation
Top Anglers
Google: 4.8 stars / 150+ reviews
Facebook: 100% recommendation rate
Nautical Pathfinder: Trusted Charter designation
Review highlights: personal attention from the Vargas family, transparent pricing, captains who go above and beyond, family-friendly atmosphere
Pisces
TripAdvisor: Travelers' Choice Award (2013-2023, 2025), mixed reviews across hundreds of entries
Yelp: ~4.0 stars / 46 reviews
Forum reputation: Generally respected as a reliable large-scale operation
Review highlights: consistent catches with experienced captains, weekly fishing reports valued by the community, some negative reviews citing crew attitudes and boat condition on older standard-tier vessels
What the reviews tell you
Pisces has volume. With 34 boats running almost daily for 45 years, they have generated an enormous review footprint. The experience is consistent at the midsize and large tiers but more variable on the standard-tier boats, which is expected with a fleet of that size.Top Anglers has a smaller review count but a higher average rating. With 13 boats and a family operating every trip, the experience is more consistent across the fleet. You are more likely to interact directly with an owner during your trip.
Tournament Credentials
Both Top Anglers and Pisces compete at the highest levels of international sportfishing, but their tournament profiles are different.
Top Anglers
2025 Bisbee's Black and Blue winner crew -- the richest fishing tournament in the world
CIPS-M Big Game World Championship -- Captain Victor Vargas captained Team Mexico
2025 Pan-American Billfish Championship -- crew member earned bronze medal
Nautical Pathfinder Trusted Charter designation
Pisces
IGFA Lifetime Achievement Award for Conservation -- one of the most prestigious honors in sportfishing
Billfish Foundation recognition -- Top Overall Marlin Release Captain Worldwide
Grayfishtag Research -- Top Tagging Fleet in the Pacific Coast of Mexico
Bisbee's East Cape Tournament -- first place (42' Hot Rod)
45+ years of tournament participation across multiple events
Top Anglers' tournament profile is concentrated in recent, high-profile wins. Pisces' profile spans decades and leans heavily toward conservation recognition, which reflects their institutional commitment to catch-and-release practices.
Booking Experience
Top Anglers
You book by calling, texting, emailing, or messaging the Vargas family directly.
Phone: +52 624 122 1643
WhatsApp: +52 624 358 7768 (Victor Jr.)
iMessage: +1 619 600 9061 (Andy)
Email: [email protected]
When you book, you choose the specific boat. You know the captain. You communicate directly with the family before, during, and after your trip. There is no booking platform, no middleman, and no commission.
Pisces
Pisces uses an online booking system at booking.piscessportfishing.com. You can also book by phone.
USA: 1-619-819-7983
Toll Free USA: 1-877-286-7938
Mexico: +52 624-143-1288
WhatsApp: +52 624 220 6367
Email: [email protected]
The booking system shows available boats by category but does not display per-boat pricing inline. You may need to submit a request or call to get a specific quote. With 34 boats, Pisces has more availability on short notice, which is an advantage for last-minute trips.
Who Should Book Top Anglers
Families who want personal attention from the owner on the water
Budget-conscious anglers who need a quality trip starting at $450 with everything included
Anglers who want to know exactly which boat and captain they get before they pay
Repeat visitors who value building a relationship with their charter company
Anyone who wants zero hidden fees -- the published price is the final price
Groups of 1-12 anglers across any fishing style (inshore pangas to offshore tournament boats)
Who Should Book Pisces
First-timers who want the security of booking with the longest-established name in Cabo
Large groups needing a mega yacht (60'-116') for luxury fishing or cruising
Conservation-focused anglers who want to participate in fish tagging research
Last-minute bookers who need availability on short notice (34-boat fleet = more open dates)
Corporate groups who need luxury vessels with Seakeeper stabilizers for comfortAnglers planning longer trips who want to choose from 34 different vessel configurations
Our Verdict
Pisces and Top Anglers are both legitimate, established charter companies. You will catch fish with either one. The question is what kind of experience you want around the fishing.
Choose Top Anglers if you want a personal, family-run experience with transparent all-inclusive pricing, a guaranteed boat and captain at booking, and direct communication with the people who own and operate the fleet. Top Anglers covers the full range from $450 pangas to $2,300 tournament boats, and every price includes everything.
Choose Pisces if you want the widest possible fleet selection, access to mega yachts and luxury vessels over 60 feet, a conservation-first approach with fish tagging research, or you are booking last-minute and need maximum availability. Pisces' 45-year track record and IGFA recognition speak for themselves.
If you are deciding between the two for a standard offshore fishing trip in the 31'-45' range, Top Anglers offers more pricing transparency (every inclusion listed, no surprises) and a higher review rating. If you need a vessel over 45 feet or a luxury yacht experience, Pisces is your pick -- Top Anglers' fleet tops out at 45 feet.
Ready to Book with Top Anglers?
If you are looking for a family-owned charter with tournament-winning captains, transparent pricing, and no booking fees, we would be glad to have you aboard.
Top Anglers Sport Fishing Charters
13 boats from $450 | Everything included | Book direct
NO BOOKING FEES · NO COMMISSIONS · DIRECT WITH OUR CABO TEAM
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Last updated: March 2026. Pisces fleet and pricing information sourced from piscessportfishing.com and booking.piscessportfishing.com. Top Anglers Sport Fishing Charters is one of the operators compared on this page.