Keith Lusher 08.20.25
For over a year, I’ve been writing destination fishing articles based on seasonal updates from my friend Arturo Chacon at Tag Cabo Sportfishing. But this time was different. When I came to Cabo for my daughter’s wedding, Arturo invited me to experience the fishing firsthand rather than just write about it. What followed was an unforgettable day on the water fishing the “Marlin Capitol of the World.”
My day began at 5 a.m. I left our Sandos Finesterra Resort, and after a quick 10-minute walk to the harbor I was at Dock E, where I met the crew, Andres and Roberto. As always when I’m working, my camera was ready. As an outdoor writer, I’ve learned to capture every moment because you never know when those photos will tell the perfect story.
After idling out of the harbor, a small boat pulled alongside us, and Roberto carefully selected our bait for the day: fresh ballyhoo and threadfin herring. Arturo explained his preference for dragging at least one line with dead bait, a proven technique that would soon pay dividends.
The Setup
Entering the Sea of Cortez, the team began their methodical line setup. Two rods carried daisy chain teasers, which Roberto explained create visual and auditory disturbances in the water, mimicking fleeing baitfish schools to excite gamefish. Another rod featured a straight missile bait without a blade, its erratic action shooting left and right, diving and surfacing like a panicked baitfish. Sometimes it even jumped clear of the water.
The fourth rod carried a traditional hard crankbait, while the fifth held a carefully rigged ballyhoo. Andres wrapped the baitfish’s face with thin wax line, reinforcing it so the hook wouldn’t tear through during the high-speed trolling action.
The Action Begins
Ten minutes after setting lines, the first rod began dancing. I jumped into the fighting chair and landed a perfect 30-inch yellowfin tuna, not massive but ideal eating size. As we headed toward what Roberto calls “the 45,” we caught four more yellowfins before Andres switched to marlin baits.
Then it happened. While watching the rods, I looked back to see a marlin exploding from the water behind our farthest lure. The fish was jumping nonstop, sometimes appearing to tailwalk across the surface. Back in the fighting chair, I learned the hard way not to let the reel do all the work. “Horse the fish with the rod, then reel as the tip comes down,” came the constant reminder.
As the fish neared the boat, I stepped aside to capture incredible footage before we brought it alongside. The striped marlin was a beauty, and after a quick photo session, we released it to fight another day.
On our return trip, another marlin hit, but this one behaved completely differently. “Sometimes they do that,” Roberto explained. “They’ll hit the lure and head straight down.” This fish never jumped, staying deep throughout the entire fight. Andres skillfully worked it close enough to remove the hook before release.
What to Expect in August
During our day on the water, I was able to ask plenty of questions about what makes August so special in Cabo. The team told me this represents peak season, where Pacific Ocean waters meet the Sea of Cortez at ideal temperatures of 75-82°F. Arturo explained that this month offers some of the year’s best opportunities for big game fishing.
Billfish
When I asked about billfish, Roberto got excited. He told me blue and black marlin are at their most active right now, with blues averaging 250-350 pounds and blacks potentially exceeding 1,000 pounds. The striped marlin we caught are year-round residents that remain consistently active at 100-300 pounds. Andres mentioned that sailfish numbers increase through August, peaking in September.
Tuna
The yellowfin tuna action we experienced was typical for August, according to the crew. They explained these fish range from 20-100 pounds with occasional giants over 200 pounds. “Always look for diving birds,” Roberto advised, “they show you where the feeding schools are.” Arturo recommends targeting dorado this month too, as they’re plentiful at 10-30 pounds, while speedy wahoo patrol both offshore and inshore waters.
Inshore Options
I was curious about inshore options, and the team told me roosterfish are hitting 40-50 pounds right now, plus red snapper and grouper offer exciting action closer to shore for those wanting variety.
Fighting two big striped marlin created memories I’ll never forget. The combination of Cabo’s world-class fishing, Tag Cabo Sportfishing’s expertise, and the region’s stunning beauty makes this destination unbeatable. Whether you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort with family or planning a dedicated fishing trip, I highly recommend booking with Tag Cabo Sportfishing for an authentic Cabo experience.
After a year of writing about this fishery, experiencing it firsthand proved that sometimes the reality exceeds even the best stories.
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