This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Cabo San Lucas fishing report.
We woke up to classic late‑May conditions on the cape. The morning is starting off mostly clear and warm, mid‑70s at first light moving into the mid‑80s later. Light northwest breeze early, building to 10–15 knots by afternoon, with a modest chop outside the bay. Seas are generally 2–4 feet on the Pacific side, a little calmer inside and along the Sea of Cortez.
Sunrise is right around 6:40 a.m., with sunset close to 7:55 p.m., giving you a nice long window. Tides today are on the moderate side: low before dawn, flooding through the morning, peaking late morning to early afternoon, then draining out toward sunset. That incoming morning push has been the ticket for the better bites offshore and on the inshore structure.
Water temps offshore are running in the mid‑70s to low‑80s. Warmer blue water has been pushing in off the Pacific side and wrapping around the corner toward the 95 and 1150 banks. That’s brought some very solid striped marlin action, plus a few early dorado and the occasional yellowfin.
Local captains running out to the Golden Gate and Jaime Banks have been reporting double‑digit shots on stripers on good days, with most boats raising 4–8 fish and releasing 2–5. Most of these marlin are mid‑size, 80–120 pounds, with a few larger models mixed in. Dropbacks with live caballito or small mackerel are out‑producing lures once the fish are teased in, but they’re still crashing standard marlin spreads: purple/black Zukers, guacamaya‑pattern lures, and small to medium skirted trolling lures in petrolero and dorado colors.
Closer to the Sea of Cortez side, around the 95 Spot, 1150, and out toward the Gordo Banks, a few football yellowfin have been showing when the porpoise move through, 15–40 pounds. Chunked squid and live sardina work when you can find the fish under birds and spinner dolphin; small cedar plugs and feather jigs in blue/white or pink/white are good search baits.
Dorado are just starting to trickle in. Most are schoolie size, 8–15 pounds, with a few bigger bulls reported by boats working weed lines and temperature breaks. Bright green/yellow trolling lures, small ballyhoo, and live baits pitched to fish under floating debris are doing the job.
Inshore, the roosterfish bite has been waking up along the beaches from Solmar around to the Lighthouse and up the Sea of Cortez side toward Palmilla. Most gallos are in the 10–25 pound range, with bigger fish spotted but not always committing. Big live mullet and caballito slow‑trolled just outside the breakers are best, but for the lure anglers, large surface poppers in bone or blue/white, and 5–6 inch swimbaits with strong hooks, are getting crushed when the surf isn’t too heavy.
Sierra are thinning but still around at first light on the Pacific side points; small chrome spoons and shiny casting jigs, plus small live sardina, are doing well. There are also decent mixed bottom catches at the usual rock piles: San Cristobal, the Inner and Outer Gordo Banks, and off Chileno. Pargo, cabrilla, and triggerfish are biting cut squid and chunk bait dropped straight down with just enough weight to hold.
If you’re heading out today, a couple of hot spots to circle on your chart:
1) Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific side for numbers of striped marlin and a shot at dorado; work the edges of the bait balls and keep a couple of pitch baits ready.
2) Gordo Banks area on the Cortez side for a mixed bag: a chance at yellowfin, some dorado, plus solid bottom fishing when the surface bite slows.
Pack a spread of medium‑sized marlin lures in darker colors for early, brighter patterns as the sun gets up, and don’t leave the dock without live bait if you can get it—caballito, mullet, or sardina depending on availability. Fluorocarbon leaders in the 40–60 pound range help with dorado and tuna, while heavier mono leaders are fine for marlin.
That’s your Cabo San Lucas fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.
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