There are more than 800 species of fish in the waters off Los Cabos, but only about half a dozen types of fish are heavily pursued by anglers. The most-popular and sought-after quarry are the huge blue and black marlin, as well as the smaller but more-numerous striped marlin, which leap with glistening majesty out of the sea. Those more interested in putting the catch-of-the-day on their table aim for dorado (also called mahimahi), tuna, yellowtail, albacore, and wahoo, the latter a speedy relative of the barracuda. Something's always biting, but the greatest diversity of species inhabit Cabo's waters from June through November, when sea temperatures climb into the high 80s.

Fishing charters can most easily be arranged through hotels or directly from the sportfishing charter companies. They include a captain and crew, tackle, bait, fishing licenses, and drinks. Lunch is usually extra, unless you're quoted an "all-inclusive" charter price. Be sure to ask beforehand. Prices generally start at $375 per half day for a 28-foot cruiser that can carry two or three passengers. A larger cruiser with a head (bathroom) and sunbathing space starts at about $500—from here, the sky's the limit. Private yachts have air-conditioned staterooms, hot-water showers, full kitchens, and every other imaginable amenity. Pangas (small motorized skiffs) with a skipper rent for about $250 to $350 for six hours. They're most comfortable with one or two passengers. Companies typically try to help solo anglers hook up with a group to share a boat.

Vendors along the harbor front in Cabo San Lucas and along El Médano beach offer all sorts of fishing options. To choose the best one for you, hang out at the harbor between 1 PM and 4 PM when the boats come in, and ask the passengers about their experiences. Still, the best and most dependable way is to arrange for a charter through hotel concierges, in-lobby charter desks, or Los Cabos fishing tackle shops. It's even possible to make arrangement online before you arrive.

Anglers are strongly encouraged to release all billfish (marlin and sailfish), as well as any fish they don't plan on eating, rather than bring them in as trophies. The few marlin that are brought into the marina are hoisted and weighed for photos and then taken to be smoked or given to needy locals. This is seriously frowned upon by nearly everyone in the marina since there's a very strong conservation movement in place. The more-tasty species of fish can be weighed and filleted right at the docks, and vendors are available to take your catch away to be frozen, smoked, or canned. Many restaurants, especially those found marina-side, will gladly prepare your daily catch any way you like. Nearly all boats leave from the Cabo San Lucas harbor, either from the sportfishing docks at the south end of the harbor near the Puerto Paraíso Mall, or from the docks at the Tesoro Hotel. It's very important to get specific directions and departure times, since it's hard to find things at 6:30 in the morning, before dawn.

San José del Cabo

Most hotels in San José will arrange fishing trips, but now that the Puerto Los Cabos marina near San José is finally completed and open for business, you can charter larger sportfishing boats from here as well.

Fishing gear and line are available at Deportiva Piscis Fishing Tackle Shop (Calle Mauricio Castro. near Mercado Municipal. 624/142-0332). The pangas of Gordo Banks Pangas (La Playa, near San José del Cabo. 624/142-1147 or 800/408-1199. www.gordobanks.com) are near some of the hottest fishing spots in the Sea of Cortez: the Outer and Inner Gordo banks. The price for three anglers in a small panga runs from $200 to $240. Cruisers, which can accommodate four to six people, are available for $350 to $530 per day.

The Corridor

All of the Corridor hotels work with fishing fleets anchored at the Cabo San Lucas marina and a few with boats in Puerto Los Cabos, so any one of them can help you set up your fishing trips. The major drawback of arranging a fishing trip from one of the Corridor hotels is the travel time involved in getting down to the water. It takes up to half an hour or more to reach the docks from Corridor hotels, and most boats depart at 6:30 AM. Long a favorite for its great selection of pangas and superpangas, Francisco's Fleet (624/142-1152) has boats available at both Playa Palmilla in the Corridor and La Playita in the San José del Cabo area. They have seven comfortable and speedy little rides that rent for $195 per day, not including fishing licenses, food, or drinks. They are represented by the Jig Stop (800/521-2281. www.jigstop.com) in Dana Point, California, who also represent the Abaroa, Gaviota, and Ana Mar fleets and a total of about 30 boats. Cruisers range up to $560 per day. Victor's Sport Fishing (624/122-1092) has a fleet of pangas on the Palmilla resort's beach. Rates start at $180.

Pick a Boat

Some of the more-adventurous fishermen will only fish in the smaller and less-expensive pangas and superpangas. These small boats put you in direct contact with the water and are so basic that they usually don't even have a "head," or bathroom. If you plan on fishing farther offshore, perhaps 49-64 km (30-40 mi), and spending full days in the hot sun, it's wise to opt for a longer, larger, and more-comfortable fishing boat.

Cabo San Lucas

A walk along the Marina San Lucas gives the impression that Cabo's all about fishing. Just about every yacht tied to the docks is a sport fisher and you'll see a number of different colored flags flying from the boats' outriggers. These flags designate the latest day's catch (and sometimes release): blue flags for marlin, yellow for dorado, white designate wahoo (also known as ono), and red for tuna That "T"-flag means a billfish was tagged and released, to live and swim again.

The Gaviota Fleet (docked between Gates 2 and 3 across from the Marina Fiesta Hotel. 624/145-8165 or 800/521-2281. www.jigstop.com) currently holds the record for the largest marlin caught in Cabo San Lucas's waters. The company has charter cruisers and superpangas from 23 feet to 36 feet. Egg Harbor yachts and rates range from $200 to $755, all-inclusive for the larger boats.

Jig Stop Tours (34186 Coast Hwy., Dana Point, CA, 92629. 800/521-2281. www.jigstop.com) is located in Southern California and books fishing trips for a number of Los Cabos fleets mentioned above and below. It is one of the best, and easiest, one-stop fishing shops in the United States.

Renowned tackle store Minerva's (Madero between Blvd. Marina and Guerrero. 624/143-1282. www.minervas.com) has been around for more than 30 years and has its own fleet with three Bertram charter-fishing boats from 33 feet to 40 feet, and prices ranging from $685 to $975, all-inclusive.

One of the top sportfishing fleets, Picante Fleet (Near Harley Davidson shop in the Puerto Paraíso shopping mall. Puerto Paraíso Mall Local 39-A. 624/143-2474; 714/572-6693 in U.S. www.picantesportfishing.com), offers a wide selection of 20 well-equipped, top-of-the-line, 31-foot to 45-foot Cabo sport fishers. If you prefer smaller boats, there's the Picantito fleet, with a trio of 24-foot Shamrock walk-around boats. These are primarily used for fishing close to shore. Owner Phil Gentile tells us he believes in 100% catch-and-release of billfish, and to further emphasize the point, captains are fined $50 for marlin that are not released. Renting a Picantito boat for five hours of fishing, will set you back $450, plus $35 per person for fishing license, food, and beverages. Chartering a 31-footer will cost $1,350.

Some of Cabo's top hotels use the extensive range of yachts from Pisces Sportfishing Fleet (Cabo Maritime Center, Blvd. Marina. 624/143-1288; 619/819-7983 in U.S. www.piscessportfishing.com). The fleet includes the usual 31-foot Bertrams, but also has a sizable fleet of 50- to 70-foot Viking, Mikelson, Hatteras, and Ocean Alexander yachts with tuna towers, air-conditioning, and multiple staterooms. Pisces also has luxury yachts up to 110 feet in length. Chartering a 31-foot Bertram goes for $695, all-inclusive, for up to six people, and trips last for around seven or eight hours.

Once the largest fleet in Cabo San Lucas, the long-established Solmar Fleet (Blvd. Marina. 624/122-3440 or 800/344-3349. www.solmar.com) has been subdivided into several parts and its fleet representatives are now located in both the Solmar Hotel and Playa Grande Hotel. Solmar offers 13 sportfishing yachts, with superpangas at $250 for five hours, 26-footers for $325, and 36-foot Chris-Craft for $725, plus extras. Solmar boats and tackle are always in good shape, and their longtime regulars wouldn't fish with anyone else.

Matancitas Man

The remains of pre-Hispanic Indians, found in the giant sand dune region near the current Cabo San Lucas Lighthouse, were given the name of Matancitas Man by archaeologists. These people were precursors to the Pericú Indians that lived in the Cape when explorer Hernán Cortés arrived in 1535.