Striped Marlin, Wahoo, Mahi, Tuna!

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Current Fishing Conditions in Cabo San Lucas Wind, Swells, and Still Finding Fish Cabo Rewards the Persistent!

May has arrived in full force off Cabo San Lucas, and with it the winds that define this month on the water. It's been a week of variable conditions gusty mornings, offshore swells, and seas that kept the fair weather crowd on the dock but as always, the crews willing to read the ocean, adapt their spreads, and put in the work came back with the fish to show for it. Striped marlin remain a consistent presence, the mahi bite has been genuinely good all week, wahoo are starting to make a legitimate appearance, and yellowfin tuna have been in the mix for the boats that timed it right. May is one of the most dynamic months on the water in this region warming water, shifting currents, and expanding bait lines are setting the stage for an increasingly productive offshore picture. The fundamentals are all moving in the right direction. The fish are here. The only question is whether you have a trip booked to come get them.
If you've been thinking about booking a trip to Cabo this spring, the window you've been waiting for is open right now and it won't stay that way forever. Reach out to us directly to check availability on Fin Chaser and Just Right before the best dates are gone.

Windy Week on the Water Work With the Conditions
May is historically the windiest month of the year in Cabo San Lucas, and this week lived up to that reputation. The afternoons have been the most challenging get out early and use the morning calm to your advantage.
Daytime Highs sit between 88 and 91°F with strong late spring heat building daily. Nighttime Lows are a warm and humid 70 to 72°F. Rainfall has been near zero with dry skies throughout the week. Sunshine is pushing 13 or more hours of daylight long productive days on the water when conditions cooperate. Sea Temperature has climbed significantly, with water readings of 80 to 81°F across most of the productive grounds a meaningful jump from recent weeks and excellent news for pelagic fishing going forward. Winds have been persistent and gusty throughout the week, particularly on the Pacific side, with mornings offering the best windows before wind builds through midday and afternoon. Seas offshore have produced swells that made for a bumpy ride on longer runs — boats staying disciplined on range and departure time fared significantly better. Bait has been a real positive this week: with caballito and green jacks also showing up reliably close to the dock structures most mornings.

Species Highlights
Marlin Report
Striped marlin continue to show up for the crews willing to find them, and both Fin Chaser and Just Right have been keeping release flags flying. Most of the marlin action this week has been centered around the 95 & 1150 Bank and its surrounding areas, with fish responding to lures, rigged ballyhoo, and live caballito and green jacks. Master Captain Jose "Chintrole" and Captain Jose Ramon have been reading the grounds well on the days when wind and sea cooperated, the spread was in the water early and the fish were there. Striped marlin being found consistently within practical range of the marina, with quality fish in the 100 to 120 pound class taking well presented baits. This is a species that rewards persistence right now some days they want to eat, some days they don't, but they are absolutely in the area and experienced captains who know these grounds are finding them. That local knowledge is exactly what you get when you step aboard one of our boats. Get in touch with us to talk about a marlin trip these fish are here and the season is moving fast.

Wahoo Report
Wahoo are officially on the board and the bite is building one of the more exciting developments of the week. Reports from the Inner Gordo this past weekend were impressive, with multiple wahoo landed on X-Raps, Nomad DTXs, and rigged ballyhoo. Our crews have been keeping wahoo presentations in the spread and the timing is right quality wahoo in the 30 plus pound class and one caught last week was 65lbs they are showing up and the bite should only improve as we push deeper into May. High speed trolling with wire rigged ballyhoo and deep diving plugs is the call. The conditions for a breakout wahoo week are setting up right now this is exactly the moment to have a trip on the calendar. Spots on both boats are still available for the coming weeks.

Dorado / Mahi Report
The mahi bite has been one of the week's most reliable highlights and both Fin Chaser and Just Right have been putting clients on quality fish consistently. Dorado are being found while working the tuna grounds and on runs toward productive structure some boats picking up dorado while slow-trolling and drifting between tuna spots, with fish showing up as a welcome bonus throughout the day. Weedlines and floating debris remain the key keep eyes peeled while covering ground and have a pitch bait ready at all times. With water temps now pushing into the low 80s, the mahi bite is only going to get stronger heading into June. If a cooler full of fresh dorado to take home and a few marlin releases in the logbook sounds like your kind of day, our crews are ready to make that happen reach out and let's talk dates.

Tuna Report
The yellowfin tuna picture improved meaningfully this week, and live bait has been the reason. With sardines available consistently, the tuna bite came alive throughout Vinorama, San Luis, Iman, and the 25 with best action concentrated at Vinorama and San Luis most fish averaging solid class sizes with a handful of quality larger fish mixed in on productive mornings. A few yellowfin have been in the mix for our boats on the right tides and presentations. Sharks have been a frustrating presence across most fishing grounds this week, intercepting bait and hooked fish something to factor in when planning your drift, but a manageable challenge for experienced captains who know how to stay one step ahead of them. When clean water is found away from shark pressure, the tuna bite rewards you quickly and generously.
Shark Note
Worth flagging this week: sharks have been spread across all the fishing grounds and have been hard to control, creating headaches for boats slow trolling and drifting bait. Captain Jose Ramon and the Just Right crew have been staying mobile and repositioning when sharks move in the kind of real time decision making that separates experienced local captains from the rest of the fleet. It's a manageable nuisance, not a dealbreaker, and it's exactly why fishing with a seasoned crew matters.

Sailfish Bonus
An exciting surprise being reported across the fleet this week sailfish showed up in real numbers while trolling rigged ballyhoo, all of them caught and released. These fish are becoming less common every season, so every one that comes up is a truly special catch worth celebrating. Keep a ballyhoo in the spread and you might just get a surprise flag flying on the run home one more reason why a full day trip out of Cabo right now has the potential to deliver something genuinely unexpected.

Roosterfish / Inshore Report
Roosterfish and jack action close to shore has remained consistent on live caballito and green jacks, with quality roosters in the mix alongside some impressive sierra. On windy days when the offshore picture is uncomfortable, the inshore bite close to the arch and along the beach structure continues to be a productive and fun option. Half-day inshore trips on Fin Chaser are a fantastic entry point for first-time anglers, families, or anyone who wants action-packed fishing without the long offshore run ask us about availability.

Notes
This week reinforced a theme that has been running through the entire spring season: the fish are here, but this bite belongs to the crews that work for it. The wind has been a daily factor boats that launched early, made smart decisions about range, and adapted their presentations on the fly are the ones with the best results. Fin Chaser and Just Right have been doing exactly that every single day. The mahi bite is satisfying, marlin are cooperating at the 1150 and surrounding grounds, wahoo are making their presence felt, and the tuna picture is getting stronger as bait becomes more available. Experienced captains are emphasizing flexibility right now reading water conditions, watching temperature edges, and being prepared to switch between live bait, trolling spreads, and lures depending on what the fish are telling you on any given morning. That is the formula right now, and it is working. This is what you get when you book with a crew that fishes these waters every day of the season local intelligence, relentless effort, and a genuine commitment to putting you on fish. Book your trip with us at FinChaserCabo.com and come experience it firsthand.

Fishing Forecast for Next Week: May 19th – May 25th, 2026
Here is what to expect on the water heading into next week and why now is the time to lock in your dates:
Monday and Tuesday look like the most promising window of the week with lighter winds forecast early ideal conditions for longer runs to the 1150 and surrounding marlin and wahoo grounds. Get out early and make the most of these calm mornings before conditions build. Wednesday and Thursday should hold reasonably well mid-week with manageable seas, making the tuna grounds at Vinorama and San Luis the smart target if bait stays available. Friday through the weekend is where wind is expected to increase, with fresh winds building from the WNW through the back half of the week plan accordingly and keep runs conservative if the forecast holds.
Water temperature is holding strong at 80 to 81°F across the productive grounds excellent for all target species and trending in the right direction heading into the summer peak. Bait availability has been improving and should remain serviceable next week, though baits should always be secured first thing each morning as supply can shift quickly. Primary targets for the week ahead are striped marlin at the 1150 Bank, wahoo at the Inner Gordo and surrounding structure, mahi on the trolling grounds, and tuna on the right tides with live bait.
Bottom line for next week: Thursday, Friday, Saturday are your best shots for productive full day offshore runs. Mid week holds real promise for tuna and mahi. Go into the weekend with adjusted expectations and conservative range if the wind forecast materializes. Most importantly if next week is on your radar, contact us now. The best weather windows book first, and our calendar is filling up. Don't wait until Tuesday morning to decide you want to be on the water Tuesday.

Weekly Tips
Secure Bait First:. Get to the dock early, lock in your baits before the fleet depletes supply, and your morning is already running ahead of schedule.
Fish the Morning Window: Wind builds through the day this time of year the first few hours after departure are consistently the most productive and the most comfortable. Early starts are not optional right now, they are essential. Our crews are ready before the sun is up.
Keep Wahoo in Your Spread: The wahoo bite is building and the boats keeping a high speed wire presentation in the mix are being rewarded. Don't wait for a dedicated wahoo day keep it in the rotation on every trip and let the fish surprise you.
Stay Flexible on Range: Some of the best fishing this week happened well within comfortable range of the marina. You don't always need to run far trust our Captains read on the day and let local knowledge determine the range, not the plan you made the night before. That flexibility and experience is what you pay for when you book a charter with us.
Book the Right Boat for Your Group: Whether you're a couple looking for a focused half day inshore adventure on Fin Chaser or a serious crew ready for a full day offshore push on our 37ft Bertram Just Right, we have the right setup for your trip. Visit us at FinChaserCabo.com or reach out directly we'll match you with the right boat, the right captain, and the right game plan for an unforgettable day on the water.
The fishing off Cabo San Lucas is heading into its best stretch of the year. Water is warm, species variety is expanding, and the crews putting in the work are being richly rewarded. Fin Chaser and Just Right are on the water every day conditions allow come join us. Tight lines!