Cabo Fishing in November 2026: What's Biting in Cabo, Mag Bay and the Sea of Cortez

Cabo fishing in November is some of the best of the year: the water off Cabo San Lucas was about 87°F on October 30, 2026, and striped marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo and tuna are all in play. On the Pacific side, Magdalena Bay is in its peak striped marlin months, and the Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot fishes out of Cabo San Lucas on November 5 and 6. Here is what to expect, area by area.

What's biting in Cabo San Lucas in November?

Billfish lead the way. On Monday, October 26, the 45 ft Picudo put a striped marlin on the deck and the 27 ft Big Kahuna II got a sailfish the same morning, according to the Lands End Charters captains. After Tropical Storm Vance passed, the Big Kahuna II was back out on Friday, October 30, and came in with dorado. Discover Baja's October 2026 fishing report, by Gary Graham, lists striped marlin, blue marlin, dorado, wahoo and tuna active offshore, with roosterfish and jacks along the beaches.

The water is warm for the time of year. Seatemperature.net put Cabo San Lucas at 30.6°C (about 87°F) on October 30, roughly 2°F above the average for that date, and cooling slowly from a week earlier. Its November average for Cabo is about 81°F, so expect the water to ease down through the month.

Is November a good time for striped marlin at Magdalena Bay?

Yes. Marlin Magazine says striped marlin numbers at Magdalena Bay peak in October and November. The bay stretches more than 130 miles along Baja's Pacific coast, and the gateway villages are Puerto San Carlos and Puerto Adolfo López Mateos, about 40 miles apart. Discover Baja's October report adds dorado, wahoo and tuna offshore, with halibut, corvina and snook along the mangroves.

This year Bisbee's runs Mag Bay Mania for all of November 2026: a virtual, release only billfish tournament. If Mag Bay is on your list, see our Magdalena Bay fishing trips, from a single day in a panga to a full expedition.

What about La Paz, the East Cape and Loreto?

Discover Baja's October report gives a good picture of the Sea of Cortez side heading into November:

• East Cape: tuna is the main target, often under porpoise, with dorado, wahoo and striped marlin around and roosterfish and pargo inshore.
• La Paz: late season dorado, tuna and marlin offshore, and cabrilla, pargo and smaller roosterfish around the islands. Afternoon breezes can slow the run out. See our La Paz fishing charters.
• Loreto: dorado are thinning out, while striped marlin and sailfish hold along temperature breaks and cabrilla, pargo and roosterfish stay steady inshore.

Which fishing tournaments are in Cabo in November 2026?

The WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot runs November 4 to 7, 2026, with fishing days on November 5 and 6, according to the tournament's official website. The Cabo Magazine lists registration on November 4, shotgun starts from the Cabo San Lucas marina on November 5 and 6, and the awards on November 7 at the cruise ship pier. Expect a busy marina that week. Bisbee's Mag Bay Mania runs alongside it for the whole month.

Will the weather get in the way?

Usually not, but it is worth watching early in the month. Tropical Storm Vance closed the Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo ports from 8:30 PM on Tuesday, October 27, after heavy rain, according to the Gringo Gazette. Vance did not make landfall and weakened to a tropical depression on October 28, according to La Jornada, and Lands End Charters boats were fishing again by October 30. The port captain decides when boats can go out, and we keep guests posted when a closure affects a trip.

What does it mean for your trip?

November gives you warm water, billfish close to Cabo and a shot at Mag Bay at its best. If you want a quiet marina, avoid November 5 and 6, or book early if you want to fish the Tuna Jackpot. If you are in town for Día de Muertos, read our guide to the floating altar parade on November 2. For the latest catches, water temperatures and news from all of Baja, read The Baja Catch Report, and see the boats in our Cabo fishing fleet.