Shared boats sell seats. Private boats sell the day. Here is how each works in Cabo, what is included, and what a private boat costs once you split it.
Every charter we run is private. We do not sell seats. That is a choice, and here is why we made it, along with a fair look at how shared boats work for the people who book them.
How shared charters usually work
On a shared charter you buy a seat, not the boat. The operator fills the boat with several small parties who have not met, and everyone splits the day.
- The departure time, the length of day and the plan are usually set in advance for the whole boat.
- Rods are often shared on a rotation, so you take your turn when a fish bites.
- The target is whatever suits the most people aboard that morning.
- Booking is per person, and what the seat covers varies by operator, so ask before you pay. The license, bait, lunch and filleting are the usual questions.
For a solo angler on a tight budget that can work well. You get on the water and you meet people.
What private means on our boats
A private charter is the whole boat for your group and nobody else. In practice that comes down to four things.
Your group
Only the people you bring. Kids, a first timer, a partner who wants to fish for an hour and then watch the water. Nobody else to keep happy.
Your species
If you want striped marlin, we run to the banks. If you want tuna for the table, we fish for tuna. The plan follows what you came for, not a vote.
Your pace
Every rod on the boat is yours, so you fish when something bites. Want to troll all day, or switch to live bait the moment a marlin shows on the surface? That is your call.
Your launch point
We fish from Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and Punta Lobos in Todos Santos, so you launch from the side of the cape closest to where you are staying.
The per person math
A private boat sounds expensive until you split it.
- La Ruca, a full day out of San Jose del Cabo: $800 for the boat, split four ways, is $200 each.
- The Punta Lobos panga out of Todos Santos: from $450, split three ways, is $150 each.
- El Wahoo King, a full day out of Cabo San Lucas: $1,900, split six ways, is about $317 each, with lunch and drinks aboard.
The price is for the boat, so it is the same for two of you as it is for a full boat. That is the honest trade: if you are fishing on your own, a private boat means paying for all of it. Compare our boats side by side, then check dates online.
What is included on a private charter
- The boat, captain and crew
- Rods, reels, tackle and bait on fishing trips
- Ice, drinking water and snacks
- Lunch and drinks on El Wahoo King
- Filleting at the dock, with vacuum sealing and freezing available
Not included: your Mexican fishing license, which we help you get, the crew's gratuity and sun protection.
Questions to ask before you book
Shared or private, a few questions save you surprises on the day.
- Is the price per person or for the boat?
- Where does the boat leave from, and how far is that from where you are staying?
- Is the fishing license included, and if not, who helps you get it?
- Are tackle, bait, ice and water included?
- What happens to your fish, and is filleting part of the day?
On our boats the answers are short. The price is for the whole boat. You launch from Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo or Punta Lobos. The license is yours to buy and we help you get it. Tackle, bait, ice and water are aboard, and filleting at the dock is part of the day.
Who each suits
A shared boat suits a solo angler who wants a seat for the day and does not mind fishing to someone else's plan.
A private boat suits everyone else: couples, families, groups of friends and anyone with a target species in mind. Companies and larger parties can book our private and corporate charter, where we plan the day around the group, and partner boats take groups larger than six.
How to book
Booking is online. Pick the boat and the date on the Book Now page, and a 50 percent deposit holds it.
Frequently asked questions
Do you run shared fishing charters in Cabo?
No. Every charter we run is private, so the boat is booked for your group and nobody else.
How much does a private fishing charter cost per person?
It depends on the boat and the size of your group. A full day on La Ruca is $800 for the boat, which is $200 each for four anglers.
What is included on a private fishing charter?
The boat, captain, crew, tackle, bait, ice, drinking water and snacks. The fishing license, gratuity and sun protection are not included.
How do I book a private fishing charter in Cabo?
Online, on our Book Now page. Pick a boat and a date, and a 50 percent deposit holds it.
Bring your own crew. Book a private boat online.
