u/Safe-Apartment4000

If you’re planning a surf fishing trip to Los Cabos, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is:
“Which beaches actually produce fish?”
The good news is that you don’t need a boat to experience incredible fishing in Baja California Sur. Los Cabos offers miles of productive shoreline where anglers regularly catch roosterfish, jack crevalle, snapper, sierra mackerel, and even the occasional dorado from the beach.
After spending countless mornings walking these beaches, here are some of my favorite places to fish.

1. Playa El Tule
   Located along the Tourist Corridor, Playa El Tule is one of the most consistent surf fishing beaches in Los Cabos.
   The combination of sandy bottom, rocky points, and deeper water close to shore creates excellent ambush areas for predatory fish.
   Common species:
   ● Roosterfish
   ● Jack Crevalle
   ● Sierra Mackerel (winter)
   ● Skipjack Tuna
   ● Dorado during summer bait runs
   Early morning and late afternoon are usually the most productive times.

2. Migriño Beach
   If I had to recommend one beach for anglers looking for a true Baja surf fishing experience, Migriño would be near the top of the list.
   Its long stretches of open beach, changing sandbars, and deeper water make it productive throughout much of the year.
   Common species:
   ● Roosterfish
   ● Jack Crevalle
   ● Halibut
   ● Sierra
   ● Pompano
   ● Dorado during the warmer months
   When schools of mullet begin moving along the beach in late June and throughout the summer, the roosterfish action can become incredible.

3. Playa Santa María
   Most visitors know Santa María as a snorkeling destination, but the rocky edges surrounding the bay can also produce excellent fishing when conditions are calm.
   Common species:
   ● Roosterfish
   ● Snapper
   ● Jack Crevalle
   ● Needlefish
   Large swimbaits, surface stickbaits, or live bait work especially well here.

4. Palmilla Beach
   Palmilla has been producing quality roosterfish for decades.
   Its combination of reefs, sandy flats, and clear water makes it one of the better beaches for anglers willing to put in some walking.
   Common species:
   ● Roosterfish
   ● Jack Crevalle
   ● Sierra
   ● Snapper
   Arriving before sunrise often gives you the best opportunity before beach activity increases.

5. East Cape Beaches (La Ribera Area)
   If you don’t mind driving a little farther, the East Cape offers some of the finest surf fishing in Baja California Sur.
   The beaches around La Ribera, Buena Vista, and Los Barriles have become legendary among local anglers.
   Depending on the season, you may encounter:
   ● Giant Roosterfish
   ● Jack Crevalle
   ● Cubera Snapper
   ● Pargo
   ● Dorado
   ● Yellowfin Tuna surprisingly close to shore when sardines push against the beach
   Some of the biggest roosterfish I’ve ever seen have come from these beaches.

Best Seasons
Every season offers something different.
Winter (December–February)
● Sierra Mackerel
● Jack Crevalle
● Roosterfish
● Snapper
Spring (March–May)
● Roosterfish
● Jacks
● Snapper
Summer (June–August)
● Giant Roosterfish
● Dorado
● Skipjack Tuna
● Big Jack Crevalle
The arrival of the annual mullet migration usually signals the beginning of the best roosterfish fishing of the year.
Fall (September–November)
● Roosterfish
● Dorado
● Sierra begin returning
● Mixed inshore species

My Favorite Lures
I like to keep things simple.
My tackle bag usually includes:
● Shimano Coltsniper
● Lucky Craft Flash Minnow
● Surface poppers
● Pencil stickbaits
● Soft swimbaits
● Live mullet whenever available
More important than the brand is matching whatever baitfish are present that day.

Tips That Have Helped Me Catch More Fish
One of the biggest mistakes I see is anglers standing in one place for hours.
Instead:
● Walk the beach.
● Look for birds diving.
● Watch for nervous water.
● Find schools of mullet or sardines.
● Pay attention to current seams and deeper cuts in the sandbars.
The bait usually finds the fish before you do.
Many of my best roosterfish have come after walking a mile or more looking for active bait instead of making hundreds of casts in the same location.
Surf fishing is often more about observation than distance casting.

I’d Love to Hear From Other Anglers
Every beach changes with the seasons, tides, and weather.
What’s your favorite surf fishing beach in Los Cabos or anywhere in Baja California Sur?
Have you caught your personal-best roosterfish from the shore? I’d love to hear your story and learn about your favorite spots.

About the Author
My name is Arturo Chacón, and I’m a sportfishing captain, photographer, and publisher of Cabo Sportfishing Magazine. I spend much of the year exploring the beaches, inshore waters, and offshore fisheries of Baja California Sur, documenting the incredible fishing this region has to offer.
I enjoy sharing local knowledge, learning from fellow anglers, and supporting responsible fishing and conservation throughout Baja.
If you have questions about surf fishing in Los Cabos, feel free to ask in the comments. I’m always happy to help another angler get started.

The Mullet Run Has Arrived in Cabo… and the Big Roosterfish Are Right Behind Them
If you’re fishing the beaches and inshore waters around Cabo San Lucas right now, keep an eye out for the mullet schools.
Over the last several days we’ve been seeing large concentrations of mullet moving along the coastline, and as expected, some quality roosterfish have started showing up with them.
Roosterfish are one of the most exciting gamefish you can target from the beach or a small boat. When these fish start shadowing the mullet schools, the action can get incredible. Explosive surface strikes, long runs, and fish pushing bait right onto the sand.
We’ve already seen several larger roosters cruising the beaches, and if the bait continues to stack up, the next few weeks could produce some outstanding inshore fishing.
Anyone else seeing the mullet run in their area? What size roosterfish are you finding behind the bait?
Tight lines from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
For a more hardcore sportfishing audience:
PSA: The Mullet Run Is On in Cabo
Big schools of mullet have moved onto our beaches this week, and the roosterfish are already feeding on them.
If you’re targeting roosters, now is the time to have live mullet, large swimbaits, stickbaits, or poppers ready. We’ve been seeing fish actively tracking bait in shallow water, and some of the roosters following these schools are the biggest we’ve seen this season.
The next few weeks could be very interesting.
Who else is chasing roosters behind the mullet run this year? Share your reports and photos below. 🎣🔥

Great Job guys.
A few other boat have been catching 50 to 80 pounders along with nice big dorados and wahoos.

An international research team recently tagged several roosterfish in Bahía de La Ventana, Baja California Sur, using satellite tags to better understand their movements, migration patterns, and habitat use throughout the Gulf of California.
If you catch a roosterfish that looks like the one in the photo, please:
✅ Release the fish quickly and in good condition
✅ Do NOT remove the electronic tag
✅ Take photos of the fish and tag if possible
✅ Report the catch immediately
Researchers are requesting:
Date of capture
Approximate location
Photos of the fish and tag
📲 WhatsApp: +52 612 141 4758
Every report helps scientists learn more about roosterfish and contributes to the conservation of one of Baja’s most iconic game fish.
If you’re fishing around La Ventana, Cerralvo Island, Los Barriles, East Cape, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, or anywhere else in Baja California Sur, please keep an eye out and share this with other anglers.
Let’s help track these fish and support the science that protects our fisheries for future generations.
Tight lines and thanks for helping the research team! 🎣