San José del Cabo Offshore Action Delivers Tuna, Dorado, and 200-lb Blue Marlin

Iman Bank delivered one of the more memorable catches of this young spring season when a 200-lb blue marlin came to the boat on live sardines, punctuating what local San José del Cabo charter operators described as a strong and well-rounded offshore bite across March 22–23.

Iman Bank has been producing solid results with yellowfin tuna and wahoo action along its edges, and the blue marlin caught there last weekend underscored why offshore crews out of Puerto Los Cabos keep the bank near the top of their rotation. Iman Banks sits within easy range of Puerto Los Cabos Marina alongside other productive areas such as Gordo Banks, San Luis, Vinorama, Desteladera, El Cardon, and La Fortuna.

The species mix around the time of the catch was hard to beat. "The tuna bite has been one of the top attractions, with fish holding around productive offshore areas where bait schools are concentrated," according to the March 23 report from San José del Cabo charter operators. Bonito kept rods working throughout the day, and dorado remained in the mix to round out a multi-species spread that gives anglers realistic shots at both numbers and size. Yellowfin in the 20–100 lb range have been coming up on cedar plugs and live bait at offshore banks along the corridor this month, and the San José del Cabo grounds appear to be sharing in that momentum.

Tactically, the window favors early starters who stay disciplined about the bait. "Boats working active areas early in the day continue to have the best chances, especially when they stay close to bait activity, current changes, and areas where fish are feeding naturally," the March 23 report noted. The blue marlin itself illustrated the point: a live sardine presentation at Iman Bank, the kind of setup that rewards captains who know where the forage is sitting. A flexible game plan, with Iman Bank as the primary stop and the option to move toward Gordo or La Fortuna if wind shifts, has been the recommended approach in these conditions.

March is shaping up as one of the more exciting months on the water, with offshore temperatures climbing toward the mid-70s and bait schools tightening around temperature breaks. That setup is exactly what charter operators along the corridor have been describing as "the kind of spring bite that rewards flexibility, good timing, and a crew that knows when to switch between species targets."

For anglers looking to get on the water, trip options out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina run the full range. Exotic Fish Cabo offers a three-quarter day mixed charter of around six hours starting at $350 per private boat for one to two guests, departing at 6:30 a.m. and targeting marlin, tuna, dorado, and wahoo alongside inshore species. Their full-day offshore big game charter runs approximately eight hours and starts at $550 per private boat for up to ten anglers, designed for crews who want to run the banks properly. Fiesta Sportfishing's 32-ft Inovator Aba Mar II, which holds up to seven anglers and is equipped with a live bait tank, Penn Senator gear, a Tuna door, and a professional fighting chair, is listed at $765 per day out of Puerto Los Cabos, including 24 drinks and seven live baits. Local sportfishing fleets are fortunate to launch from the closest marina facility within range of the world famous Gordo Banks.

Iman Bank sits northeast of the Gordo Banks and has a long record of producing billfish alongside tuna. Many boats have been trolling live baits at Iman, which made a big difference as tuna in the 40–70 lb range were spotted and landed in the recent weeks leading into this march. A 200-lb blue marlin on sardines at the same bank is exactly the kind of upgrade that keeps serious offshore anglers booking full-day trips rather than calling it a half-day. The spring bite is on, the bank is loaded, and the early alarm is justified.