October 17, 2023 – 3 Yellowfin Tuna and 5 Dorado Caught
A warm Baja afternoon gave Hui, Jiachen and Xiaomei from Chicago, Illinois an opportunity to experience offshore fishing from Cabo San Lucas on a schedule that was very different from the usual early-morning departure. Their private five-hour charter aboard Blue Sky, our 43-foot Riviera, headed onto the Pacific with Captain Luis at 1:00 PM and returned as daylight was fading. The afternoon produced three yellowfin tuna and five dorado, bringing two distinctly different pelagic species into one memorable trip. Clear skies, warm temperatures and a waxing crescent moon created the backdrop for a charter that showed why visitors should not automatically overlook afternoon fishing when planning time on the water in Cabo.
Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Boat: Blue Sky – 43′ Riviera
Captain: Luis
Guests: Hui, Jiachen and Xiaomei
Home City: Chicago, Illinois
Catch: 3 Yellowfin Tuna + 5 Dorado
Total Game Fish: 8
Kept: Not Confirmed
Released: Not Confirmed
Fishing Location: Offshore Cabo San Lucas
Charter Length: 5 Hours
Fishing Time: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Departure: 1:00 PM
Trip Type: Private Afternoon Offshore Fishing Charter
Tackle / Dredge: Not Confirmed
Water Temperature: Not Confirmed
Air Temperature Start → End: Approximately upper 80s°F → low 80s°F
Weather: Warm and predominantly clear
Rainfall: 0 mm
Wind: Moderate regional conditions; exact offshore reading not confirmed
Humidity: Approximately 71% regional reference
Cloud Cover: Limited / predominantly clear
Visibility: Approximately 10 km regional reference
Pressure: Approximately 1012 mb
Wave Height / Period: Not Confirmed
Swell: Not Confirmed
Moon: Waxing Crescent, approaching First Quarter
Moon Illumination: Approximately 42%
Moonrise: Approximately 12:08 PM
Moonset: Approximately 10:47 PM
Sunset: Approximately 5:54 PM
Cabo Charter Reference Grid
| Charter Detail | Recorded Information |
|---|---|
| Game Fish | 8 |
| Species Encountered | Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado |
| Guests | 3 |
| Home City | Chicago, Illinois |
| Charter Length | 5 Hours |
| Departure | Afternoon |
| Vessel | 43′ Riviera |
| Captain | Luis |
Afternoon Fishing From Cabo Gives Visitors Another Way to Explore Offshore Waters
Early departures are deeply connected with sportfishing culture. There is something special about walking through a quiet marina before sunrise, stepping aboard while the city is still dark and watching daylight develop from the water. That tradition remains an important part of fishing in Cabo San Lucas, but it is not the only way to experience the offshore fishery.
An afternoon departure has its own personality.
For Hui, Jiachen and Xiaomei, the day did not require a predawn alarm or a rush to reach the marina before breakfast. They could enjoy their morning in Cabo before joining Captain Luis for a private charter after lunch. Once Blue Sky moved away from the marina, the focus shifted from the activity of town to the open Pacific and several uninterrupted hours of sportfishing.
A five-hour trip also creates a useful middle ground for vacationers. It provides considerably more fishing time than a quick sightseeing excursion while leaving part of the day available for other activities. That can be particularly attractive for couples, families and groups balancing fishing with restaurants, beaches, resort time and everything else Cabo San Lucas offers.
The experience changes as the afternoon develops. Strong sunlight gradually softens, temperatures begin to ease and the final portion of the trip moves toward sunset rather than midday.
That progression gives an afternoon charter an identity of its own.
Yellowfin Tuna Bring Strength Into Cabo While Fishing the Pacific
Yellowfin tuna have earned an international reputation among offshore anglers because they combine speed, endurance and remarkable strength.
A hooked tuna can place steady pressure on both angler and equipment. Their streamlined shape and powerful tail allow them to accelerate quickly and maintain force through the fight, creating a very different experience from many other pelagic species.
That physical character is a major part of their appeal.
Yellowfin also add depth to the Cabo fishing experience because they remind visitors that the waters surrounding the southern tip of Baja California Sur offer much more than billfish. Marlin may be the species most closely associated with Cabo internationally, but tuna occupy an important place in the region’s offshore fishery.
Three yellowfin were recorded during this charter.
The exact technique used to locate or hook them was not included in the trip record. For that reason, this report does not assign a specific method to the catch. Blue Sky Cabo may use several proven tuna techniques depending on conditions, but general fishing knowledge should never be substituted for an actual charter record.
That distinction keeps the report useful.
The documented result stands on its own: yellowfin were encountered during a five-hour afternoon trip from Cabo San Lucas, adding one of the Pacific’s strongest game fish to the day’s experience.
Dorado Bring Color and Energy to Cabo During Offshore Fishing
Dorado provide an entirely different kind of excitement.
Known internationally as mahi mahi, these fish are among the most visually striking species encountered in warm offshore waters. Their brilliant combinations of green, yellow, blue and gold can become especially vivid near the boat, turning the final stages of an encounter into a spectacle for everyone watching.
Their appeal goes beyond appearance.
Dorado are fast, athletic game fish capable of sudden changes of direction and energetic surface activity. For guests who are relatively new to offshore fishing, that visibility can make the experience especially engaging because so much of the action may unfold where it can be seen.
Five dorado were recorded on this trip.
No specific weed line, floating debris, current break or bait concentration was documented, so none is being attributed to the catch. Those features can certainly influence dorado fishing, but a useful fishing report should describe what is known rather than reconstruct an imagined version of the afternoon.
Dorado also have strong recognition among travelers searching for mahi mahi fishing in Cabo San Lucas. The two names describe the same fish, which means anglers researching either term are ultimately looking for the same colorful pelagic species.
For visitors considering a private Cabo fishing charter, that connection is useful to understand before arriving at the marina.
A Five-Hour Cabo Charter Keeps Fishing Focused Without Taking the Entire Day
Charter length can influence the experience almost as much as boat selection.
A ten-hour trip gives dedicated anglers extensive range and time. An eight-hour charter provides a traditional full day offshore. Six hours offers a balance between fishing time and vacation scheduling.
Five hours becomes even more focused.
There is enough time to leave the marina, reach offshore water and actively fish, but the trip does not consume the entire day. That makes the format attractive to travelers who want a genuine sportfishing experience without committing from dawn until late afternoon.
The tradeoff is that time becomes more valuable.
Long runs, unnecessary repositioning and extended periods without fishing consume a greater percentage of a shorter charter. Captain decisions therefore become especially important because each hour represents a meaningful portion of the available window.
For this group, the five-hour format still resulted in eight recorded game fish across two recognized offshore species.
That gives prospective guests something more useful than a theoretical discussion about charter length. It provides an actual example of what occurred during a defined period on the water.
No charter can promise that another five-hour trip will produce the same result. Fishing remains fishing, and conditions change constantly.
But documented trips help visitors understand the possibilities.
Clear Cabo Skies Accompanied Fishing Through the Warmest Part of the Day
Weather is particularly relevant on an afternoon charter because guests begin during a warmer part of the daily temperature cycle.
Regional conditions placed the day’s range at approximately 77°F to 90°F. By the 1:00 PM departure, temperatures were near the upper portion of that range before gradually easing later in the afternoon.
No measurable rainfall was recorded.
Predominantly clear conditions meant the group experienced the bright Baja environment many visitors associate with Cabo San Lucas, followed by the gradual change in light as the sun moved lower.
Cabo Afternoon Weather Reference
| Weather Factor | Recorded / Regional Condition |
|---|---|
| Air Temperature | Approx. upper 80s°F → low 80s°F |
| General Sky | Predominantly Clear |
| Rainfall | 0 mm |
| Humidity | Approx. 71% |
| Visibility | Approx. 10 km |
| Pressure | Approx. 1012 mb |
| Offshore Water Temperature | Not Confirmed |
| Wave Height / Period | Not Confirmed |
| Swell | Not Confirmed |
It is important to distinguish regional weather records from conditions measured directly aboard a fishing boat.
Exact wave height, swell and water temperature were not included in the charter information. Those values remain unconfirmed rather than being estimated simply to make the statistics appear more complete.
That approach preserves the integrity of the fishing archive.
The Waxing Moon Adds Environmental Context to Cabo Fishing Conditions
Moon information is worth preserving in detailed reports because it creates another reference point for anglers comparing trips across seasons and years.
The moon was a waxing crescent approaching first quarter, with approximately 42% illumination. Moonrise occurred around 12:08 PM, which placed the moon above the horizon before the charter began.
By comparison, sunset was around 5:54 PM.
That meant the final portion of the outing occurred during a transition in light while the moon remained present in the sky. Moonset did not occur until much later in the evening.
It can be tempting to connect a successful fishing trip directly to a particular moon phase, but that oversimplifies what happens offshore.
Fish behavior can be affected by many interacting factors, including current, water temperature, bait concentrations, structure, tides and changing environmental conditions. Moon phase is one part of that larger picture rather than a guaranteed predictor of results.
Recording it still has value.
Over time, detailed information allows anglers to compare actual charter outcomes against different environmental circumstances rather than relying entirely on assumptions about what should have happened.
Three Guests Find Plenty of Room for Fishing Aboard a Cabo Riviera
Boat size is not simply about maximum passenger capacity.
A smaller group can choose a larger vessel because they value additional room, comfort and privacy. That was the situation here, with only three guests aboard the 43-foot Riviera.
For a group of this size, there is generous space to move around without the experience feeling crowded.
That matters during a fishing charter because much of the day is not spent fighting a fish. Guests talk, watch the water, enjoy the scenery and move between different areas of the boat. The overall environment becomes part of the trip rather than merely transportation to a fishing location.
Privacy is another factor.
A private charter means the group is not being combined with unrelated passengers to fill available seats. The day belongs to the people who booked the boat, allowing the captain and crew to focus on that particular group.
For friends traveling together, couples, families or small groups, this can significantly change the atmosphere.
A larger boat for three people may look unnecessary if judged purely by capacity. When viewed through comfort and experience, the reasoning becomes much clearer.
Afternoon Cabo Fishing Can Fit Naturally Into a Vacation Schedule
Not every visitor to Cabo San Lucas arrives solely to fish.
Many travelers are balancing beaches, golf, restaurants, excursions, nightlife, resort time and family activities. Fishing may be a major priority without being the only reason for the vacation.
That is where an afternoon charter can become particularly useful.
A 1:00 PM departure leaves the entire morning open. Guests can sleep later, have breakfast without rushing, spend several hours at their resort or explore town before making their way to IGY Marina.
The fishing experience then becomes the centerpiece of the afternoon.
When the charter ends near sunset, guests can return to Cabo with the evening still ahead of them.
This schedule will not suit every angler. Someone focused exclusively on maximizing fishing time may prefer a longer early departure. But for travelers trying to combine offshore sportfishing with a broader Cabo vacation, flexibility has genuine value.
The best charter length and departure time depend on the group rather than on a universal formula.
October Keeps Cabo Fishing Connected to Warm-Water Pelagic Species
Seasonal calendars are useful planning tools, but actual fishing reports add something a calendar cannot provide.
A seasonal chart tells anglers which species may be available during a particular month. A fishing report records what a real charter actually encountered.
That difference matters.
October is part of an important period for offshore sportfishing around Cabo San Lucas, with several pelagic species potentially present depending on water conditions and movement.
This particular afternoon produced yellowfin tuna and dorado.
Rather than using that result to claim every October charter will encounter the same fish, it should be treated as one documented piece of a much larger seasonal record.
When hundreds of individual reports are preserved, patterns become easier to examine.
Anglers can look at different boats, charter durations, departure times and species over many dates. That provides a deeper perspective than a generic statement such as “October is a good month to fish.”
Specific records build context.
Accurate Cabo Fishing Reports Are More Valuable Than Embellished Stories
Fishing stories have always included a little exaggeration.
Fishing reports should not.
The purpose of maintaining detailed charter records is to preserve what happened as accurately as possible. That means acknowledging when information was not recorded instead of filling the gaps with plausible details.
No exact offshore water temperature was provided here.
No verified wave height or swell measurement was supplied.
The specific tackle configuration was not recorded.
Catch disposition was not included.
Those facts remain unconfirmed.
There is also no need to invent which guest caught which fish, how long a particular fight lasted or which lure generated a strike.
The verified information already tells a worthwhile story.
Three guests left Cabo during the afternoon, spent five hours aboard a private sportfishing vessel and encountered yellowfin tuna and dorado before returning near sunset.
Accuracy makes that story stronger, not weaker.
Yellowfin and Dorado Show the Range Available While Fishing From Cabo
Cabo San Lucas is famous for marlin, and that reputation is well deserved.
However, anglers researching the destination should understand that offshore fishing here extends well beyond billfish.
Yellowfin tuna bring one kind of challenge. Their speed, stamina and strength make them highly respected among serious offshore anglers.
Dorado offer another experience altogether. Their coloration, movement and surface presence make them among the most recognizable game fish in the Pacific.
A visitor does not need to choose one species as “better.”
They are different.
That diversity is part of what keeps Cabo fishing interesting throughout the year. A charter can develop in directions that guests did not necessarily anticipate when they stepped aboard.
For some anglers, that uncertainty is precisely the attraction.
You leave the marina knowing what you hope to encounter, but the ocean determines what actually happens.
Sunset Gives Afternoon Fishing From Cabo a Memorable Final Hour
The end of an afternoon trip feels very different from returning to the marina at lunchtime.
Strong Baja sunlight gradually loses intensity. The horizon begins to change. The coastline takes on softer tones, and the atmosphere aboard the boat shifts as evening approaches.
With sunset around 5:54 PM and the charter scheduled through 6:00 PM, the final portion of this outing occurred almost directly alongside that transition.
That is something a catch statistic cannot describe.
Fishing reports naturally focus on species and numbers because those are measurable. But the setting is also part of why people travel to Cabo San Lucas to fish.
The Pacific, the coastline, the marina and the changing light contribute to the experience even during moments when no fish is connected to a line.
For an afternoon group, sunset can provide a natural ending to the trip.
Real Cabo Fishing Records Help Future Anglers Plan With Better Information
Detailed fishing reports serve more than one purpose.
For the guests, they preserve the basic story of their charter.
For future anglers, they provide research.
Someone considering a Cabo fishing trip may want to know whether afternoon charters produce meaningful opportunities. Another person may be researching yellowfin tuna. Someone else may be searching specifically for mahi mahi or dorado fishing.
This record provides useful context for all of those questions without pretending to predict a future catch.
That distinction is important.
Past results demonstrate what has happened. They do not guarantee what will happen tomorrow.
The ocean changes constantly, which is why a large archive of individual reports becomes more useful than any single exceptional day.
Over time, the records show the real variability that makes offshore fishing interesting.
Cabo Fishing Ends the Afternoon With Tuna, Dorado and a Pacific Sunset
For Hui, Jiachen and Xiaomei, this private afternoon trip brought together several elements that make fishing from Cabo San Lucas appealing: warm weather, open Pacific water, a spacious private vessel, two well-known pelagic species and a return toward the marina as daylight faded.
The five-hour schedule also demonstrated that a meaningful offshore experience does not always require dedicating an entire vacation day to fishing.
There was time to enjoy Cabo during the morning, head offshore after lunch and still spend several hours actively fishing before sunset.
The result added another genuine charter record to the Blue Sky Cabo fishing archive.
Three yellowfin tuna brought the power associated with one of the Pacific’s most respected game fish. Five dorado added the color and energy that make mahi mahi instantly recognizable to anglers around the world.
Just as importantly, the report preserves what is known without manufacturing what was not recorded.
For travelers researching Cabo San Lucas fishing charters, afternoon fishing, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, dorado or private sportfishing aboard a Riviera, this trip offers a practical example of what a five-hour afternoon on the Pacific can look like.
Every charter is different.
That is part of the reason people keep coming back to fish Cabo.
Blue Sky Cabo Fishing and Tours
Cell / WhatsApp: +1.480.635.2965
Website: Cabo fishings
F Dock, IGY Marina, Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico
