Saltwater · Year-round off Los Cabos with peaks in late autumn-winter and again in summer; tied to 20-25°C water.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Los Cabos is the world capital for this acrobatic Indo-Pacific billfish, which follows cooler 20-25°C water and bait schools over offshore banks. Most fish are released; it is the most widely distributed marlin.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- About 15 cobalt-blue vertical stripes on the flanks, visible when lit up
- First dorsal fin taller than the body depth, dark blue without spots
- Slender, medium-length bill, shorter than a blue marlin's
- Blue-black back and silvery-white belly
- Pectoral fins fold flat against the body
Habits
- Oceanic and highly migratory, usually above the thermocline
- Travels singly or in small groups following bait
- Lights up with bright stripes when feeding or hooked
- Feeds on sardines, mackerel, squid and small tunas
Distribution
Where to find them
- Golden Gate and Gordo Banks off Cabo San Lucas
- San Jaime Bank and the 1150 Spot
- Temperature breaks along the Pacific side of Baja
- Over bait balls pushed up by tuna and dolphins
Where they live
How to catch them
Trolling lures Boat
Rig: 7-9 knot lure spread, teasers, 50-80 lb class tackle
Bait/lure: Skirted trolling lure
Key tip: Run lures over banks and temp breaks; pitch a live bait to fish raised on the teasers.
Live-bait pitching Boat
Rig: Drifted or slow-trolled live bait on a circle hook, 80-100 lb leader
Bait/lure: Live caballito or mackerel
Key tip: Cast to tailing or feeding fish and let it eat before coming tight.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: 5.5-6.5 ft 50-80 lb trolling rod
- Line: 50-80 lb monofilament or braid backing
- Terminal: 100-130 lb leader, circle hook or skirted lure
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' medium-heavy surf spinning rod
≈ US$110-170
Casts plugs and bait past the breakers and handles stripers, drum and bluefish in the wash.
Reel · Best value
5000 size sealed spinning reel
≈ US$120-180
Salt spray and dunkings kill cheap reels — a sealed body and 30 lb braid capacity are the surf standard.
Terminal · Budget
Topwater plugs, soft-plastic jigs and fish-finder rigs
≈ US$25-40
Plugs for blitzes, jigs for the trough, bait on a fish-finder rig when they won't chase — the inshore trio.
Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.
Typical size
Common 60-120 kg; large specimens to about 200 kg, maximum published 440 kg.
On the table
Fair; smoked in Mexico, but sport anglers release nearly all fish.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Striped Marlin
Build today's plan⚠ Heads-up: Striped Marlin doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.