Chartering a fishing boat in Cabo San Lucas can be expensive for some, and there are those want to go out but don’t want to be alone. One solution can be sharing a boat. Boats are chartered to individuals, therefore the price of the boat, which is determined by size, is for one person up to the maximum capacity of the boat. For example, a 28-foot boat holds up to four passengers, but if there are just two of you, just your party and the crew will be on board.

It is possible at times for two parties to share a boat for a savings. Several of the charter services, such as Pisces Fleet in Cabo San Lucas, do this on a regular basis when a person or couple is willing to pay for half of a boat. It is difficult to find single spots on boats, so Pisces, for example, only offers single person or couples to share with one or two others. The more advance notice you can provide will increase your chances of finding a boat to share, here the Internet is very useful. The 28-foot boats are most often used for sharing.

In order to book a share, you will have to pay a deposit of about $80.00, which, in the case of Pisces is fully refundable if they are unable to find a share. If they locate a share, your reservation will be confirmed and in most cases cannot be canceled without penalties. For those who are interested in booking a share, obtain the proper form from the charter services and send it in with your deposit.

As an example of the savings, a 28-foot boat costs about $365.00 for the day. If you shared it would cost about half, or $182.50. Typically this includes 10% tax, ice, drinks, licenses, tackle, freezing and filleting of small game catch. Rates vary, so check with the charter service you select. Think of it this way: if you love to fish, by sharing a boat you can often go out fishing twice in the same week, instead of taking one single charter, for the same cost. Also, if you are alone, this is an opportunity to meet other people.

There are, of course, disadvantages. Seeing as both parties have paid an equal amount, it can be difficult to decide who gets to catch the fish. At times only one marlin or gamefish is caught on one trip, so if it is a serious dream of yours to land one of these magnificent creatures, sharing may not be the best for you. However, you could try flipping a coin when boarding to see who gets the first strike, then alternate throughout the day.

Another problem could be when one of the parties gets seasick and want to return to port. Normally, if the boat returns to drop one party off, it is too late to return to the fishing grounds, so the day is lost. Also, you may not like the people you are sharing with, especially spending eight hours with them! Your views on catch and release also may not agree with those in the other party. Most Cabo anglers pefer to release billfish, but keep smaller game. However, by law you are allowed to kill only one billfish, per day, per boat.

Remember, shared boat reservations cannot be confirmed in most cases. When you book a share, it is with the understanding that if another party is not found, your trip is canceled unless you want to take the entire boat yourself at full cost. It is also with the understanding that full boat charters take priority. For example, if you book a share on a 28-foot boat for June 3rd, say, and it is the charter service’s last available boat for this date, and someone else contacts them requesting a whole day, they will be given the boat.

Tracy Ehrenberg is the owner and manager of Pisces Fishing Fleet in Cabo San Lucas. She supplies fishing information to the L. A. Times, and is regularly featured on radio sports shows.