BajaNomad

Bringing fish back from Baja on Airline

LancairDriver - 3-30-2025 at 07:41 PM

Some friends are going Tuna fishing in Cabo and flying down commercial. Is there any problem bringing fish back to US on commercial airlines?

SFandH - 3-30-2025 at 07:45 PM

carry on? :lol:

LancairDriver - 3-30-2025 at 07:48 PM

Not carry on. Packaged and frozen as baggage.

CaboHenry - 3-30-2025 at 10:53 PM

I am sure the airline company can provide current info on traveling with coolers of fish. Don't know what todays policies are but coolers with the lids duct tapes shut has been a very common sight at SJD check-in counter as well as LAX baggage claim. Check with the airline...

Santiago - 3-31-2025 at 12:08 PM

Make sure you have an extra roll of duck/gorilla tape in case they remove the tape to inspect.

JZ - 3-31-2025 at 12:29 PM

Saw a thread on Bloody Decks that was talking about bringing fish back from Costa Rica.

No problem putting it frozen in checked baggage. There were people who just did it this year in the thread.

KRB - 3-31-2025 at 05:57 PM

No problem checking an ice chest with frozen fish but they do not allow ice in the ice chests

CaboMagic - 3-31-2025 at 07:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LancairDriver  
Some friends are going Tuna fishing in Cabo and flying down commercial. Is there any problem bringing fish back to US on commercial airlines?


In the "old days", ice chests that looked like a piece of furniture was often seen as fishermen/women departed at SjD airport.

Hard-sided coolers only (no styrofoam) Do not tape shut until at airport check-in as they will inspect contents. No ice or other frozen objects permitted and will be removed. After inspection taped shut.

Our fish processing service delivers to guests at their hotel/condo/resort/villa etc.

Check with airlines for costs, weight restrictions (if any). Typically ice chests are retrieved where over-sized luggage, golf bags, surfboards etc are found.

Hope they have great luck! LMK if you have additional questions.

Best fishes, Lori

KRB - 3-31-2025 at 07:25 PM

No problem checking an ice chest with frozen fish but they do not allow ice in the ice chests

BoenBaja - 3-31-2025 at 07:31 PM

Not sure about these days, but in the distant past (~35 years) I had to pay overweight fees cause the hielero was above 50 pounds. This was flying out of Loreto.

JZ - 3-31-2025 at 08:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BoenBaja  
Not sure about these days, but in the distant past (~35 years) I had to pay overweight fees cause the hielero was above 50 pounds. This was flying out of Loreto.


That would still be the case today.

dutra - 4-1-2025 at 03:14 PM

I fish out of Cabo a lot. In fact, just got home 2 days ago. I bring coolers down with me. I only fly Alaska and they give you 2 free checked bags if first class. So thats 4 coolers for my girlfriend and myself. The fish can be frozen in ziplocs or vacuum sealed dont matter. Just no ice at all like the others have said above. They also want to see inside the cooler first then you will tape it up right at the check in counter. Bring your own tape. It is a very easy process

AKgringo - 4-1-2025 at 04:23 PM

Are frozen gel packs considered ice? I like to pre-cool my ice chest with ice, or frozen packs for a few hours before I load it up for a trip, then keep it wrapped in a blanket anywhere except the airport.

mtgoat666 - 4-1-2025 at 05:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by dutra  
I fish out of Cabo a lot. In fact, just got home 2 days ago. I bring coolers down with me. I only fly Alaska and they give you 2 free checked bags if first class. So thats 4 coolers for my girlfriend and myself.


If you are paying for 1st class intl, baggage fee for coolers is a trivial worry. Most of us are flying coach and crossing our fingers that our lowly mvp gold status will snag us an upgrade :lol:


dutra - 4-1-2025 at 05:38 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by dutra  
I fish out of Cabo a lot. In fact, just got home 2 days ago. I bring coolers down with me. I only fly Alaska and they give you 2 free checked bags if first class. So thats 4 coolers for my girlfriend and myself.


If you are paying for 1st class intl, baggage fee for coolers is a trivial worry. Most of us are flying coach and crossing our fingers that our lowly mvp gold status will snag us an upgrade :lol:





The extra $200 just kills me :lol: or southwest allows 2 checked bags for free.

surabi - 4-1-2025 at 07:04 PM

If you are paying for a first class ticket, your extra baggage isn't "free". You have paid for it with the increased cost of a first class ticket.
I fly economy and if I have a checked bag, it costs about $30US. That, plus the ticket, costs way less than a first class ticket with "free" baggage.

KRB - 4-1-2025 at 08:30 PM

No problem checking an ice chest with frozen fish but they do not allow ice in the ice chests

JZ - 4-1-2025 at 08:32 PM

Quote: Originally posted by dutra  
I fish out of Cabo a lot. In fact, just got home 2 days ago. I bring coolers down with me. I only fly Alaska and they give you 2 free checked bags if first class. So thats 4 coolers for my girlfriend and myself. The fish can be frozen in ziplocs or vacuum sealed dont matter. Just no ice at all like the others have said above. They also want to see inside the cooler first then you will tape it up right at the check in counter. Bring your own tape. It is a very easy process


Good post. Thanks for the info!

JZ - 4-1-2025 at 08:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


If you are paying for 1st class intl, baggage fee for coolers is a trivial worry. Most of us are flying coach and crossing our fingers that our lowly mvp gold status will snag us an upgrade :lol:




I've flown Alaska first class to/from Baja about 20 times in the last 7-8 years. It's not like flying 1st class or even business class to Europe/Asia. A fraction of the cost.

At least a half dozen times I've been able to pay $50-100 to upgrade me and sometimes my kids to 1st flying back Loreto to LA, at the Loreto airport an hour before the flight.

KRB - 4-2-2025 at 06:18 AM

No problem checking an ice chest with frozen fish but they do not allow ice in the ice chests