---
slug: "about-us"
title: "About Us"
business_name: "The Marlin Hunter"
template_kind: "custom-owner-edit"
template_version: "v2"
---

# About Us
**Meta description:** The Marlin Hunter is a Cabo San Lucas sportfishing and villa company founded by Frank Bonise, run by a small local team guests deal with directly.

## Who founded The Marlin Hunter?

The Marlin Hunter was founded by lifelong outdoorsman Frank Bonise, known locally as "The Marlin Hunter." Frank was raised in Alberta, Canada, where he spent his early years fishing mountain lakes and hunting open country. His travels eventually took him around the world, but Cabo San Lucas became the place he kept returning to — for its ocean, its desert landscape, its fishing, and its local character. The Marlin Hunter grew directly out of that connection to Baja, not out of a plan to build a tourism brand.

## What does The Marlin Hunter actually do?

The Marlin Hunter provides private sportfishing charters, luxury villa stays, and custom Cabo trip planning in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Time on the water is connected to a comfortable place to stay and practical local support — airport transportation, grocery stops, private chefs, in-villa services, and activity planning — so a guest can build a full Cabo trip through one team instead of piecing it together themselves.

## Who runs it, day to day?

- **Frank Bonise** handles sportfishing inquiries and the fishing program directly.
- **Carlos**, The Marlin Hunter's Spanish-speaking Dockmaster, personally meets every charter guest at the marina to help them find the boat and get started.
- **Renee Bonise** serves as Guest Experience and Villa Manager, coordinating villa stays and broader trip planning.

There's no call center standing between a guest and the person actually handling their trip.

## What's the philosophy behind how The Marlin Hunter operates?

- Keep the experience personal and coordinated directly with the team — not routed through a third-party platform.
- Match each group with the boat, trip length, and level of service that actually fits their plans.
- Explain what's included and what's an additional charge before the charter, not after.
- Welcome all ages and experience levels, from first-time anglers to seasoned sportfishing guests.
- Operate with the licensing and insurance required for sportfishing in Cabo.

## What can The Marlin Hunter's team coordinate beyond the boat?

Villa support is coordinated from Villa Serena in Cabo San Lucas, and can include:

- Airport transportation
- Grocery stops and villa pre-stocking
- Private chefs
- In-villa massages
- Excursions, whale watching, golf, and off-road activities
- Other Baja experiences arranged around a guest's stay

## What are the charter formats and what do they cost?

The Marlin Hunter offers 3-hour, 5-hour, and 8-hour charter formats, depending on the boat and availability, alongside both all-inclusive and bare-boat arrangements. A standard booking includes the boat and crew; fishing licenses, bait, food, and drinks are priced separately unless arranged in advance, so the cost is clear before arriving at the dock:

- **Fishing license:** $25 USD per person, per day. Children under 12 don't need one. The Marlin Hunter needs each angler's full legal name in advance to arrange the license.
- **Bait:** $4 USD per bait; about 10 per trip is typical.
- **Food and drinks:** available if arranged in advance — not included in a standard boat-and-crew booking.
- **Deposit:** 25% is required to hold a requested charter date.
- **All-inclusive option:** the Decimal Dust charter can include the boat, crew, gear, license, bait, food, and drinks all together — inclusions vary by vessel and booking format, so it's worth confirming the specific package at the time of booking.

## What happens if the weather or the marina causes a problem?

The Marlin Hunter's vessels and operation are licensed and insured for charter activity in Cabo San Lucas. Every trip is subject to the captain's safety judgment and to marina conditions. If the Port Authority closes the marina, or the captain determines conditions are unsafe, the trip is rescheduled or credited. If the specific boat booked becomes unavailable, The Marlin Hunter arranges a boat of the same size or larger where possible.

## How do I get in touch?

For a custom itinerary or a combined fishing-and-villa stay: [themarlinhunter.com/contact](https://www.themarlinhunter.com/contact) To book a charter directly: [themarlinhunter.com/booking](https://www.themarlinhunter.com/booking)