Mahi Mahi Fishing in South Florida

Mahi Mahi, also known as Dolphin Fish and Dorado in other parts of the world, are among the most popular sportfish in South Florida and the world. Mahi Mahi are very quick to mature, being the fastest growing fish in the world, and they can get rather big. Some Bulls, the males, can weigh 100+ pounds; the largest on record was 87 pounds in Costa Rica. They are one of the fastest fish, with speeds clocked just shy of 60 mph. They are also one of the most delicious fish caught in South Florida. Because of this, you will find Mahi-Mahi as table fare in many restaurants up and down the coast. For all these reasons, Dolphin Fish, not “Flipper,” are one of the most desired fish in the world.

Mahi-Mahi are quick and like to fight when hooked. As you reel one in it will jump acrobatically and fight aggressively to free itself. They are very colorful with blue, yellow, green and silver that really shine in the water and sun, but the color fades shortly after you bring them on the boat. These brilliant iridescent color turns dull gray, so you better have your camera ready when you get it on the boat.

The Gulfstream

You can find Mahi Mahi-Mahi and other pelagic sportfish in the Gulf Stream, a strong ocean current that brings warm water up from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Coast. Mahi-Mahi like warm water, 75 degrees and up, and a strong current. The Gulf Stream has an average velocity of 4 mph, goes north, crossing the ocean to get to Europe, and brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

The Gulf Stream distance from land varies daily, but on average, it is around 10 – 20 miles off the coast of Southern Florida. The closest fishing city to it in Florida tends to be Palm Beach, with a distance of only 5 miles, but on any day, it could be only a mile off the coast of anywhere in Florida depending on wind, the tides and other factors.

The powerful hurricanes and tropical storms that have been hitting the Caribbean and South Florida have resulted in changes in the Gulf Stream and shifts in fish migration.

Best Destinations in South Florida to Catch Mahi Mahi.

The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are undoubtedly one of the best places for Mahi-Mahi fishing all year long. If reeling in a big Bull Mahi-Mahi is on your bucket list, then The Florida Keys is a great place to tick it off your list. I will break the Florida Keys into the main sections of the Keys: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West. Each has similar but different seasons for Mahi-Mahi.

Key West

There is no poor time to visit Key West to fish for Mahi-Mahi, but the best time to come down to the southernmost point in the US is April to June. There is still excellent fishing from late summer to the middle of fall and in March and good fishing in the winter months of November to February.

Marathon

Just north of Key West is Marathon, 13 islands that are surrounded by barrier reefs. The Gulf Stream is usually within 10 miles from shore, especially in the summer months, making for excellent Mahi-Mahi fishing conditions from April to June. But you still get very good fishing in March, July and October and good results the rest of the year. Located offshore in the Gulfstream is the “Marathon Hump,” a natural structure rising from 480 to 1,100 feet, creating an up-current that traps baitfish and attracts Mahi-Mahi and other trophy fish.

Islamorada

Known as the Sportfishing Capital of the World, Islamorada is well known for its Mahi-Mahi bite. The Gulf Stream is never more than 20 miles offshore, bringing excellent fishing from May to August. The worst time is winter, from November to February, but there are still good to very good conditions for the rest of the year. Islamorada, like Marathon, has a natural structure, “The Hump,” that attracts big trophy fish like Mahi-Mahi.

Key Largo

The Gulf Stream tends to come closest to the shore in this northern part of the Florida Keys. Because of this, there is not a bad time to visit, and April to August is the best time to come to Key Largo.

Key Biscayne

Located just north of Key Largo and just south of Miami, Key Biscayne boasts some of the best fishing around. The Mahi-Mahi bite is excellent from April to September, and the action is still hot the rest of the year.

Miami

The Magic City has truly magical Mahi-Mahi fishing year-round, but from mid-spring to the beginning of fall is when the bite is the best. For most of the rest of the year, there is still great fishing, but December and January, the winter, do not have the best conditions.

Ft. Lauderdale

Offshore fishing is out of this world in Ft. Lauderdale, with the Gulf Stream coming within 5 – 20 miles of land. Your chances of hooking into a huge Mahi-Mahi are great, especially during the months between May and August. The bite is still hot the rest of the year, so whenever you plan a fishing trip, you will be in for great fun and fishing.

Palm Beach

The Gulf Stream comes closest to the docks in Palm Beach, bringing a long season of fantastic fishing. The conditions are perfect for great Mahi-Mahi fishing from March to October, with April, May, June and July the best months. But even in the winter months, the bite is very good.

Stuart

When you ask an angler about the fishing in Stuart, the most common response would be that Sail fishing is world-class. But Sailfish are not the only fish that has a great bite here. The Mahi-Mahi bite, especially in the late spring and early summer, is terrific, with huge bulls of 50+ pounds not unheard of. Even in the colder months of the winter, the best time for Sailfish, you will still be pulling in good to decent numbers.

What to Look for When Fishing for Mahi Mahi in South Florida

Currents and Temperature Changes

Mahi-Mahi swim in the offshore currents like the Gulf Stream, which typically contain warmer water than that surrounding it. Another place that attracts Mahi-Mahi is on top of different humps, which drastically drop hundreds if not thousands of feet, creating an up-current. Between the humps and the currents of the Gulf Stream, it will be likely that the Mahi-Mahi will be nearby.

Under Sea Birds

If you see birds flying around in the middle of the ocean, that is a good indication that there are baitfish, and when there are baitfish, there will probably be Mahi-Mahi. When you see them, it is a good idea to head over and take a look. You might find yourself in a school or with a Bull or two. Definitely worth checking out.

Weed Lines

Sargassum weed lines, especially ones extending for miles, are an obvious spot to go when searching the ocean. Sargassum are an orange-brown weed now becoming a nuisance because of the large amount coming on shore. It is bleaching the coral reefs and killing some of the fish, but they are still a treasure trove for Mahi-Mahi fishing. If they are large, they are easy to spot. The smaller ones are more difficult to find, but they are just as likely to have predator fish around them like Mahi-Mahi. Under the weeds, smaller fish become easy pickings for larger fish like Mahi-Mahi. Ideally, finding a weed line with a current running under it is the best condition for Mahi-Mahi.

Other Structures

It is sad, but the ocean is filled with trash just floating along the water currents. While this is terrible, it is a good thing when Mahi-Mahi fishing. They are probably not the most obvious and easy thing to spot while fishing for Mahi-Mahi. Like the weed lines, these floating structures or flotsam, which can be logs, pieces of ships, tangled buoys and nets, and a whole host of things, have fish, small and large, under them.

Most Common Fishing Techniques Used for Catching Mahi Mahi in South Florida.

Because Mahi Mahi will go after anything that moves, many techniques work great depending on the conditions.

Trolling

Trolling for Mahi-Mahi is probably the most popular technique to catch them. It is the most popular because it tends to be the most effective way as well. Fishermen can target the areas of floating seaweed and flotsam, but when putting your lines in the water, you want to try to get as close to the structures as possible because they tend to stay under the weeds and other structures or very close to them. Another place you can troll is the rip currents. The ocean is vast, so this may be like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but it does work too. You can also try ledges which will attract Mahi -Mahi as well. When trolling for Marlin and Tuna, you often catch a Mahi-Mahi or two. Another advantage of trolling is that the fish like the white water that the boat’s engines make.

When trolling, there are a few baits that you can use. The best live and cut bait is, without a doubt, Ballyhoo. Squid and Cigar Minnows are also a good bet. But using live bait, cut bait, artificial lures, jigs, or spoons are ways to catch Mahi-Mahi. The best lures that attract the Mahi-Mahi the most are pink or blue in color, and there are a few lures that have the best chance for you.

Lures to add bait to:

Popper or Bubblers

Produce bubbles as they go through the water. Adding some bait will make this irresistible to Mahi-Mahi.

Bullets

with the fronts shaped like a bullet and trailing colorful streamers, this lure needs bait like a squid, but it is very effective.

Lures that do not need bait:

These lures are great because they work, save money on bait, and can be put out in the water quickly.

Magnum

This lure does not skim the surface but goes down 10 – 20 feet deep, and it is a famous lure and does the trick.

Feathers

with colorful feathers trailing and a top resembling a fish, this is a great lure to have in your arsenal.

For beginners, you might want to only put in 2 or 3 lines. For those a little experienced, you can go 3-4 lines, and for experienced fishermen, like the captains of the multitude of charters throughout South Florida, will put out 5-6 lines. Of course, the more lines, the more you may attract the fish, but if you hit a schooling of many fish, then you might have multiple strikes and the more lines in, the more difficult it gets not to get tangled up.

Chumming the water can also attract the fish and a trick to think about is to release many small fish behind the boat along with a hook attached to one of these small fish. The Mahi-Mahi can’t resist these morsels, and you will get hooked up most of the time with this technique, but they have to be close to the boat for this to work.

Drifting

Drifting is another method used to catch Mahi-Mahi. This is an excellent method for a few reasons. First, it saves on fuel which these days are a big thing. Second, along with the structures, the Mahi-Mahi will head to the bottom of the boat, making them easier to find and catch.

Drifting near either weed lines or structures is a great alternative to trolling. Squid is a great choice when drifting, as are other live bait. You can chum the water or leave a hooked fish in the water behind the boat. Both will attract the fish. If you do get a Mahi-Mahi to bite, reel it to the boat but do not bring it to the boat. The caught Mahi-Mahi will lure others out, and you might be in for a feeding frenzy. If that does not work, pull the Mahi-Mahi in for pictures and a great meal that night.

Jigging

You can catch Mahi-Mahi even if you stand still anchored to the bottom. Jigging is another excellent way to fish near seaweed or other structures. Drop your line 30-50 feet down. This may get the Mahi-Mahi to gulp your bait, or you might hook it into a Jack or other smaller fish and this is perfect because the Mahi-Mahi will definitely be attracted to a fish in distress.

Again, chumming the water or keeping a hooked fish in the water will attract the fish, just like drifting if you hook up with a fish and leave it in the water to see if it will attract more.

Kite Fishing

Whether drifting or trolling, another technique used is kite fishing. This can be very productive and fun. Who doesn’t love flying a kite? The bait on the surface thrashing attracts Mahi-Mahi, and putting a chum bag in will also attract them. This is a great way to spend the day out on the water.

Mahi-Mahi fishing is a way of life for many living in South Florida and is available year-round. They are also one of the best-tasting fish to catch, and they are fun to catch, and it is exhilarating to see a large bull jump completely out of the water. If you have not fished Mahi-Mahi before, then going to South Florida, especially during the months listed above, is one of the best bets for having a very productive day out on the water.

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