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Mahi-mahi
Species Information
| Scientific Name: | Coryphaena hippurus |
| Common Names: | mahi, dolphin, dolphinfish, mahi mahi, dorado, goldmakrele, shiira, lampuga, lampuka, lampuki, rakingo, calitos, maverikos |
| Environment: | Nearshore, Offshore |
| Ideal Temp: | 70-80°F (21-26°C) |
About Mahi-mahi
The mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Also known widely as dorado, it is one of only two members of the Coryphaenidae family, the other being the pompano dolphinfish.
Mahi-mahi live 4 to 5 years. Catches average 7 to 13 kilograms (15 to 29 lb). They seldom exceed 15 kilograms (33 lb), and mahi-mahi over 18 kilograms (40 lb) are exceptional.
Mahi-mahi have compressed bodies and long dorsal fins extending nearly the entire length of their bodies. Their caudal fins and anal fins are sharply concave. They are distinguished by dazzling colors: golden on the sides, and bright blues and greens on the sides and back. Large males have high, vertical foreheads, while the female's forehead is rounded. Males grow larger than females.
The name mahi-mahi means very strong in Hawaiian. They are extremely fast swimmers and feed extensively on flying fish and squid as well as on other small fish. Mahi-mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes. Sport fishermen seek them due to their beauty, size, food quality, and healthy population. Mahi-mahi is popular in many restaurants.
Mahi-mahi can be found in the Caribbean Sea, on the west coast of North and South America, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic coast of Florida, Southeast Asia, Hawaii and many other places worldwide.
Fishing charters most often look for floating debris and frigatebirds near the edge of the reef in about 120 feet (37 m) of water. Mahi-mahi (and many other fish) often swim near debris such as floating wood, palm trees and fronds, or sargasso weed lines and around fish buoys. Sargasso is floating seaweed that sometimes holds a complete ecosystem from microscopic creatures to seahorses and baitfish. Frigatebirds dive for food accompanying the debris or sargasso. Experienced fishing guides can tell what species are likely around the debris by the birds' behavior.
Thirty- to fifty-pound gear is more than adequate when trolling for mahi-mahi. Fly-casters may especially seek frigatebirds to find big mahi-mahis, and then use a bait-and-switch technique. Ballyhoo or a net full of live sardines tossed into the water can excite the mahi-mahis into a feeding frenzy. Hookless teaser lures can have the same effect. After tossing the teasers or live chum, fishermen throw the fly to the feeding mahi-mahi. Successful fishing methods include trolling surface baits (flying fish, mullet, balao, squid, strip baits) or artificial lures; also live bait fishing or casting.
Once on a line, mahi-mahi are fast, flashy and acrobatic, with beautiful blue, yellow, green and even red dots of color.
Hooked dolphin may leap or tailwalk, darting first in one direction, then another. It is believed that they can reach speeds up to 50 mph (80.5 kph) in short bursts. If the first dolphin caught is kept in the water, it will usually hold the school, and often others will come near enough to be caught by casting.
Mahi-mahi Fishing
| World Record: | 39.46 kg (87 lb 0 oz) Papagallo Gulf , Costa Rica |
| # Fish Caught: | 1874662 documented in database. |
| Earliest Record: | 7/2/1758 12:00:00 PM and located at 10.00000, 93.00000. |
| Latest Record: | 7/5/2024 6:44:58 PM and located at 35.21816, -75.69606. |
| Common Techniques: | Casting, Fly, Trolling |
| Popular Lure Types: | Flies, Plugs, Trolling |
| Fishing Spots: | 3963 Mahi-mahi fishing spots. |
Latest Mahi-mahi Fishing Reports and Spots
Today was another exciting day aboard the Big Eye 2 as we set out into the azure waters off the coast of Quepos Costa Rica. As a seasoned sport (
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Today we embarked on another exciting sport fishing adventure aboard the Big Eye 2 in the beautiful waters of Quepos Costa Rica. Our target for (
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Today was another exhilarating day out on the open waters with Big Eye 2 Sportfishing in beautiful Quepos Costa Rica. As a seasoned captain I F (
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Today was indeed a fantastic day for sportfishing aboard the Big Eye 2 in the beautiful waters of Quepos Costa Rica. The sun was shining bright (
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We set out from Marina Pez Vela on a beautiful Costa Rican morning with a group of enthusiastic anglers from Texas. The conditions were optimal (
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Dec. 1 - 12/2/2024 12:50:33 PM
Some #mahi and #tuna on the #fearless (
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Today was an exciting day aboard the Big Eye 2 as we set out on the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean from the beautiful Marina Pez Vela in Que (
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Despite the rainy weather the mahi mahi are biting well here in Quepos Costa Rica. Today I had the pleasure of fishing with some good friends f (
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Another successful Mahi Mahi fishing trip here in Fort Lauderdale. Yep once again our anglers wanted to catch some Mahi Mahi and when I asked w (
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Mahi Mahi are the few fishing trips that are coming in now seem to be having banner days fishing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. Our last tri (
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