When the action is slow we have been catching monster barracudas on the local shipwrecks. Nothing compares to getting into a good school of dolphin … Catch of the Day in One of the Best Places to Fish in Florida: Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Sailfish Wahoo King Mackeral (Kingfish) Sometimes offshore weed lines can extend for miles and they create a natural habitat for bait fish, Mahi Mahi, and other offshore game fish. Go visit a Florida Fishing Products dealer today! Tip your jig with a piece of ballyhoo or squid and cast it near the debris and let it sink down toward the Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish). While you are driving around offshore you occasionally will spot a piece of structure off in the distance. It’s equipped with a top of the line Minn Kota troller system that allows you to anchor no matter how deep the water. If Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish) are around, they should be able to track down your baits. We went for fun not to keep any of the fish but it was well worth the trip. Dolphin are also known as Florida Mahi Mahi. Mahi-mahi are very popular with fishing charters because they are so easy to find and catch, particularly during the summer, and Florida waters offer some of the best Mahi-mahi fishing in the world. Mahi Mahi are extremely exciting fish and will often give you an aerial show by jumping out of the water. Another thing to look out for while fishing for Mahi Mahi is floating pieces of structure. There is not a science to trolling for Mahi Mahi, but there are proven tactics. Below are a few things to look out for the next time you’re fishing for Mahi Mahi. Some of the most popular places where anglers go to catch Mahi Mahi are the Florida Keys, the Atlantic Coast of Florida, Costa Rica, Panama, Hawaii, and Baha California. Mahi Mahi are surface dwellers, meaning they typically swim close to the surface of the water. If the Mahi Mahi you catch are not gaffer Mahi Mahi you will likely have a shot to load up on smaller fish if done right. Deep sea fishing has such different techniques. Mahi Mahi will often swim in the offshore currents and temperature breaks. Only 40 minutes from Orlando and free parking. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, there will be currents w/ weedlines in it. If the Mahi Mahi is a "gaffer" sized Mahi Mahi have someone get ready with the gaff. It does not matter. The best bait to chunk with is ballyhoo. The runs are also much … Let’s discuss where and how we can catch mahi. Mahi Mahi are also known as the Dorado or Dolphinfish and can be found all around the world in tropical and subtropical waters. Even if you don't catch exactly what you go out for it is likely you are going to catch some really good eating fish! 01-04-2018, 03:41 PM. Great location. 54 tips and reviews. This is because the Subtropical waters of South Florida are the perfect place to find this migratory fellow. Mahi Mahi like warm water and are drawn to temperature breaks. If you are experienced and have outriggers you can do more. Sometimes the weedlines will be patchy making it difficult to troll. If this is the case you’re in a good spot. If you stumble upon a piece of floating structure and you see the blue glow of Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish) underneath get your jigs ready! They are like a swimming “mood ring”. modifications. Mahi-mahi can be found in warm, tropical waters all over the globe. Posts about where to catch mahi mahi in florida written by Bar Jack Fishing and the 70' Lady K Deep Sea Drift Fishing Charters Drift Fishing Trips Sailing 8:00am to 12:00pm Mornings, 1:00pm to 5:00pm Afternoons, and 6:30pm to 10:30pm Nights, Located in Palm Beach County, Florida and serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boynton Beach, Delray, Boca Raton, and Lantana. The months of winter offer an amazing opportunity to fill your file with large fish. Mahi Mahi have a long dorsal fin that extends from their head to their tail. Flowing north from Key West’s Florida Straits along the entirety of the Sunshine State’s coast, the Gulf Stream provides plenty of territory for fishers (and their would-be catches) to explore. You do not need a bunch of fancy lures, though they will work they are not necessary to catch Mahi Mahi. In traversing both the shallow and deeper waters, you’ll be on a 20’ Privateer center console boat, newly-restored in 2018. When this is the case, Mahi-Mahi is entirely outmatched, and won’t have the chance to show their true strength and power. In the video below he drops some awesome tips about catching Mahi Mahi. As stated in the beginning of this article, Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish) are carnivorous and eat a wide variety of smaller fish. There is no closed season. There are many Excellent to Very Good species of fish to catch. Between the humps and the currents Mahi Mahi will likely be nearby. If you can’t find ballyhoo squid could work too. Long wait but worth it. In the Florida Keys, one of the main staples of offshore fishing during the summer is the spectacular and colorful mahi-mahi. © 2021 FishingBooker.com. I tend to keep it simple when it comes to trolling for Mahi Mahi. Before we get into "How To Catch Mahi Mahi," it would be to our benefit to briefly go over what a Mahi Mahi is. High season is May to August. This is why it can be effective to troll past floating structure. It runs on a 150 HP Mercury engine and has all the navigation technology to quickly take you to the fish. If the they seem uninterested in the ballyhoo chunks, you can also try casting your jig head out with nothing on it to entice a reaction strike from the Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish). The other deal is bookable online and is still available when we check. This beautifully colored fish can be found in all tropical and warm temperate seas of the world. You can't miss mahi mahi fishing out of Port Canaveral, St. Augustine and Jacksonville Beach, or out of Amelia Island. If possible, spray down your boat as you’re catching Mahi Mahi. Since they are mostly cruising close to the surface there are many things as anglers that we can be on the lookout for when we are fishing for Mahi Mahi. Capt. Must have! It's a long run, but the big fish are worth it. If we can't match the rate of the other deal because one of the above conditions is The general strategy to find mahi-mahi in south Florida is to travel past the reef into blue water 200 feet or deeper in-depth but the mahi-mahi will be near the surface. Make several passes or circle the patty to entice a bite. Our products are trusted by professional anglers all throughout the industry. Trolling currents can be an effective way to catch Mahi Mahi. Mahi Mahi are some of the most aggressive and exciting gamefish to target. Female Mahi Mahi also known as cow Mahi Mahi have a rounded head and will typically grow to about 30-40lbs. The average catch size will be 10-20lbs, the bigger ones are 20-30lbs and bulls up in the 50-60lbs range are not unheard of. Our most notable catch was on New Years Eve when we landed a rare white marlin only 4 miles from shore. This boat gives you the ultimate 360 degree view of the waters and allows you to move freely when struggling against a big catch. The reason being is that it is much easier to troll for Mahi Mahi when the weedline is defined (we will get more into this later). First, you can troll weedlines for Mahi Mahi. Steve Dietrich: Best mahi mahi quesadillas in the world! You have contacted us immediately after booking with all the details of the other deal A good spread is to have two rigged ballyhoo on the outside with one or two artificial trolling lures down the center (See “Best Trolling Lures & Baits For Mahi Mahi” for more information). In order to control the chaos you need to make sure you have the following ready: Pro Tip: Clean as you go. following conditions are met: Popular with anglers looking for Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) fishing charters in Florida. Currents like the Gulf Stream are currents that typically contain warmer water than the water surrounding it. The Mahi Mahi is known for its vivid blue, green, and yellow glow. During the winter months, Mahi Mahi migrate south of the east coast of Florida from Carolinas and provide excellent traffic to catch some fish. Dolphin fishing in Florida is something anglers of all ages and experience levels can enjoy. Click here to join us in the Insider Club! Its colorful appearance makes it a trophy fish worthy of any wall, especially if you are fortunate enough to hook a large male. Mahi Mahi have a lifespan between 4 and 5 years. Though some of the largest Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish) have been caught on small baits a typically rule of thumb is a larger bait will catch a larger Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish). They start moving southwards in November, passing Stuart and St Lucie's Inlet and can be found quite close to shore here until July. There is no closed season. Some of the most popular places where anglers go to catch Mahi Mahi are the Florida Keys, the Atlantic Coast of Florida, Costa Rica, Panama, Hawaii, and Baha California. Similar to Florida-style Mahi fishing, you’ll want to locate a kelp patty, and then slow troll several staggered lines going back about 50 feet behind the boat. Sargassum is an orangish brown color and it will clump together offshore and create what we call a “weedline.”. The average weight of Mahi Mahi goes up to 20 pounds with a lot of fish in the 30-poun… They are in the Drum Family, known as Sciaenops ocellatus, they have a reddish, bronze top with a pale underbelly. Want to see our reels in person? Mahi Mahi have become well-known as great table fare and are a sought after by both recreational and commercial fishermen. Often times they can be more patchy, but ideally you want to find a defined line of Sargassum. Very easy to find. Thanks to its powerful engine, the boat is capable of a top cruising speed of 50 knots! Great experience. Pink or blue are popular lure colors when targeting Mahi Mahi. This article will lay out a one particular preference that has been proven to work time and time again. If you find your deal on another fishing website at a lower rate, contact our customer care team. When you get the fish boat side and you see other Mahi Mahi close by it is good to put that rod in a rod holder and leave the fish in the water. Mahi Mahi often travel in schools and will follow around the fish that is on your line. If there are mahi in the area, they will be attracted to the fish in trouble. There are many different ways to troll for Mahi Mahi and as you do it more and more you will likely tweak things according to what you think is best. Patriotic Angler Episode 11 – When Is The Best Time To Fish Monday Fish Pics (53 Colorful Images for the Start of the Week) Fluorocarbon Leader VS Fuorocarbon Line Throughout the rest of this article I am going to go into great detail on how to catch Mahi Mahi. Weedlines are probably the most obvious and easy thing spot while fishing for Mahi Mahi . Mahi Mahi are not endangered to say the least! The average fish during the winter is about 10 pounds, while the average thickness is about 20 pounds. Floating structure has the potential to turn into your best day of Mahi Mahi fishing ever. You can check out the two videos below to learn more about catching tuna and mahi-mahi. Fishing for Mahi-Mahi: Dolphin fish, mahi-mahi or simply mahi is one of the most exciting and most beautiful fish sought by fishermen venturing out usually ten miles to seventy miles from the beach. Kovach Fishing Charters specializes in bottom fishing and trolling the waters surrounding Jensen Beach, FL in search of various fun local species that are sure to delight all anglers. Many anglers catch Mahi-Mahi by complete accident while trolling, and while using heavy tackle meant to catch much larger fish like Marlins. The bigger fish typically come from the Keys, but there are some monsters caught off the mainland as well. Let’s get started. Doing this will keep the other Mahi Mahi near the boat in the water. If you are new to trolling, start with 2 – 3 rods. Sometimes, Mahi Mahi can be found under floating structure and you wont necessarily see them right away. Our South Florida Fishing Charter’s Ideal day on the water would start out primarily out of the Broward inlet in front of the Ft. Luaderdale Port out to Blue Water about 3-10 Miles off the coast of South Florida where we would start with Marlin Fishing, Then Mahi Mahi Fishing, Then back to the Reef for Snapper and Grouper Fishing in South Florida. The other deal is subject to the same booking conditions you’ve opted for with However, some of the most popular fishing sites are in North America, the Gulf of Mexico, along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, around Southeast Asia and along the Hawaiian coast. Also known as Mahi Mahi , Dorado (Coryphaena Hippurus) The Dolphin, also known as Mahi Mahi or Dorado, is one of the most exciting offshore gamefish to catch and see in the open ocean. The southeastern part of the state offers swift access to the Gulf Stream, which is a mahi migration highway. Larry H: Blackened Mahi Quesadilla was amazing! Your trip will start on a recently restored 20’ Cape Horn center console that can sit up to 4 guests. FishingBooker uses cookies to improve your site experience. May is traditionally the best time of the year to catch big dolphin in South Florida, and anglers don’t need to travel far offshore to find them. Sign me up! Mahi Mahi and other offshore gamefish will swim in these currents which make them ideal to fish. By continuing, you consent to our use of cookies. Cow Mahi will spawn three times per year and can produce up to 1,000,000 eggs each time. Mahi-Mahi Fishing Gear. Dolphin fishing in Florida is something anglers of all ages and experience levels can enjoy. This will often lead to an opportunity to catch a bunch of Mahi Mahi in a very short amount of time. different, you still keep your existing reservation – including the cancellation policy. When they are hooked they put on an impressive show with spectacular jumps while stripping lots of line from the reel. You can purchase these at most local tackle shops in areas where Mahi Mahi (Dolphin fish) are regularly targeted. The southeastern part of the state offers swift access to the Gulf Stream, which is a mahi migration highway. NO. There are many other trolling lures that work well for Mahi Mahi and the best way to find your favorite is by trial and error. Do you have what it takes to become a Florida Fishing Products Guide? Other places you can normally find offshore currents are on top of different humps offshore. If you catch a jack or another fish, just leave it hooked up in the water. Below are a few baits that are effective for trolling for Mahi Mahi. YES! It may be worth checking out when you are fishing for Mahi Mahi. When you are trolling weedlines for Mahi Mahi you ideally want the weed line to be very defined. Trolling for Mahi Mahi is probably the most popular technique used to catch them. Vero offers great variety for inshore fishing and has quick access to the Ft Pierce inlet for those who want to go offshore. If you see Mahi in the water but you aren’t getting a bite, throw chunks of cut bait into the water to get them warmed up. How-To Catch Articles and Videos, Where's the Bite, Regulations, and more! If you have multiple people on the boat have them reel in the other lines so you don’t have a mess on your hand. Do not let Mahi Mahi blood dry out on your deck. You can go trolling for Mahi Mahi, you can drift weed lines for Mahi Mahi, and you can even be fishing for other species and catch Mahi Mahi! Mahi Mahi are aggressive fish and will eat fast as well. package offer, etc.). Florida Sportsman's 50 Favorite Sportfish of Florida: Dolphin. Before you go out make sure you have a few packs of unrigged ballyhoo. These colours darken when the fish dies (see illustrations) The current IGFA all tackle record is 39.91 kilograms (88lb), caught in 1998 in Exuma, Bahamas by Chris Johnson of Lake Mary, Florida. Best Time of Year to Catch Mahi in South Florida? When the schools of Dolphin are found they aggressively attack the baits. Dolphin Fishing on Florida’s East Coast Dolphin (aka Mahi-Mahi) are truly the perfect gamefish. The weed lines to look out for are made up of a type of sea weed called Sargassum. If this is the case, you can drift around them with baits out. The boat is powered by an economic 130 HP Honda engine, reaching speeds of up to 28 knots, but allowing Capt. It is a deep-sea rockfish that will give you a great fight. Going fishing out of Pompano Beach when we come down for the Miami boat show in mid February and wanted too see if that is a good time of the year to catch Mahi? There have also been stories of people catching Mahi Mahi that weighed in at over 100 pounds. The Mahi Mahi, also known as the Dolphin Fish, is one of the most physically stunning specimens in the Gulf of Mexico. As stated earlier, Mahi Mahi are a common fish that can be found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters. Though Mahi Mahi are not exactly predictable, there are many things to look out for when you are fishing for them. They change colors and are very acrobatic. Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus), or Mahi-Mahi as they are sometimes called, are one of the great gamefish of the oceans. Anglers also do well this time of the year mahi mahi fishing in the Straits of Florida between Stuart and Key West. High season is April to August. Mahi Mahi Fishing Clearwater, Tampa, St. Pete, FL and Surrounding Areas. FishingBooker.com. Hubbard is one of Tampa Bay’s best offshore guides and knows a thing or two about catching Mahi Mahi off the gulf coast. A good spread for Mahi Mahi is to have 3 – 4 rods out. When you hook into one or more Mahi Mahi you will want to put your boat in neutral and start fighting the fish. All rights reserved. I hate fishing. There is usually a mix of smaller ‘schoolie’ fish along with bigger ‘bulls.’ Bull dolphin are the male fish with a more square head, and the ‘cows’ are their female counter parts. Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) fishing in Florida varies moderately throughout the year. Mahi Mahi ♥ Grouper ♥ ... ♥= BEST: Times on this chart can vary by weeks depending on a number of environmental circumstances. We caught several sailfish last year and a tuna, cobia and some kings the year before. It is not a matter of whether or not it will be chaotic it is a matter of whether or not you will organize and control the chaos. If there is a lot of bait in one are there is a good chance that Mahi Mahi and other offshore gamefish are nearby. Typically the summer time is the most consistent for these bad boys! A favorite site for offshore fishing in the Florida Keys, the stream awards anglers with mahi-mahi… As you are fighting the fish be ready! Schoolie Dolphin Frenzies can be the most exciting and fun fishing or the worst fishing you will ever experience. If you find yourself in what I like to call “the schoolie dolphin frenzy,” stay calm! The big ones show up around April and they slowly start moving northwards in June, but stick around the south part of Florida, especially the Keys, until September. 2 and 9 knots patty to entice a bite fish can be found in temperate, subtropical and. Waters near the boat in neutral and start fighting the fish but it well... Baymax powered by a 300 HP Yamaha outboard by weeks depending on a number of environmental circumstances Fluorocarbon in... To entice a bite bigger fish typically come from the Keys Darcizzle goes deep sea out! By FishingBooker anglers, Half Day inshore trip with Capt Jeff Jenkins their head to their.. 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I tend to keep an open mind as to what you will be bringing! Like warm water and are drawn to temperature breaks fishing on Florida ’ s discuss where and how can! Take you to move freely when struggling against a big catch the technology! Chart can vary by weeks depending on a number of environmental circumstances need to sure!, balloons, tangled buoys, refrigerator doors, etc, spray down your as! Lines to look out for when you are New to trolling, and while using heavy tackle meant catch! Are Mahi in Melbourne, Florida and nearby as stated earlier, Mahi Mahi the world Club! Mahi in a good best place to catch mahi mahi in florida goes deep sea fishing out of the fish but it was well worth the.... Places to eat Mahi Mahi fishing Clearwater, Tampa, St. Augustine and Jacksonville Beach, or mahi-mahi as are... A defined line of Sargassum cool weather but fish biting all morning Dolphinfish and can effective! 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