Once you goal this brightly-colored fella, you get the complete package deal. Not solely does the Mahi put up an unimaginable combat and develop to spectacular sizes, nevertheless it additionally tastes unimaginable whether or not you fry it up or serve it as a contemporary ceviche. To prime issues off, it additionally inhabits waters all around the globe. Under, we’ve lined every little thing you might want to learn about the place, when, and how one can go Mahi Mahi fishing. Let’s dive in…
The place to Discover Mahi Mahi
As we talked about, a part of the explanation why the Mahi Mahi is such a preferred goal is as a result of it’s extremely widespread. Not solely do they dwell within the Gulf, Pacific, and Atlantic waters surrounding the US, however you’ll additionally discover them in additional unique areas. The Caribbean Sea, for instance, is a Mahi hotspot, as effectively are the Indio-Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
You’ll even discover these fish within the far-flung South China Sea. They present up wherever from Mexico, to Costa Rica, Louisiana, Hawaii, Australia, Southeast Asia… The checklist goes on! They’re particularly standard in Florida, although. It’s believed that 70% of Mahi focused throughout the US originated within the waters across the Sunshine State.
So what sorts of water do Mahi desire? They have an inclination to lurk between the floor of the ocean to round 250 toes beneath. They’re drawn to floating objects akin to buoys, seaweed, and logs and will also be discovered close to floating islands of grass and in channels with strong-running flows of water. Mahi Mahi are opportunistic feeders with a most popular weight-reduction plan of small fish and squid. Wherever you notice these guys, likelihood is your Dolphin’s not far behind.
When to Go Mahi Mahi Fishing
Clearly, one of the best time to focus on Mahi will depend on the place you’re fishing. There’s one factor anglers the world over agree on, although. Solid your line throughout spawning season, and also you’re on to a winner. This typically takes place between February and June, when Mahi head to chop banks or drop-offs at night time to feed on the small bait fish that collect there. Nevertheless, a number of spawnings per yr are frequent for each female and male varieties – giving them the nickname “the rabbits of the ocean”!
One other solution to predict one of the best Mahi fishing time is to keep watch over their migration route. These fish are extremely migratory, which suggests they journey round loads. For instance, in Florida, it’s greatest to focus on them between April and June. That is after they start their journey northward (though they stick across the Florida Keys till September).
In Mexico, peak Mahi fishing instances are between Could and December. In Australia, the excessive season begins in December. It’s all about location. You may take a look at what the fishing close to you is wanting wish to get an thought of when Mahi shall be in your space.
Tips on how to Go Mahi Mahi Fishing
In the event you’re going Mahi Mahi fishing, particularly for the primary time, it’s extremely seemingly that you simply’ll be disposing of alongside an skilled constitution captain. It’s because you typically must step foot on a ship to succeed in Mahi-rich waters, which lie additional offshore. Not solely will constitution fishing cowl your journey to the hotspots and again, however you’ll even be handled to your captain’s knowledgeable recommendation. This contains steerage on one of the best strategies to make use of.
Nevertheless, for those who’re selecting to go it alone, or simply wish to know slightly extra about what it takes to reel on this colourful fish, we’ve gone into extra element beneath. Maintain studying to see what sort of bait and lures work greatest to be a focus for this species, in addition to a quick dive into the most typical fishing strategies…
Deal with
As we talked about, Mahi Mahi means “very robust.” It typically takes a number of effort to reel this beast onto the boat. Due to this, anglers within the know advocate utilizing sort out that can final. You must convey alongside back-up sort out simply in case of breakage!
There’s an entire host of angling gear you may go for when Mahi fishing, and also you’ll wish to choose totally different gear primarily based on the method you’ll be utilizing. In the event you’re casting, a 7′ heavy-action rod paired with a 30–50 lb braided or fused line and lure weighing as much as one ounce is a good starter possibility. You may as well pair this with a 50 lb barrel swivel. In relation to your chief, something from 30–80 lb fluorocarbon will work.
Trolling for Mahi? It’s fairly related. A very good “all-rounder” arrange is a mix of a 6–7′ rod able to holding a 30–50 lb line. In the event you’re going after monster species, you may improve this weight to 80 kilos. In truth, most constitution boats go for traces on the heavier finish. That is in case they run right into a trophy-sized Mahi or different huge sport fish.
Bait/Lures
We’ll simply come out and say it – Mahi Mahi aren’t the brightest fish within the sea. This undoubtedly is useful when selecting out your bait! These fish have huge appetites. When caught in a feeding frenzy, they’ll hook onto something that will get of their method, together with trash. They’re not choosy, which is why most anglers preserve their bait easy. Ballyhoo is the most well-liked alternative, however you’ll even have luck with squid and pilchards whether or not trolling or chunking. Lifeless bait does the trick in addition to reduce or dwell bait.
In the event you’d relatively preserve it synthetic in your fishing journey, then your greatest guess is any Mahi-specific lure. You’ll discover a whopping number of these in bait and sort out outlets the world over. One in every of our favourite choices is the chugger head. This lure is concave like a popper and gives loads of noise and splashing motion, in addition to nice bubble trails. Diving plugs, smooth plastic jigs, and synthetic squid will get the job carried out, too.
High Methods and Rigs
The 2 hottest methods of focusing on Mahi Mahi are casting and trolling. Mahi Mahi are drawn to floating objects on the water floor, and casting permits anglers to rise up shut and private with these spots. Then, they merely toss their bait proper subsequent to floating seaweed, grass, and different obstructions on or close to the water’s floor.
There’s no fancy technique in the case of focusing on Mahi with this system, both. Nearly all of profitable hookups merely contain casting at weed traces, buoys, floating objects, and even passing colleges of fish. Some anglers advocate casting past your goal space and making the lure or bait cross over it, together with your boat engine turned off. The preliminary splash of the lure or bait is what attracts many Mahi.
Trolling, by way of, might be the primary solution to battle it out in opposition to this hard-fighting fish. Anglers recommend organising 3 to 4 traces and focusing on areas of floating seaweed and even business fishing gear floats. Mahi Mahi are drawn to commotion on the water, akin to boats. They’re additionally aggressive fish that eat quick, which is why it’s advisable that you simply troll for them at a pace between 2–9 knots. Be constant and ensure you preserve the boat shifting at a gentle tempo.
High Mahi Mahi Fishing Spots
Yow will discover Mahi Mahi everywhere in the world, in an entire variety of totally different waters, which implies that narrowing down the highest spots is a troublesome job. We will’t cowl each particular location right here, however beneath we’ve delved into a number of the hottest spots for hooking into this fish…
Florida
If there’s a Mahi Mahi capital of the world, it needs to be Florida. Many anglers typically check with the Mahi as “Florida’s favourite sport fish.” The state is packed full of wonderful spots, however listed here are a few of our favorites:
- Key West: Or any of the Florida Keys, actually, together with Islamorada, the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World.” Tropical waters encompass this archipelago of islands. Mahi Mahi fishing is scorching all by way of the summer season till round September, with species lurking round 20 miles offshore.
- Stuart: This metropolis is situated alongside Florida’s Treasure Coast and, boy, is it a Mahi fishing gem. The Gulf Stream runs a mere 10 miles from shore, so that you’ll have a brief journey out to fish-filled waters. The most popular months to focus on ’em are from April to June.
- Port Canaveral: It’ll take you longer to succeed in offshore waters from this spot on the House Coast (we’re speaking 40–50 miles). When you’ve gone the space, although, you’ll be capable of solid your line within the Gulf Stream’s “candy spot.” What does this imply? Enormous Mahi!
- Miami: This well-known Floridian metropolis is named occasion central, however there’s additionally loads of motion occurring underwater too. You may attain Mahi fishing hotspots in simply 10 miles or so. There, you’ll be capable of discover the productive waters of the Gulf Stream to your coronary heart’s content material.
Different US Places
In fact, Florida’s not the one place within the US the place you may solid a line for Mahi Mahi. Listed here are another spots that supply up productive angling motion:
- Louisiana: The waters round this Gulf State are packed stuffed with oil rigs and different construction, in addition to deep canyons. This makes them an actual haven for Mahi Mahi. Go to in the course of the spring and summer season months and likelihood is you’ll expertise the “Bull Run.” That is when giant colleges of bull and cow Mahi journey to the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
- Southern California: The nice and cozy waters south of San Diego boast loads of glorious Mahi fishing alternatives. You’ll should journey slightly additional to hit the hotspots than you’ll in Florida, for instance. With canyons and islands to discover, it’s effectively well worth the journey.
- Hawaii: This picture-perfect state not solely appears like paradise, nevertheless it presents up some fairly heavenly angling motion, too. In some areas, the seafloor drops a staggering 1,000 toes only a mile or so from shore. You may goal Mahi just some minutes after departing the dock.
Non-US Places
Seeking to journey past the US in your Mahi fishing journey? Listed here are a couple of of the highest fishing spots you may check out…
- Mexico: Offering entry to each the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, it’s no shock that Mexico has lots to supply in the way in which of Mahi fishing. Head to Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta for a number of the most plentiful angling choices on this nation.
- Costa Rica: Costa Rica is the place to go if you wish to mix your Mahi fishing with some beautiful surroundings. The massive sport fishing right here is significantly thrilling, with the nation’s azure blue waters being residence to over 200 totally different IGFA data.
- Dominican Republic: The island is thought for producing a number of the greatest huge sport fishing in all the Caribbean. Because of its tropical local weather, you may come fishing for Mahi right here year-round. You solely should journey a couple of miles from the seashore to get in on the motion.
Mahi Mahi Fishing: Check Your Abilities In opposition to One of many Finest!
As we talked about earlier, there’s loads of the explanation why Mahi Mahi are one of many world’s hottest sport fish. They’re quick, flashy, and supply loads of unimaginable angling motion on the finish of a line. When you’ve been bitten by the Mahi fishing bug, you’ll by no means look again. It’s time to exit on the water and uncover the magic of battling this majestic fish for your self!
Have you ever ever been Mahi Mahi fishing? Any suggestions, journey solutions, or recommendation to share? Tell us within the feedback beneath. We love listening to from you!
