To catch Mahi Mahi fish or Dolphin fish, you need to target them first. Focus on warm areas, look for the open oceans, and arrange the material. You can find mahi mahi fish around the weed lines. The most popular techniques are trolling with lures or bait, casting, and using live bait with chum. In this article, we will explore how to catch Mahi Mahi fish, where to find them, mahi-mahi fishing techniques, and what the most important things to consider while fishing. Let’s get into:
Where to Catch Mahi Mahi Fish (Locations)
Mahi Mahi is a species that is found worldwide. But the specific places where they want to live are our warm and sunny areas. Mahi Mahi are attracted to any kind of floating structure. In ocean structure and debris, floating debris and fish aggregating devices (FADs) attract Mahi Mahi more.
The fun part is when you see diving Birds in the ocean, it’s an excellent indicator of feeding Mahi Mahi. Except for ocean areas, there are a few top regional hotspots where you can find Mahi. It includes the Florida Keys, Hawaii, the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama, Caribbean islands, Southeast Asia, and Australia. You can also focus on seasonal warm months and early morning or late afternoon.
What Kind of Fish Is Mahi Mahi
Mahi Mahi is the fastest swimming fish that has stunning colours and excellent qualities. This voice is like a combination of sportfish and a food fish. It’s not a dolphin or a marine mammal like the bottlenose dolphin. The name is it common misconception for all but only seafood sellers and fishermen use Mahi Mahi. Its real name is dolphin, to make it different from the actual dolphin, they used to call it mahi fish. In the Hawaiian language, it means very strong.
Mahi Mahi are known for their rapidly changing colors. They can show blue, green, and yellow. The male Mahi has a square-shaped head, but females have a more rounded head. In physique, they have sleek and compressed bodies with a long dorsal fin. The single dorsal fin is attached throughout the entire length of their back. Their speed to swim is up to 50 miles per hour.
Mahi Mahi are carnivores; they can feed on a variety of prey, including flying fish, crabs, squid, and smaller fish. These wishes grow very fast, but they have a short life span. They can only live for 4 to 5 years. Their rapid reproduction and growth help their population to remain healthy.
Mahi Mahi Fish Catching Guide
Catching mahi mahi fishing involves location, gear, trolling, and casting. The most successful trips use a combination of methods to locate and excite the fish. Let’s get into more details of the best way to catch mahi-mahi:
Step 01: Find the Right Location
Mahi Mahi fish are the only species that travel in warm and tropical water. To find the right location is the first step. We need to locate the targeted area first. Logs, pallets, seaweeds, or other debris create a Mini-ecosystem for bait fish. In this journey, we need to search for baitfish because these are the only fish that attract mahi mahi.
Finding Mahi Mahi, where you can find baitfish, must be the first target. Mahi like warm water, and we need to use a depth finder to locate the exact areas where we can find them.
Step 02: Choose Your Gear
You will need a reliable gear that can handle a strong fish easily. Because Mahi Mahi are known for their acrobatic jumps and powerful runs. So we need to prepare the gear according to the mahi mahi. Use 30-50 test rods and reels. Rigged Ballyhoo is the best gear that you can use.
You need to opt for a medium-heavy 7-foot spinning rod with a 30-50 pound braided line. If you are looking for a fluorocarbon leader, then go for 30-80 pound. For hooks, J-hooks are the reliable ones that are specially designed for feeding active fish.
Bait/Lures: For live bait, you can choose ballyhoo, squid, or pilchards. For lure, you can try skirted chugger heads or baitfish.
Step 03: Use a Search Method to Find Fish
There are two primary methods for covering water. Let’s understand both of these methods one-by-one by finding the fish. Let’s get into:
Method 01: Trolling
Simply set out 3-4 lines with your lure or bait. This will cover the avoid area and will allow you to test different positions. You need to maintain the speed typically between 2 to 9 knots. Your trolling will work only when you target a specific area. Work around weed lines, floating debris, and temperature breaks.
Method 02: Run-and-Gun
This method is all about covering as much water as possible. Always consider driving the boat around debris. When you spot something prominent, approach it slowly. Whenever you feel a bird or a piece of floating debris, you can assume that there might be Mahi Mahi fish present.
Step 04: Engage School Once You Get a Bite
When a Mahi strikes, you don’t need to rush or pull it quickly. The best technique is you need to keep the first fish in the water. This way, you can have more fish around the boat for more bites. Don’t boat the first wish until you’ve hooked another one. The rest fish will let the other buddies follow the hooked.
If the school is on both sides, then start casting. To cast, you can use live bait and toss it in the water to get the school excited. After that, cast lures to the hungry fish.
Step 05: Land Your Catch Safely
Mahi Mahi can be very active when you bring it onto the boat. So you need to be careful. First, for smaller fish, you can use a long-shank dehooker to remove the mahi mahi from the hook. But for the larger Mahi Mahi, you need to use a gaff that is used for bigger fish. Once on the board, use any kind of rag to grab the fish tightly because mahi are very slippery.
Wrapping Up
How to Catch Mahi Mahi Fish is an exciting and rewarding experience. It depends on understanding their feeding behavior and using the right techniques. These fast-growing, aggressive fish thrive in warm offshore waters and are often drawn to floating debris and weed lines. With patience and smart strategies, you can successfully land this vibrant game fish.
Anglers enjoy the thrill of catching these colorful and delicious sportfish. We will advise you to be patient and be practical. Don’t rely on theoretical guides and directly go for the hunting Mahi. Simply do practices before going to catch mahi.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can live baits attract mahi?
Yes, you can use live bait to feed Mahi Mahi fish. Because they get excited after watching live bait. This can help you catch them easily.
2. Are these fish aggressive and rapid movers?
Yes, these fish are so powerful and strong. Because of their aggressive behaviour, catching them can be challenging. Only professional anglers can do it because of their previous experience and techniques.
3. What is the lifespan of Mahi?
Mahi has a short lifespan and can’t live more than 5 years.
4. Can we find it in cold areas?
No! Mahi loves to live in warm areas. We can’t find them in cold zones.
