Dolphin

(Dolphin [fish, not mammal], also known as mahi-mahi or dorado)Order: Perciformes (Dolphin)
Family: Coryphaenidae (Dolphin)
Genus: Coryphaena (Dolphin)
Species: hippurus (Dolphin)

Dolphin (also known as mahi-mahi or dorado) are caught while Deep Sea Fishing Miami in offshore waters

Dolphin Characteristics:

The name dolphin (aka mahi-mahi, dorado) can be used in the singular to describe one fish or may be used as a plural to describe several fish. Dolphin are extremely colorful and beautiful. Mahi-Mahi are found in the warm Gulf Stream water offshore of Miami, offshore of Miami Beach and offshore of South Florida. They may be found in warm waters worldwide. Dolphin may be the most vibrantly colored oceanic deep-sea fish that we have in our Gulf Stream waters. They have absolutely gorgeous colors. They have assorted hues of beautiful green, yellow and blue colorings. They have many colorful spots on their fins and on their body. Dolphin are unique and different than many other deep-sea fish in that they have a long dorsal fin that extends nearly the whole length of their body. They may have a slight white coloring on their belly underside. The males are known as bull dolphin and can be identified by their flat, blunt head. Females are known as cow dolphin and can be identified by their rounded head. Pompano dolphin are rare compared to the above and can be identified by the shape of their head that is more rounded than a cow. The pompano dolphin’s head resembles the shape of a pompano. Larger dolphin can sometimes be easily identified when they are approaching trolling baits in the water because they sometimes ‘light up’ with neon types of colorful hues.

Dolphin Locations:

Mahi-Mahi are generally considered an offshore fish. They can also be caught over the outside coral reefs. They can be found in Miami, Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale in ocean waters but most often in the dark indigo blue Gulf Stream offshore waters. They are generally found on or near the surface. Dolphin are often found in the Gulf Stream under big patches of sea weed, near sea weed lines, under floating debris, boxes, boards and wherever schools of baitfish might be gathered. Diving birds, splashing fish, or showering flying fish are always a good sign that dolphin may be ready to strike.

Dolphin Size / Weight Range:

It is common to see school dolphin from about 5-pounds or less to about 10-pounds or perhaps a little bit larger. Dolphin of 20-pounds or larger are considered as very nice size fish. Bulls are usually larger than cows. Mahi-mahi that are 40-pounds and above are not common in Miami and in Miami Beach but they can be caught in the 50-pound and above range. Smaller dolphin, often called schoolies or school dolphin, can come together in large schools or groups. Larger dolphin often tend to pair off and may be found as a pair, male and female or a bull and a cow.

Dolphin Fighting Ability:

Excellent. Mahi-Mahi are excellent fighting fish. They are exciting to see and exciting to catch. They are fast and strong and often put on a fantastic surface and aerial display. They often jump and also come out of the water and shake their head while trying to throw the hook. Dolphin fishing in Miami can be fun and action packed.

Dolphin Fishing in Miami – Fishing Techniques:

Trolling, live bait fishing, kite fishing, charter boat fishing, drift fishing and run and gun, which is sometimes also called run and search. Trolling is a great method of mahi-mahi fishing. Trolling is perhaps the best method of dolphin fishing in Miami because it allows fishermen to cover lots of water area, catch many different varieties of fish, including billfish, sailfish, marlin, wahoo, barracuda, and tuna while searching for dolphin. Live bait fishing and kite fishing can also be very successful if a big mahi-mahi or if a school of mahi-mahi swims up to where you are fishing. The draw back to live bait fishing, kite fishing and drift fishing for dolphin is that the boat is either drifting or nearly stationary so less water area is covered while fishing. Run and gun which is also called run and search is a method of fishing where the lines are not in the water and the boat keeps running until something is spotted that may indicate that there are dolphin in the water. Some usual things that may indicate mahi-mahi in an area are: seeing dolphin in the water, splashing baitfish, diving birds, showering flying fish or big patches of seaweed, current rips, floating debris or well formed seaweed lines. It is always important when dolphin fishing in Miami to keep an eye open for the above signs and signals that may lead to some nice fish.

Types of Bait for Dolphin Fishing in Miami:

Live bait, fresh rigged bait, chunks of bait when in a school of mahi-mahi, big live shrimp, artificial lures and feather jigs (either cast and retrieve or trolled). Trolled ballyhoo, bonito strips and mullet are excellent bait for mahi-mahi. Live pilchards, herring and big live shrimp also make excellent bait for dolphin fishing in Miami. Small bonito are also excellent baitfish for catching large fish. When in a school of mahi-mahi, chumming with chum or with live pilchards can help to keep the school highly interested. Keeping one hooked dorado (mahi-mahi) in the water and close to the boat often will attract more fish and keep them hanging around for a while. Often, fishing with small baits with the boat moving in a circular direction at idle speed may help to keep a school of dorado interested. Dolphin fishing in Miami can be fun and very exciting for adults and for families with kids.

Dolphin Fishing in Miami – Rods / Reels / Fishing Equipment:

Generally when trolling, conventional deep-sea fishing tackle including deep-sea fishing rods and reels can be used. Once a school of mahi-mahi is located the conventional deep-sea fishing rods and deep-sea fishing reels can be brought in and replaced with spinning rods and spinning reels. When live bait fishing and kite fishing in Miami most fishermen use the type of tackle for the fish that they are targeting and if a school of dolphin swims up then spinning rods can be substituted for conventional deep-sea fishing tackle, if so desired. Dolphin fishing in Miami can be fun on conventional deep-sea fishing tackle and on spinning tackle.

Dolphin Fishing in Miami:

We fish for many different types of fish. We try to match our customer’s expectations with the types of fish that are seasonal during the time of year in which they are fishing.

Miami Deep Sea Fishing Reservations for: Dolphin fishing in Miami – Dolphin fishing in Miami Beach – Deep Sea fishing for Dolphin in South Florida aboard the Charter Fishing Boat THERAPY-IV – Phone: 305-945-1578.

*Certain types of fish and sharks may be restricted during certain closure periods

Note: Size ranges, sizes of fish and other information, etc. may be based on our own opinions, deep sea fishing experiences, etc. We are not responsible for any information that may be in error or for any typographical errors.

Let’s go Dolphin Fishing aboard the
THERAPY-IV in luxury and style !!!
Maximum 6 passengers
Never crowded

For Reservations and Information about:
Dolphin Fishing Miami and Miami Beach Aboard THERAPY-IV
Phone: (305-945-1578)