| During the late spring, summer, and fall in the Keys, | | | | for debris. |
| fishing for dolphin, also known as mahi-mahi, is the | | | | Once a schoolie dolphin is hooked and brought to the |
| best time of fishing in the whole year | | | | boat, leave it in the water. A dolphin can grow to a |
| That's dolphin the fish, mahi mahi, not dolphin, the | | | | weight of about 80 pounds but lives only about five |
| "Flipper", porpoise. Our dolphin fish are an exciting | | | | years. |
| offshore game fish ranging in size from 6 to 60 | | | | Work the weed lines to look for fish, particularly |
| pounds. | | | | dolphin. In any region, the "hottest" hot spot will likely |
| The best time for Dolphin Fishing is usually April, May | | | | be a blue water agglomeration of floating debris and |
| and June. It is also commonplace for some | | | | drifting Sargasso weed, guaranteed to attract |
| exceptional Dolphin catches from early October | | | | roaming dolphin. These objects floating in the open |
| through mid-December. | | | | sea attract smaller baitfish for shelter, and they in |
| If you're learning to catch fish on your own, here are | | | | turn attract dolphin. |
| a few tips to get you started. Dolphin truly are the | | | | Watch the water for fish next time you head out; |
| perfect game fish. They are prolific breeders, rapid | | | | be aware of what is going on in the water. Baitfish |
| growing and short lived which make them an | | | | attract predator fish, and there is no reason for not |
| excellent choice as a game fish. They can withstand | | | | fishing the area around a big baitfish school. |
| recreational catches without becoming over fishing. | | | | Dolphin don't move too far from their food source so |
| 1. Get out early - these fish are always hungry at | | | | keep your eyes open for floating weeds, other |
| daybreak. Most dolphins are caught before noon for | | | | floating objects, temperature rips, and sub surface |
| this reason. | | | | structures which may attract and provide shelter to |
| 2. Bait - Sometimes we can cast and cut live bait | | | | flying fish and other sources of food. |
| when the schools of Dolphin are attracted to the | | | | 5. Trolling |
| boat. Often when we are trolling for Dolphin you will | | | | Dolphin like to chase after their food. So trolling their |
| see the fish charge and strike the bait. Use Live | | | | dinner behind the boat will be our way of catching |
| Ballyhoo whenever possible. | | | | & hooking up these fish. If the fish don't strike |
| Chum does not last long in a swift current so plan | | | | your bait while you're trolling fast, slow down, and let |
| accordingly. I was finding almost 2 mph of current to | | | | the bait sink a little. |
| the east. Live Pinfish and strips of Bonito were hit | | | | Pitch a naked ballyhoo over a group of birds working |
| the best along with strips of Blue Runner and | | | | over a small slick, and you might hook up with the |
| Ballyhoo plugs. | | | | fish of a lifetime! |
| 3. Fishing Tackle - One end of the wire will have a | | | | When a fish hits, Let go of the line, count to five, |
| haywire twist to attach to the fishing line via snap | | | | snap the bail closed, and start cranking. |
| swivel and the other end will have 7/0 or 8/0 hook | | | | When you've hooked your fish, work on him so he |
| attached using a haywire twist and pin rig. | | | | gets tired. You don't want to get a 40 lb fish back to |
| Proper tackle for catching dolphin depends on the | | | | the boat until he's quieted down a bit. |
| size of the fish you might suppose. Dolphin may be | | | | Dolphin grow incredibly fast, so that a 5 pounder you |
| as small as two pounds and as large as eighty | | | | let go in June might become the 30 pounder you'll be |
| pounds; so bring a variety of tackle sizes for the fish | | | | fishing for in September. Catch & Release |
| you want to catch. | | | | means just keep a few of these small dolphins (called |
| 4. - Finding Dolphin - Head out to deep water to | | | | "schoolies") and return the rest to the sea. |
| search for these fish. Regarding location, the most | | | | Conclusion |
| common reason you might not be catching Dolphin is | | | | Swordfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Dolphin, Cobia, Wahoo, |
| not going far enough offshore. We recommend at | | | | Tuna and Kingfish are just a few of the species we |
| least 3 miles. | | | | catch off the Southeast Florida Coast. |
| Keep a look out for sea birds such as the Frigate, | | | | We catch Most of our dolphin while fishing for Tuna. |
| Man-0-War, etc. The Birds will often follow the larger | | | | Whether gunning for tuna, marlin or dolphin, Fish 'em |
| fish which they can spot from the air. You will find | | | | all with Live Bait!! |
| most of the Dolphin under birds and, of course, look | | | | |