Mahi-mahi, also known as dorado or dolphin-fish, are plentiful, aggressive, stunning, and delicious. Often underrated, they are undoubtedly one of our favorite catches!
These fish gather in large schools, perform incredible acrobatic displays, make for fantastic photos, taste delightful, and are perfect for light tackle fishing. Today, I’ll share my insights, tips, and techniques for reeling in these prized table fish.
Sight Casting
Let’s dive right into one of my favorite methods for catching them: stick baiting with PE4 tackle. This technique is undoubtedly the most exciting way to catch mahi-mahi, especially when you hook a big bull. Here in Vanuatu, we’re fortunate to have numerous FADs that are fishable in nearly all weather conditions. Upon reaching the FAD, there are usually clear indications that mahi-mahi are nearby.
You’ll notice schools of flying fish leaping out of the water, birds moving swiftly, diving and feeding without any signs of yellowfin or skipjack, and the striking blue mahi-mahi making their presence known by greyhounding out of the swell or showing their dorsal fins just above the water.
Once you confirm their presence, we typically cruise around at 3-5 knots with two people on the bow, ready to cast their stick baits where the fish are sighted. My go-to is the Nomad Riptide 155mm in floating ghost shad color, rigged with 4/0 BKK inline singles at both the belly and rear.
Nomad Design Riptide Stick Bait
The Riptide’s body shape is incredibly effective for all predatory species, whether you’re fishing offshore or in freshwater. The Riptide series offers the ultimate range of casting stickbaits, covering almost every size and type of action—floating, sinking, fast sinking, and walk-the-dog—that you might need for nearly any predatory fish.
The floating versions are perfectly balanced to create an enticing ‘S’ shaped swimming motion. With a long sweep of the rod tip, the head dips under with a splash, and as water flows over the lure, it produces a seductive body roll and ‘S’ wave action just below the surface.
Mahi-mahi are easy to spot from the bow, with their bright neon blue bodies streaking through the water and dorsal fins protruding—a sight you won’t soon forget. Cast a stick bait in front of them, and you’ll know within a meter of the retrieve whether they’re interested.
Once you’ve caught their attention, it’s crucial to vary your retrieve until you get a strike. Sometimes they’ll go wild for a steady zig-zag swimming action, while at other times they’ll prefer an erratic, fast surface-skipping retrieve.
Teasing
Teasing mahi-mahi can be a blast! I like to cut a few strip baits from the back half of a skipjack, slip an 11/0 BKK inline single hook through its nose, and send it out on the rigger about 20 meters back.
Maintaining a steady speed of 2.5-3 knots is ideal for teasing them in close. The hook in the teaser is handy because occasionally a hungry blue marlin might come up for a nibble.
I always run two lines when teasing for mahi-mahi: one with a strip bait 15-20 meters behind the teaser and another right next to it. You can rig the strip bait in a couple of ways. If you plan to release the fish after a photo, go for a circle hook. If you’re planning to keep it for a meal, I recommend a 4/0 to 6/0 J hook.
When a mahi-mahi takes the bait, let it run for a good 7-10 seconds before closing the bail arm or pushing the drag lever to ‘strike’ on your conventional reel (spin gear is way more fun).
Resist the urge to set the hook by pulling back on the rod. Applying steady pressure when setting the drag or closing the bail arm is best. Once the fish feels the pressure, 9 out of 10 times they’ll leap out of the water, performing aerial acrobatics. After the jumps and spins, if you still feel erratic pressure on your line, you know you’ve got him hooked.
Chumming or Burley
One of the most effective methods for getting a fish on your line is chumming or creating a burley trail, which will excite mahi-mahi and other fish for a meal. Oily baitfish like skipjack or bonito are ideal for this technique, as they produce a thicker blood and scent trail. The key is to avoid tossing in large cubes of skipjack; instead, mince the meat to create a nice trail of oil and blood. Once the burley trail is well established in the water around you, cast out two or three lines with strip baits. Keep the bail arms of your spinning reels open and wait for the striking blue beauties to show up. When a mahi-mahi takes the bait, give it 7-10 seconds before flipping the bail over. Apply firm and steady pressure, and enjoy the spectacle!
Last Cast
Mahi-mahi are truly underrated as sport fish. As I mentioned earlier, they’re incredibly fun to catch, make for fantastic photos, showcase amazing aerial acrobatics, and taste absolutely delicious. What’s not to love?
If you’re as fortunate as we are here in Vanuatu, with a healthy population of mahi-mahi, I highly recommend spending more time pursuing them and gaining insights into their behavior and how to catch them consistently.
Not only will you bring home fresh, tasty fish for the family, but you’ll also significantly enhance your skills in spotting, fighting, and landing fish!
How do you like to catch mahi-mahi? We’d love to hear about your techniques and experiences!
