DOLPHINFISH (Coryphaena hippurus) The name has often caused confusion with the marine mammal more commonly known as a dolphin. In this regard, the dolphinfish goes by a couple of different names, the mahi mahi and the dorado. The dolphinfish is blunt headed with a long dorsal fin and a very forked tailfin. Dolphinfish are a brilliant iridescent blue-green and yellow color when alive, but the color fades quickly upon death. This is a deep water fish that swims the surface in the midst of fish aggregating devices, such as weed lines, floating matter and debris that attract small food fish.

IGFA All Tackle Record Weight: M-24kg (50lb) 39.46kg (87lb 0oz) Papagallo Gulf, Costa Rica 09/25/1976 Manuel Salazar

Typical Range: A wide ranging migratory fish found in temperate and tropical seas throughout the world with the greatest concentrations believed to be in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific. Dolphins are deep water fish that remain on the surface in the midst of floating matter such as such as buoys, driftwood and seaweed clusters that attract smaller food fish. It is common for dolphinfish to travel in very large schools.

Common Tackle: Dolphinfish are popular light-tackle big game fish, and many anglers opt for medium-action spinning rods and line or leader weights as low as 6 pounds. Lines between 12 and 30 pounds are more common. Though most dolphin are easily landed on light tackle, the majority of them are caught on heavier trolling tackle while fishing for big-game.

Common Fishing Method: Trolling ballyhoo, artificial lures and jigs, flyfishing, sightfishing with live bait or artificials are all productive given the circumstances. Search for weed lines, floating debris and turtles, all of which indicate the possible presence of dolphin. Watch the horizon for birds picking on the surface or Man of War birds hovering over schools of dolphin and diving to snatch flying fish as they attempt to escape from the marauding predators. After hooking a fish, leave it on the line in the water to attract schoolies then work the fish with the same baits or jigs. Switch baits or lures once the fish grow tired. Noise, like reving the engine in neutral or splashing water by drapping the washdown over the gunwale and letting it run, and on site live bait also work well to attract stubborn fish. Chumming can bring the fish quite close and then lures or small fish pieces often yield multiple hook ups.

Common Baits: Dolphins are suckers for live bait such as ballyhoo, small blue runners, pilchards, cigar minnows, herring, menhaden, hardtails, mullet and shrimp. If live imported baits fail, try native live baits caught along weed lines and floating debris such as pufferfish, banded rudderfish, bar jacks, triggerfish or other species that make up a dolphins natural diet. Artificials, small jigs, swimtail grubs, yellow plastic grubs with a pulsating tail will illicit bites as well.

Preferred Temperature: Lower Avoidance: 70, Upper Avoidance: 82, Optimum: 72-78