Everything You Need To Know About Mahi Mahi Season 2023

What is Mahi-Mahi?

The mahi mahi is a fish with a unique appearance that can be found across the world. They are brightly colored blue, yellow, green and often have spots or other patterns found on their body. Mahi mahi is a popular recreational sportfish in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico where it is called by many different names. Mahi mahi are also commonly called mahi, dorado, dolphin, and dolphinfish.

Atlantic Mahi Mahi Season 2023

Mahi mahi doesn’t have a closed season in the Atlantic but the best time to catch them is from April to September in northern locations, and April to October in the southern locations.

Atlantic Mahi Mahi Management

Mahi mahi populations are not monitored but healthy catch rates indicate they have a sustainable population and are not subject to overfishing. Mahi Mahi have few harvest restrictions that have been put in place by individual states. Mahi mahi are also managed under the “Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic” but only preventative regulations are in place for this species.

Florida Atlantic Coast Mahi Mahi Fishing

Fishing for mahi mahi in Florida is incredible with a high population of fish that can be caught almost year-round. These fish are exceptionally responsive to lures and charter fishing can produce exceptional fish even during slow months. Get in on the action and book a Florida mahi mahi fishing charter for your next trip.

Florida Atlantic Coast Mahi Mahi Season 2023

While there is no closed season on mahi mahi, the best time to catch them in florida is during the spring and summer months when water temperatures are rising.

Florida Atlantic Coast Mahi Mahi Limits

The minimum size requirement to harvest mahi mahi/dolphinfish on the Atlantic Coast of Florida 20 inches long. The daily bag limit is 5 fish per person or 30 fish per vessel. The limit that results in the lowest number will be enforced.

South Carolina Mahi Mahi Fishing

South Carolina has incredible mahi mahi fishing opportunities near Charleston and Little River. Mahi mahi will crush lures and provide anglers with an exhilarating experience because they usually feed on the surface. For explosive action on your next trip, check out our South Carolina Mahi Mahi Fishing Charters.

South Carolina Mahi Mahi Season 2023

There is no closed season for mahi mahi in South Carolina but the best time to catch them is from spring into summer.

South Carolina Mahi Mahi Limits

Mahi mahi has a minimum size requirement of 20” to be legally harvested in South Carolina but there’s no bag limit.

North Carolina Mahi Mahi Fishing

Mahi mahi fishing in North Carolina is top-notch but the peak season ends sooner as water temps cool down earlier. Mahi mahi consistently strike live bait and lures during the warmer months and is the best fishing in the state. If you want to take a trip, check out our incredible North Carolina mahi mahi fishing charters.

North Carolina Mahi Mahi Season 2023

There’s no closed season for mahi mahi in North Carolina but the best time to catch them is from spring into mid-summer.

North Carolina Mahi Mahi Limits

North Carolina does not have any bag limits or harvest restrictions on mahi mahi.

New Jersey Mahi Mahi Fishing

The best fishing in New Jersey is out of Cape May which is in an ideal spot to target several different species including mahi mahi. With the late spring and early summer temperatures hanging around 80 degrees, it’s also a great time to be on the water. If you want to catch huge mahi mahi while enjoying beautiful weather check out our New Jersey mahi mahi fishing charters.

New Jersey Mahi Mahi Season 2023

Mahi Mahi doesn’t have a closed season so they are available for harvest year-round. The best time to target mahi mahi is from April through June.

New Jersey Mahi Mahi Limits

While New Jersey doesn’t have a minimum size requirement, there's a daily possession limit of 10 fish per person or 60 fish per vessel, whichever is less.

Gulf of Mexico Mahi Mahi Season 2023

Mahi mahi doesn’t have a closed season in the Gulf of Mexico but the best time to catch them is April through August.

Gulf of Mexico Mahi Mahi Management

Mahi Mahi has healthy catch rates so it is believed that they aren’t being overfished. There are no specific regulations to mahi mahi in the gulf but other management regulations help protect the species.

Texas Mahi Mahi Fishing

The mahi mahi fishing in Texas is unique because it varies from location to location along the coast. The southern coast of Texas has warmer water temperatures that create a longer peak season to catch mahi mahi. With warm waters and a long peak season, Texas is an ideal place to target mahi mahi. Take a fishing trip with one of our Texas mahi mahi fishing charters to get in on the action.

Texas Mahi Mahi Season 2023

Texas has no closed season on mahi mahi so it’s available for harvest year-round. The best time to catch mahi mahi in Texas is from May through September.

Texas Mahi Mahi Limits

There are no bag limits or size restrictions on mahi mahi in Texas.

Louisiana Mahi Mahi Fishing

Mahi mahi fishing in Louisiana is excellent especially when the water is warm. Mahi mahi actively feeds when they migrate into Louisiana waters and make for an action-packed trip. Check out our Louisiana mahi mahi fishing charters and book your next fishing trip.

Louisiana Mahi Mahi Season 2023

There’s no closed season on mahi mahi in Louisiana but the best time to catch them is from April to August.

Louisiana Mahi Mahi Limits

There are no bag limits or restrictions on the harvest of mahi mahi in Louisiana.

Mississippi Mahi Mahi Fishing

Mahi mahi fishing in Mississippi will take you to the oil platforms and offshore structure where the bite is on fire during their annual migration. The prime fishing opportunities in Biloxi are the reason anglers continue to come back for offshore fishing trips. Our Mississippi mahi mahi fishing charters are perfect for your next fishing trip.

Mississippi Mahi Mahi Season 2023

There’s no closed season for mahi mahi in Mississippi but the peak season to catch them is May and June.

Mississippi Mahi Mahi Limits

Mahi mahi has no minimum size requirements or bag limits in Mississippi.

Alabama Mahi Mahi Fishing

Alabama has a ton of prime mahi mahi fishing locations across the coast. During the peak of the mahi mahi run, the fishing in Alabama is some of the best in the gulf with explosive bites and long fights. If you want to take an incredible fishing trip, check out our Alabama mahi mahi fishing charters.

Alabama Mahi Mahi Season 2023

There’s no closed season for mahi mahi in Alabama but the best time to catch them is from June through October.

Alabama Mahi Mahi Limits

Mahi mahi doesn’t have bag limits or size requirements in Alabama.

Florida Gulf Mahi Mahi Fishing

The best mahi mahi fishing on the Gulf Coast of Florida is concentrated near the panhandle because it’s closest to the continental shelf where the pelagic species feed. With big schools of these powerful fish ready to crush anything they think is food, the mahi mahi offshore fishing on the Florida gulf is an action-packed trip. To book one of the best fishing trips in the state, check out our Florida mahi mahi fishing charters.

Florida Gulf Mahi Mahi Season 2023

While there is no closed season on mahi mahi, the best time to catch them in Florida is during the spring and summer months when water temperatures are rising.

Florida Gulf Mahi Mahi Limits

While there’s no minimum size requirement on mahi mahi on the Gulf side of the state, there are gear restrictions. The only gear recreational anglers can use to harvest mahi mahi are hook and line or spear equipment. The daily bag limit for mahi mahi/dolphinfish on Florida’s Gulf Coast is 10 fish per person or 60 per vessel. Again, the lower of the two limits will be enforced.

Pacific Mahi Mahi Season 2023

There’s no closed season for mahi mahi in the Pacific, and peak times to catch these fish vary by location. It’s always a good idea to check the regulation of the specific area you will be fishing in before you arrive.

Pacific Mahi Mahi Management

Mahi mahi populations are not monitored but with healthy catch rates, it’s believed that they have a sustainable population. Mahi mahi are also managed by the “Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species” which places restrictions on fishing methods that decrease instances of highly migratory species getting caught as bycatch.

California Mahi Mahi Fishing

The best California mahi mahi fishing is concentrated near San Diego where these fish migrate to the kelp paddies just offshore. Yellowfin tuna are king in the area but for two months a year the mahi mahi bite is on fire and anglers can’t get enough of the action. If you want to book a trip that will keep you fired up from beginning to end, check out our California mahi mahi fishing charters.

California Mahi Mahi Season 2023

There’s no closed season for mahi mahi in California but the best time to catch them is during July and August.

California Mahi Mahi Limits

There’s no specific bag limit for mahi mahi in California so they fall under the general bag limit of no more than 10 fish of one species.

Hawaii Mahi Mahi Fishing

The fishing in Hawaii is unique with the ability to catch huge tuna or hook up with a school of mahi mahi only feet outside the harbor. You don’t have to drive to the fishing spots because the seafloor drops a few thousand feet just after the buoys. With deep open ocean everywhere, the mahi mahi in Hawaii are known to grow huge with some fish weighing over 80 lbs. If you want to have a shot at catching a monster mahi mahi, check out our Hawaii mahi mahi fishing charters and book your next fishing trip.

Hawaii Mahi Mahi Season 2023

Hawaii doesn’t have a closed season on mahi mahi but the peak times to catch them are March through May and September through October.

Hawaii Mahi Mahi Limits

The limits and regulations in Hawaii vary greatly depending on the location you are fishing. It’s always best to check the local regulations before fishing.