Damn Good Mahi Mahi Fishing Charters

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Mahi Mahi Fishing Charters

Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key West

Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck And Sunset

100% (34)
35 ft 1 - 12 People From $900
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Atlantic Beach

Offshore Trip

NEW
31 ft 1 - 6 People From $800
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Jupiter

Offshore Fishing Jupiter

NEW
27 ft 1 - 4 People From $650
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty in Fort Walton Beach

Captain's Discretion

89% (9)
24 ft 1 - 6 People From $720
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in San José del Cabo

26ft Mako Half Day

80% (5)
26 ft 1 - 4 People From $350
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore, Jetty in Pompano Beach

#1 Offshore Charter

100% (6)
28 ft 1 - 6 People From $600
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Everything to Know About Booking a mahi mahi fishing charter

What are the best mahi mahi fishing charters?

Why should I book a mahi mahi fishing charter with Captain Experiences?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 886 mahi mahi trips, and the most popular trips are Fort Lauderdale Fishing Adventure guided by Colton, Day Trips guided by Hunter, and Captain's Choice - 24' Tidewater guided by Adam.

Our guides are rated a 4.81 out of 5 based on 4467 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly mahi mahi guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly mahi mahi guides.

What types of mahi mahi fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular type of fishing for mahi mahi as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and jetty fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are trolling, bottom fishing, and heavy tackle fishing but live bait fishing and light tackle fishing are popular as well.

How much do mahi mahi fishing charters cost?

Prices for mahi mahi can range anywhere from about $1,050 to $6,274, but the average price for a half day trip for mahi mahi is $1,704. The average price for a full day trip for mahi mahi is $3,528.

Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

What month is best for mahi mahi fishing?

The most popular season for mahi mahi fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 69 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for mahi mahi and what are the bag limits for mahi mahi?

See here for more information on mahi mahi fishing licenses, mahi mahi bag limits, and fishing season regulations for mahi mahi. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right mahi mahi rules and regulations.

What is a Mahi Mahi?

The fish of many names. Alternatively (and confusingly) called mahi, dolphin, or dorado, this tasty fish is not at all to be confused with what many a layperson would classically consider a dolphin (which are highly intelligent aquatic mammals that breathe air and are not hunted). The dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is a fast-growing fish found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. Mahi-mahi are known for their distinct look which we’ll get into later, but suffice it to say they are one of the most recognizable saltwater species out there.

The name mahi-mahi is Hawaiian in origin and quite literally means “strong-strong” - a pound for pound heavy hitter. The name dorado is commonly used on the coast of Africa and near to Spain, while how the fish came to be associated as a dolphin is less clear.

What is clear is that these beautiful fish are prized around the world. They have extremely fast lifecycles, meaning they reach reproductive age quickly and grow quickly, and therefore are great to catch and eat relative to other species as there is little long-term impact on their populations.

Mahi are distinct in both their shape and coloring. They are truly a fish made to swim fast (up to 50 knots): sleek with compressed bodies and a single long dorsal fin extending mot of their body. You can tell females from males because cows have a low, rounded head while mature bulls have giant foreheads (look up some pictures, you’ll see what we mean). They are set apart from other fish by their iridescent coloring ranging from bright neon green and gold to all shades of blue to silver. However be warned, when fishing for mahi you need to take a picture within seconds of getting the fish out of the water, because these fish are known to fade in minutes into a muted grey color when they die. 


How big do Mahi Mahi get?

Mahi-mahi can live for about 4-5 years, and rarely grow bigger than about 30 pounds although it can happen. Females generally max out at around 20-25 pounds and males around 30-35 and about 3-5 feet in length.

As mentioned above they can be sexually active within a year and often within 6 months, so they are reproductive beasts. Mahi as small as 8 inches can be reproductive, and females can spawn 2-3 times in one year, producing tens of thousands of eggs per event. Since mahi live in warm climates, spawning can occur year-round. All of this together makes them truly one of the most prolific fish in the sea.

Whats the biggest Mahi Mahi ever caught?

While above we told you that most bull mahi are no bigger than 35 or so pounds, we lied. You’d be lucky to beat those numbers, but there are a few lucky anglers who have gone far above and beyond, scoring fish upwards of 70 and even 80 pounds. The current all-tackle world record mahi mahi is 87 pounds and this massive record dorado was caught all the way back in 1976 off the coast of Costa Rica. A number of impressive fish have been caught since but none have been able to beat this record. In 2015 an alleged 102 pound unofficial fish was caught off Cabo San Lucas, but the fish was never officially weighed, so unfortunately this one can’t be verified.

Where is the best place to catch Mahi Mahi?

If you want a chance at the record, your best bet is one of these 5 locations: Panama, Cabo San Lucas, Florida, the Bahamas, or Costa Rica. Mahi are found worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters and are commonly sought in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Central America, Hawaii, and in the Indian Ocean.

Mahi mahi spawn in warm ocean currents and their young (and often adults) are found in floating bunches of sargassum and other floating weeds and debris, feeding on small critters. Dorado are surface-dwellers and while they are found over deep water, are often near the surface. They run in schools while younger and are often fairly easy to spot due to their coloration and the way they shimmer in the water. If you want a big bull though, he will often run solo.

Mahi mahi are also a great bycatch when cruising for other pelagics such as marlin and wahoo. You will generally find mahi in the same areas and be able to land one or two as a nice test run for your big billfish.

When should I catch Mahi Mahi?


In the gulf coast and Florida, the best time for mahi mahi is generally April through June and can be found in good numbers throughout the summer, but they are really a year-round fish many places depending on the water temperature. More specifically, they are great to catch immediately after storms because the debris spread out by the storm will concentrate the fish.

In the US there are not many state or federal bag limits for mahi mahi, mainly because they are so fast to reproduce there are few concerns about depleting the population. In the Atlantic there is a 20 inch minimum.

 

How do you catch Mahi Mahi?


Now that we’ve told you all about dorado, let's help you catch one. There are generally two strategies here: trolling and sight-casting. You can catch mahi while trolling in two ways, some people will target them specifically, while some will catch them while looking for bigger targets (like a marlin). This is why you always want a few different setups in your spread - you never know what fish will popup beneath you (or more common for the surface-dwelling mahi, around you).

Even if you are trolling, you always want to make sure you have a few spinning reels setup for when you spot some action nearby. Woe is the angler who sees a big bull mahi but has nothing to cast. This also adds some excitement to the day and breaks up a big day of trolling with some sight casting. Many anglers will say that hooking mahi mahi while trolling is generally not fun, because the tackle is usually more geared towards a bigger fish and the mahi won’t stand a chance. Most anglers consider a lighter tackle spinner to be more of a sportfishing fight.

You’ll commonly find mahi near flotsam, and you can cast into them right away (some prefer to chum nearby first). You can chuck bait near the flotsam and leave the bail open so that the bait sinks and the mahi can find it. Mahi mahi are not known to be very bright, and will generally take the bait and respond quickly and enthusiastically to lures and bait. When reeling, mahi are fast - don’t let them take all your line out before its too late.

Are Mahi Mahi good to eat? What are the best Mahi Mahi recipes?

Mahi mahi is known as one of the true treats of the sea, and if you head out for some everyone knows you are coming home and inviting your friends and family for a nice grilled fish dinner. Their flesh is grey-white when raw, and cooks to a nice clean white that is known to not taste particularly fishy (partially due to young age). This means the fish is also attractive to some who might often say they “don’t like the taste of fish”. The most common way to prepare it is grilled; we suggest fish tacos.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Don was very knowledgeable and very patient, especially with our 15 year old son! We caught several yellow-tail snapper and learned so much! Would absolutely book with Captain Don again & highly recommend!! Thank you, Sir, for a wonderful fishing charter experience in the beautiful Islamorada!!

    Takieah F. | May 1, 2025

    Trip: Ocean Thrills with Captain Don

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Antonio and his son did a great job. Weather/wind was not ideal but they made sure we had a great experience and we caught some fish!

    Jordan G. | April 24, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck and Sunset

  • ★★★★★
    Had a good trip. Water was a little rough, but what can you do. Caught plenty of fish with three keeper snappers. Trolled back to the marina and hit two Jack Crevale’s. What a fight they put up. Next time I am thinking of trolling the entire trip! Emilio & Logan were great.

    Daniel D. | April 17, 2025

    Trip: South Padre Island Deep Sea

  • ★★★★★
    Our Crew Luis and Manuel on the "Hot Tuna" were great. They never stopped working to get on the fish. Lines and bait were always in the water and their communication was excellent. I'll be on the boat again soon.

    Paul N. | April 15, 2025

    Trip: Cancun Big Game - 25' Panga

  • ★★★★★
    AA++ Took us out, at our request, when a lot of others cancelled because of the wind. Seas were a little rough but he put us on the Fish ! Great day IMO ! Would definitely use again !

    W.t. P. | April 10, 2025

    Trip: Ocean Thrills with Captain Don

  • ★★★★★
    We had a wonderful Experience , great communication even with rescheduling for weather and had a wonderful trip experience. We would use again.

    Stephanie S. | April 8, 2025

    Trip: Key West Sportfishing Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Amazing trip. All crew members were extremely kind, experienced and fun to be around 10/10 would go again

    Max G. | March 28, 2025

    Trip: Ultimate Offshore Thrills

  • ★★★★★
    I had a really nice time. The crew was great!

    Marc C. | March 26, 2025

    Trip: Cancun Big Game - 25' Panga

  • ★★★★★
    The trip was exceptional. The weather was colder but Corey kept us on the fish and we caught a lot of fish. We would definitely book with Corey again.

    James D. | March 20, 2025

    Trip: Orange Beach Mixed Bag

  • ★★★★★
    We really enjoyed our trip brad was very knowledgeable and helpful as was his deckhand very easygoing and professional I will be back soon to book with him again

    John D. | March 15, 2025

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    excellent!! we had a Blast !! thank you both !!! we will be back again for sure !! see ya then ⛱️🌴

    Debra B. | March 15, 2025

    Trip: Clearwater Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great time with Captain Don. He put us on the fish and it didn’t stop. Got back to the dock and other fisherman were admiring the size of our yellowtail. Definitely going back for a full day.

    Christopher C. | March 10, 2025

    Trip: Ocean Thrills with Captain Don

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time and caught a bunch of fish. Really enjoyed the trip

    Michael J. | March 9, 2025

    Trip: South Padre Island Deep Sea

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome day! The Fish had no chance! The Yellowtail and Mahi wore us out reeling them in. Great Captain, great fish, great experience! We will be booking again on our next visit.

    Christopher K. | March 6, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck and Sunset

  • ★★★★★
    Gage and Noah were great. They knew where to find the fish and kept us catching several kinds of fish throughout the trip. We went as a family and they kept the kids busy and were a big help showing them exactly what to do. I would definitely recommend them!

    Katherine F. | March 5, 2025

    Trip: Clearwater Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    My son and I went out for two days with Hans and Adam. It could not have been a better experience. Great times, great people, great fishing. I would recommend them for anyone looking for a family fishing experience.

    Robert C. | February 21, 2025

    Trip: Key West Fishing Slam

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing trip with Captain Tony. He was super knowledgeable, kind and patient with a new young angler. He put us directly on fish and specifically the tuna we wanted. We will fish with Tony again for sure. If you are looking for guide, Tony is the man and knows the Key West waters and area well being born and raised in Key West.

    Britt B. | February 18, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck and Sunset

  • ★★★★★
    Paul and his first mate were awesome! We came to catch a sailfish and they made it happen!

    Bill B. | February 13, 2025

    Trip: Ultimate Offshore Thrills

  • ★★★★★
    We had a wonderful afternoon fishing with Antonio and Tony!! Very pleasant and attentive, constantly moving to find us the best spots. Went above and beyond to ensure we caught fish, even on a slow day. Would highly recommend

    Rodney G. | February 9, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck and Sunset

  • ★★★★★
    Carlos and his crews were fantastic! Very communicative before we arrived, making sure that he was planning to help us get just what we wanted out of our fishing charter! When it came to the day, our guides were knowledgeable, friendly and very hard working. They kept our lines out and baited all day long, and our catch certainly showed it!

    Tyler V. | February 1, 2025

    Trip: Tulum Trophy Hunt

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