[dropcap]A[/dropcap]pril is here and it’s time for the Spring mahi run to begin! This is the time of year that mahi (dolphin fish) will start their journey towards the north. This is also the time of year that a lot of the biggest mahi will be landed. Starting this month and lasting through May, the chance of catching mahi up to 40-pounds will be the highest. There will even be a few fish caught in the 60-pound range.
When heading offshore, always have live bait, if possible. Start your search for mahi in the 75-80 foot range and head out towards deeper depths until you can find the mahi. To begin, troll ballyhoo, naked and skirted, at 5 to 8 knots, in order to cover more ground. Look for weed lines, rips, color changes and floating debris along with live bait under this cover. While looking always have your trolling baits in the water, mahi will often stray from their cover and can be caught in the open water.
When cover is found with mahi life holding on it, I like to switch to live baits trolled at idle speed. Mahi can’t resist a nice lively bait. If by chance you find mahi but they won’t eat your offerings, try catching whatever kind of bait are under the cover and use them since chances are the mahi are eating those baits. While fishing for mahi, a colorful or shiny dredge behind the boat will enhance your chances of hooking up, this will look like a bait ball on the move.
After getting a mahi to the boat, always leave it in the water for a few seconds to see if there are any followers. If more mahi are around the boat, start using chunk bait or squid to entice them to bite. Bigger mahi usually will only have one or two fish that will but follow, but smaller ones can have many.
I would recommend using a 6.5-foot trolling rod and reel with 30-pound mono line. I prefer using a 70-pound snap swivel on the end of my main line and then 50-pound fluorocarbon leader and a 5/0 circle hook or live bait hook.
Mahi are one of the most colorful and acrobatic gamefish in the ocean. They are great fun for all ages and also taste great. Be sure to release any mahi less than 20 inches to the fork of the tail and don’t keep more than 10 fish per person. (Always check the most current lengths and limits prior to fishing.)
Enjoy the next couple of months during the mahi run. Catch ‘em up!
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