By Joshua Ceballos
Dorado, or Mahi as it is more popularly known, is one of the most widely caught and consumed fish in and around the Caribbean, and one of the many gorgeous fish that bountifully resides in the Bahamas. Fishermen from all around praise the Mahi for its extravagant coloring and the variety in size that they can have, which can lead to some exciting fights between man and Mahi. Fishermen and tourists alike often come to the Bahamas specifically for Mahi angling, but those who don’t have so much experience with this particular breed of fish find any sort of tips helpful, which is exactly what we would love to provide for you.
- Wear quality polarized sunglasses. With the right pair of eyewear, Mahi will stick out in the water due to their fluorescent coloring.
- Drive out and cast your line away from shore. Mahi are pelagic fish, meaning they reside out in the middle of the water displaced from land. Finding any near the shore is a rare occurrence.
- Look for floating debris. Mahi are attracted to anything that floats in the water, so schools of them will gather near buoys or other objects. Spotting debris will make finding Mahi much easier.
- Don’t spend too much time in one spot. Many folks looking for Mahi will make the mistake of babysitting a specific spot waiting for the fish to show up. If there are no Mahi to be found at the spot you’re at, move on to the next sign of debris. There’s a good chance of you finding a school the more spots you visit.
- Use medium weight tackle. This is the optimal setup if you want to catch Mahi while still retaining a challenge. It’s possible to use heavy weight tackle, but most experts agree that this detracts from the fun of the Mahi angling experience.
- Use chum or live bait. Any kind of live bait or chum will send Mahi into a feeding frenzy, which will make them more eager to bite and jump out of the water. Tuna is a good option, but most bait will do.
- Use heavy lures. Mahi are known for jumping wildly to and fro, so make sure that the lure itself is prepared to handle a lot of stress, otherwise it will snap.
- Fluorescent popping lures are optimal. Although Mahi are not too shy to bite most lures, the more brightly colored the lure the more obvious it will be to the fish that it has found food, and popping lures make it easier for you to know when you’ve hooked one.
- Utilize circle hooks. These hooks have the best chance of catching the Mahi and staying with them despite intense movement, so these are your best bet for a good catch.
- Use baitfeeding lines for casting. Mahi have a tendency to grab onto the bait and dash away, so a good line with a baitfeeder will give you the least resistance and give you the optimal experience when it comes time to reel in the prize.
If you have any additional tips, we’d love to hear them.