A Guide to Dolphin Fishing in Miami

Are you heading to Miami with the hopes of catching dolphin fish? You’ve come to the right place! The city is known for its excellent dolphin fishing opportunities, especially when heading out to the deep waters.

But of course, you might be a bit confused about how to start catching these strong sea creatures. That’s where we come along to share a quick guide on how to go dolphin fishing in Miami, so read on!

 

About the Dolphin Fish

Dolphin fish, also known as mahi-mahi or dorado, is a beautiful and extremely aggressive species anglers target in Miami. They have compressed bodies and long dorsal fins with impressive shades of blue, green, silver, and yellow. You can’t miss them as they swim around your boat!

The dolphin fish in Miami grow quickly, with most weighing between 15-30 pounds on average. Thanks to how they grow and reproduce quickly, most environmental organizations and fisheries support dolphin fishing in Miami as there are no issues regarding the species sustaining itself. Of course, catch within reason, as the species still has a bag limit!

These fish aren’t only sought after for their unique looks and the challenging fights they can bring. Dolphin fish also have delicious meat with a clean, mild taste. When you can catch one of them, make sure to have it cleaned and cooked right away to taste its fresh meat!

 

When to Go Dolphin Fishing in Miami

What’s great about dolphin fishing in Miami is how it can be done almost all year long! That said, anglers report that, while they catch larger dolphin fish during the spring and fall seasons, summer has the best fishing action! That is why anglers target dolphin fish from April to August in the city.

That’s because, during summer, dolphin fish will school up in large numbers. During these months, expect dolphin fish to weigh between 4-10 pounds. However, you can sometimes find larger fish paired up with them, weighing up to 40 pounds (or more).

During spring and fall seasons, you’ll notice that dolphin fish are fairly larger but schools have fewer fish. Small schools will have dolphin fish weighing about 8-20 pounds, and you’ll get to encounter larger fish more frequently.

 

Where to Go Dolphin Fishing in Miami

The fishing spots you head to will depend on the season. During summer, you can find dolphin fish offshore. While dolphin fish would spend time closer to the surface, you can find them in waters as deep as 300 to over 2,000 feet, which can be anywhere between 3-20 miles.

In spring and fall, dolphin fish are closer to shore, with some anglers reporting that they catch dolphin fish in shallower depths of 40 feet. That said, most dolphin fish are caught on the edge of the Gulf Stream, anywhere between 100-600 feet deep. This is between 2-3 miles off Miami.

You can find dolphin fish under floating debris, current edges, and birds, as well as Sargasso weeds.

 

How to Find Dolphin Fish in Miami

Remember, dolphin fish are aggressive feeders, so they are always looking for food. Use that to your advantage!

Use anything floating on the surface that can attract bait fish, crabs, and shrimp, like large floaters or a patch of weeds. Dolphin fish will catch these bait fish violently and chase them out of the water.

You may also use dead squid, ballyhoo, live pilchards, or chunked bonito, along with lures and skirts. The most effective bait is ballyhoo!

There are other effective ways to find dolphin fish, including:

• Chasing birds – Birds like seagulls, shearwaters, and frigate birds would follow dolphin fish to catch bait fish. You can determine whether birds are following dolphinfish based on different indicators such as speed, elevation, and direction. When using this method, you’ll want to study the different types of birds, their migration, and their feeding methods.
• Working rips and weed lines – Weed lines and rips are very productive when dolphin fishing in Miami. We recommend trolling down weed lines with four baits out but if you hit a big school, switch to your spinning gear. You’ll want to target weed lines in greater depths and blue water, as this would hold more fish, which can attract more dolphin fish!
• Finding floating debris – Using floating debris is one of the easiest ways to lure dolphin fish. Look for buckets, pallets, pieces of wood, or other debris work, as these are shelters for bait fish. If you find floaters, switch from trolling to using live bait.

 

Fishing Techniques to Use

Two of the most popular fishing techniques used to catch dolphin fish in Miami are kite fishing and trolling. If you plan on trolling for dolphin fish, do so along weed lines and current rips. Use a variety of baits and lures to cover more ground and find dolphin fish. Also, because dolphin fish move quickly, keep your boat moving at an adequate speed, either 6 knots at the low end or 8 knots at the high end.

Other methods you can use are live baiting and dead baiting. Live baiting is recommended when finding a school of fish, while dead baiting is effective when dolphin fish are very hungry!

 

Wrapping It Up

Dolphin fishing in Miami is one of the most pleasurable experiences for local and visiting anglers. You can’t find anything more exciting than watching a school of dolphin fish swirls around your boat, munching on your bait! Of course, this can’t happen unless you prepare ahead, that’s why it’s time to plan your trip, starting by learning more about how to catch the species and what to pack.

Did our guide to dolphin fishing in Miami help you out? We sure hope it did! Keep these tips in mind and don’t forget to book a fishing charter for your trip to get more insight on how to catch these bad boys. Contact us now to learn about our services!