Mahi Mahi
Electric blues, greens and gold, blistering speed and spectacular jumps, few fish are as exciting as the mahi mahi. This dazzling summer visitor gathers around anything floating offshore, and it is as good on the plate as it is on the line.
About the mahi mahi
Also known as the dolphinfish or dorado, the mahi mahi is one of the most striking fish in the sea, a shimmering wall of blue, green and gold, a tall blunt head on the big bulls and a long, flowing dorsal. They are fast-growing and acrobatic, and a hooked mahi puts on a show of greyhounding runs and cartwheeling jumps that is hard to beat.
Mahi are a summer visitor to Sydney’s offshore waters, best from November to March, and they love to gather around floating objects, FADs, buoys and current lines. Beyond the spectacle, they are excellent eating, with mild, firm flesh that is superb grilled or in tacos.
Mahi Mahi at a glance
| Name | Mahi Mahi |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Dolphinfish, Dorado |
| Scientific name | Coryphaena hippurus |
| Best season in NSW | Nov–Mar |
| Habitat | Offshore |
| Where found in NSW | Sydney offshore |
| Size and bag limits | 60cm min, bag 10 |
| Average size | 80–120cm |
| Max size | 1.5m |
| Fishing method | Trolling |
| Best bait / lure | Lures |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Eating quality | Excellent |
| Taste | Mild firm |
| Recipe ideas | Grilled, tacos |
Trolling the structure
Mahi love structure and shade offshore, and finding the right piece of floating water is the key.
The proven methods
Mahi gather around anything floating, FADs, buoys, ropes and debris on the current lines, so the trick is to find the structure and work it. Troll skirted lures and swimming baits past it, then cast lures or pitch baits at the fish that follow up. They often come in schools, so once you find one the action can be fast and furious. All the gear is on board.
How Wahoo puts you on them
Finding mahi is about finding the structure and the warm current, and knowing where the FADs and bait are holding offshore. George Aslanian has decades chasing pelagics off Sydney, and he knows where the mahi gather through the summer. We put you on the fish, coach you through the jumps and runs, and help you look after a catch that eats as well as it fights. Ready to go? Book a Sydney game fishing charter.
Other Game & offshore fish
Black Marlin
Black marlin (Istiompax indica): Sydney's summer game-fishing prize, chased offshore on the troll and tagged and released. Season, size, methods, plus how to catch them.
Blue Marlin
Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans): the heavyweight billfish of the NSW offshore grounds, a bucket-list capture on the blue water. Season, size, methods, plus how to catch them.
Bluefin Tuna
Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii): powerful cool-season tuna off the NSW coast, brutal fighters and top-shelf sashimi. Season, size, methods, plus how to catch them.
Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares): a blue-water bruiser off Sydney with rich, meaty flesh. Season, size, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them.
Ready to chase some mahi?
Tell us your dates and crew and we will run you offshore for Sydney's dazzling mahi mahi, all gear supplied, every level welcome. Browse the full species guide, or head wide on our game and deep sea charters.