WIKI › SPECIES › MAHI-MAHI

Mahi-Mahi (Dorado / Dolphinfish)

Coryphaena hippurus

Mahi-Mahi (Dorado / Dolphinfish) — Coryphaena hippurus
Photo: Uma Mezzanotte · CC BY · iNaturalist

Offshore TABLE: Excellent DIFFICULTY

Brilliant green-gold-blue fish with a blunt forehead (bulls) and long dorsal fin; among the most colorful fish in the sea. Galveston fish range from 'schoolie' 2-8 lb up to bulls 20-40+ lb near the floaters.

⚖ Texas & federal limits
Bag, size and season rules apply — several offshore species run on federal seasons that open and close by the year. Check the current TPWD Outdoor Annual →.

On the water

WhenLate spring through fall when warm blue water pushes in and sargassum weedlines set up. Best on calm days with clean blue water and scattered weed; bite is often mid-morning onward.WhereOffshore blue water: weedlines, current/color rips, floating debris, buoys, and the deepwater rigs/floaters and banks (well past the shelf, often 40-100+ nm in 500+ ft). Any floating object or sargassum patch offshore can hold them.HowTroll skirted ballyhoo/lures along weedlines and around floaters to locate fish, then pitch live/cut bait or casting jigs to the school (keep one hooked fish in the water to hold the school). Sight-cast to fish under debris.BehaviorFast, aggressive surface predators that associate with floating structure and weedlines where baitfish and small crustaceans concentrate; they hunt in schools and are drawn to shade lines and current edges.The fightSpectacular - fast runs, greyhounding leaps, and dazzling color; schoolies are frantic, bulls are strong and dogged.

Baits that work

Tackle

Rod & reelMedium 7 ft spinning for pitching; light trolling gear (20-30 lb class)Line20-40 lb braid or monoLeader40-60 lb fluoroTerminalJ or circle hooks 4/0-7/0; ballyhoo rigs for trollingRigTrolled skirted ballyhoo/lures; pitch bait on a single hook; casting jigs/poppers

The bait clock

☀ DawnSmall skirted ballyhoo on the troll
Early trolling runs down weed lines pick up fish before the sight-fishing sun angle arrives.
☼ MiddayBallyhoo, small jets, or cut bait pitched to weed lines
Mahi is a daytime sight fishery: run the rips and sargassum lines and pitch to visible fish.
☾ DuskChunk bait drifted at weed line
A last feed along floating structure before dark ends the visual game.

[{'months': [6, 7, 8], 'note': 'Summer sargassum lines and blue-water intrusions bring mahi in range of Galveston.'}]

Water color and floating structure matter far more than time of day; night fishing is not done.

Don’t confuse it with

Pompano Dolphinfish

Common dolphin (mahi) has a long dorsal reaching from head to tail and a deep body; the pompano dolphin is smaller, squarer in the tail, with the dorsal ending short of the tail. Same eating.

Not sure? Point the Fish ID camera at it →

Keep or release

Handling & releasePelagic - no barotrauma. For quality, bleed and ice immediately (colors fade fast). They flip violently on deck - control before unhooking; handle gaffs carefully around a boiling school.On the tableMild, moist, slightly sweet white fillet - a top offshore table fish and very versatile.As baitNo - premium table fish.

The bar to beat

Texas state record65.7 lb · 67.0″ — Ryan FosterGulf of Mexico, TX, 2008
World record87.0 lb — Manuel SalazarPapagallo Gulf, Costa Rica, 1976

Records as compiled in the IronJetty guide (Aug 2026) — verify current marks with TPWD records / IGFA. World record 87 lb, long-standing; TPWD lists this species as 'Dolphin'.

Fish for them with a verified captain Are they biting right now? →