Species: Dorado
Dorado, Dolphin Fish, Mahi-Mahi, are all names used for this particular blue water fish that puts the sport in sporting. The words Mahi-Mahi are Hawaiian for "Strong-Strong" a very fitting description for this pelagic fish. The Dorado is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Their brilliant colors that "light up" when you fight them coupled with a running and jumping ability make the Dorado many anglers favorite blue water target. The Dorado is also well known for its quality table fare.
One of the greatest qualities of the Dorado is it's rapid growth rate, although they also have a very short life span. A 4 year old Dorado is considered an old fish. Commonly they have a life span of just one or two years. Average length of a one year old fish is 3 feet and they are fully capable of spawning by this time. They are 4 feet long by age two, and almost 6 feet long and nearly 90 pounds by age four. Males are far more abundant in this older age class and also heavier at age than the females. Dorado are also dimorphic, with males and females differing in their appearance. Males will develop a large bony crest on their heads, looking squared off in appearance, while the female's head will remain rounded and sloped. The mature males are referred to as "Bull Dolphin" and take on a solitary nature with size, often hanging around the outside edges of bigger schools of their kin. The females are called "Cows", and will rarely grow over forty pounds in size.
The words Mahi-Mahi are Hawaiian for "Strong-Strong," a very fitting description for this pelagic fish.
Dorado habitually school under free floating structure in the blue water, this may mean hovering under a five mile long matt of Sargassum weeds or under a solitary bucket or board. It takes very little to start the chain of life in the open ocean. A bucket floats with a few baitfish under it. Under the bait is bigger bait, and under them are small game fish, and then larger game fish, like the Dorado.
Dorado are opportunist and generalists when it comes to eating. They concentrate their feeding activity during daylight hours and will feed on a blue water smorgasbord of flying fish, or any other bait. They also eat crab, shrimp, little tuna, squid and more. Very rarely are they discriminatory about eating flies.
The men's fly rod record for Dorado is 58 pounds, the women's record is set at 32 pounds 8 ounces. The fight of the Dorado is excellent with wild twisting jumps being the norm and quick slashing runs thrown into the mix. Long hard runs are not uncommon and often their size is misjudged as the fight leads one to believe they are all trophies. Big bulls may sound and test an angler and their rods strength as they try hard to fight deep like a tuna. Dorado are also famous for "Lighting up." This means they take on an iridescent quality as they get excited. Magnificent golds, blues and greens glow even through the bright sunlight. Truly a fish every fly angler should try to catch at least once.
Equipment
- 9 - 10 Weight Fly Rod
- What we use: Sage TCR, Sage Xi2, Winston Boron IIX
- 9 - 10 Weight Saltwater Reel
- What we use: Tibor Riptide, Abel Super 9 - 10, Galvin Torque 10
- Slow to medium speed sinking lines or sink tip lines
- What we use: Scientific Angler Mastery Series
- Salt Water Leaders tapered from 20 to 30 pounds
- What we use: Seaguar Flourocarbon Tapered Leaders
- Flies
- What we use: Deceivers, Sea Habits, Poppers and Bendbacks tied on high quality 1/0 - 4/0 hooks.
Technique
Most Dorado are found by trolling. Once a Dorado is hooked the fish is allowed to play on the line next to the boat, drawing in the rest of the school. Big fish are typically found as singles on the outside of the main school. Blind fishing with a long cast away from the melee or the boat is how many anglers hook the Bull Dorado of a lifetime. Chumming these fish to the surface near floating debris is also a common tactic, as is blind and sight fishing to them near floating debris. Many times schools of Dorado are located by looking for diving birds in the open water. This is usually a sign of pelagic fish eating bait.