Dolfin, Marge 23lb 07/11/04, Jimmie 30-1/2lb 07/14/04, Jim 28-1/2lb 07/14/04, Ben ?lb 07/14/04
(Coryphaena hippurus)
OTHER NAMES: Dorado, Mahi Mahi
RANGE: All offshore waters of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
HABITAT: Dolphin roam the open sea in a continuous hunt for food. Anglers seek them along rafted
weedlines and around any sort of large floating object. The location of
schools may also be given away by feeding birds, particularly frigate
birds.
DESCRIPTION: A blaze of blue and yellow or deep
green and yellow when in the water, and sometimes shows dark vertical
stripes as well when excited. Small dark spots on sides. Dorsal fin
extends nearly from head to tail. Head is very blunt in males (bulls);
rounded in females (cows). The Pompano Dolphin, Coryphaena equisetis, is
often mistaken as a female or juvenile male Dolphin. It is found in most
of the same waters, grows to about 5 pounds and can be distinguished by
the rounded shape of the underbelly.
SIZE: Schooling fish run in similar sizes, from around a pound
to nearly 20 pounds at
times; larger fish are loners, or else pairs bull and cow. Big bulls often
reach 50 pounds in weight and can exceed 80 pounds on rare occasion. Large
cows generally top out at 40 pounds or so. World record 87 pounds; Florida
record 77 pounds, 12 ounces.
FOOD VALUE: None better.
GAME QUALITIES: Top of the heap in any weight
class speedy. Strong and acrobatic.
TACKLE AND BAITS:
With the Dolphins, anything goes. Private-boat anglers seek to find a
school by trolling or by running and searching for visual signs. Once a
school is located, it can usually be kept around the boat by restrained
chumming with cut bait and/or by keeping at least one hooked fish in the
water at all times. A hot school will eagerly accept jigs and all sorts of
casting baits, including flies and popping bugs. If strikes slow down, cut
bait often does the trick. Big or wise fish may insist on live baits.
Countless Dolphin are also caught, both by design and incidentally, on the
entire gamut of rigged trolling baits and artificial trolling
lures.
FISHING SYSTEMS: Casting; Drifting;
Trolling.
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Updated 07/12/04