UTERMahi-mahi fishing in Biscayne Bay
In Biscayne Bay, mahi-mahi peak April–July and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Weed lines off Miami.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Mahi-mahi in Biscayne Bay, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeak
- MayPeakWeed lines off Miami.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish mahi-mahi near Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami
Biscayne Bay's grass flats and the finger channels between them, the bayside mangrove shorelines of the national park, the inlets (Government Cut, Haulover, Port Everglades), and the reef line within a couple of miles of the beach.
Fish Scouter charts 515 artificial reef, 391 wreck, 332 ledge / hard bottom spots in the Miami & Biscayne Bay map area — the kinds mahi-mahi hold on.
What to use for mahi-mahi
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–88°F water, best at 76–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch mahi-mahi in Biscayne Bay?
Peak season is April–July. Mahi-mahi are here year-round. May: Weed lines off Miami.
Where do mahi-mahi hold in Biscayne Bay?
Look on wreck, artificial reef — around Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami, Haulover, Fort Lauderdale.
What is the best bait for mahi-mahi in Biscayne Bay?
Live bait: ballyhoo, pilchards (whitebait), blue runners (hardtails). Ballyhoo: Rigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for mahi-mahi in Biscayne Bay?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about mahi-mahi · Miami & Biscayne Bay, the whole year