UTERMahi-mahi fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, mahi-mahi peak May–July and are around April–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Gulf Stream run off Jacksonville and Mayport.
Not in The First Coast this month.
Mahi-mahi in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeakGulf Stream run off Jacksonville and Mayport.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustLeaving
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish mahi-mahi near Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville
Spartina marsh, oyster-lined creeks and the Intracoastal from Ponce Inlet to the Georgia line, the St. Johns River and the Mayport jetties, St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets, and the beaches. More like Georgia's lowcountry than the rest of Florida.
Fish Scouter charts 191 wreck, 130 artificial reef, 43 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The First Coast 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 The First Coast?
Peak season is May–July. Mahi-mahi are in The First Coast April–September. May: Gulf Stream run off Jacksonville and Mayport.
Where do mahi-mahi hold in The First Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for mahi-mahi in The First Coast?
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 The First Coast?
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
Fish Scouter scores mahi-mahi for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about mahi-mahi · The First Coast, the whole year