UTERMahi-mahi fishing in The Florida Keys
In The Florida Keys, mahi-mahi peak April–July and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Big spring and early-summer bulls on the weed lines off the reef — run and gun for frigatebirds.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Mahi-mahi in The Florida Keys, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeak
- MayPeakBig spring and early-summer bulls on the weed lines off the reef — run and gun for frigatebirds.
- JunePeakPeak schoolie season.
- JulyPeak
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish mahi-mahi near Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon
Oceanside flats and patch reefs inside the reef line, the reef itself, then the Gulf-side banks and basins of Florida Bay and the backcountry. Bridges and channels connect the two. The clearest, warmest water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 1,715 ledge / hard bottom, 695 artificial reef, 340 wreck spots in the The Florida Keys 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 Florida Keys?
Peak season is April–July. Mahi-mahi are here year-round. May: Big spring and early-summer bulls on the weed lines off the reef — run and gun for frigatebirds.
Where do mahi-mahi hold in The Florida Keys?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom — around Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, Key West.
What is the best bait for mahi-mahi in The Florida Keys?
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 Florida Keys?
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 · The Florida Keys, the whole year