UTERMahi-mahi fishing in The Florida Panhandle
In The Florida Panhandle, mahi-mahi peak June–August and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Weed lines and rigs offshore.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Mahi-mahi in The Florida Panhandle, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakWeed lines and rigs offshore.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish mahi-mahi near Pensacola, Destin, Panama City
Deep bays behind long barrier islands — Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, St. Joseph, Apalachicola — with grass flats on the bay side, bayous and creek mouths, and the passes cut through to the Gulf. Emerald water on the beach side; the surf is a real fishery here.
Fish Scouter charts 1,669 artificial reef, 723 ledge / hard bottom, 460 wreck spots in the The Panhandle 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 Panhandle?
Peak season is June–August. Mahi-mahi are in The Florida Panhandle May–October. June: Weed lines and rigs offshore.
Where do mahi-mahi hold in The Florida Panhandle?
Look on wreck, artificial reef — around Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, Apalachicola.
What is the best bait for mahi-mahi in The Florida Panhandle?
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 Panhandle?
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 Panhandle, the whole year