Antigua & Barbuda · Antigua Coast
MAHI MAHI FISHING
IN ST. JOHN'S
St. John's is an outstanding destination for mahi mahi fishing, with peak season in January, February, March and good catches in June, July, August. Book a charter and target mahi mahi with local experts.
About Mahi Mahi Fishing in St. John's
Also called Dolphin or Dorado. Stunningly beautiful and acrobatic. Excellent eating.
Mahi Mahi — also called Dolphin or Dorado — are the most brilliantly colored fish in the ocean. Their iridescent body shimmers with electric blues, greens, and golds that literally change before your eyes. Males (called "bulls") develop a prominent flat forehead, while females ("cows") have a more rounded head profile. These fast-growing pelagic fish are found in blue water near floating debris, weed lines, and current edges. They are acrobatic fighters that tailwalk across the surface and make spectacular aerial leaps.
Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi Mahi Seasonal Calendar — St. John's
Month-by-month availability for mahi mahi in St. John's, AG.
How to Catch Mahi Mahi in St. John's
Techniques & Bait
Trolling ballyhoo rigged with colorful duster/lure combinations along weed lines, current edges, and near floating debris is the classic technique. Once a school is located, stop the boat and pitch live pilchards, cut ballyhoo, or small live baits to the school — mahi travel in groups and multiple hookups are common. Casting light jigs, spoons, or fly-rod streamers to fish visible near floating objects is incredibly exciting. Keep one fish in the water next to the boat to hold the school in place while catching others.
Recommended Tackle
Medium spinning or conventional rod (6'6"-7 ft), 4000-5000 reel, 20-30 lb braid, 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader. For trolling: 20-30 lb class conventional rigs. Mahi have sandpaper-like mouths — fluorocarbon leader works fine (no wire needed).
Best Deep Sea Fishing Fishing Spots in St. John's
Top spots where local captains target mahi mahi and other deep sea fishing species.
Antigua Bank Edge
The Antigua Bank's outer edge drops into deep Caribbean and Atlantic water, concentrating blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna along the shelf break. The bank extends for miles around Antigua and provides extensive offshore trolling grounds for charter boats.
North Atlantic Drop-Off
The shelf edge north of Antigua drops into deep Atlantic water where blue marlin, white marlin, and large wahoo patrol current seams and temperature breaks. The North Drop is the primary bluewater trolling ground for Antigua's sport-fishing fleet.
Caribbean FADs
Fish Aggregating Devices deployed in deep water around Antigua attract mahi-mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna to floating structure. The FADs are managed by Antigua's fisheries department and provide reliable offshore action for charter and private boats.
Barbuda Channel
The deep channel between Antigua and Barbuda funnels Atlantic currents through a productive zone where wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and blue marlin concentrate along current edges and temperature breaks. The channel is a key offshore fishing ground for Antigua-based boats.
Other Species in St. John's
More fish you can target while visiting St. John's.
Mahi Mahi Fishing in St. John's — FAQ
The peak months for Mahi Mahi fishing in St. John's are January, February, March, April, May, December. During these months, Mahi Mahi are most active and abundant in the St. John's area.
Mahi Mahi fishing charters in St. John's are typically deep sea fishing trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Trolling ballyhoo rigged with colorful duster/lure combinations along weed lines, current edges, and near floating debris is the classic technique. Once a school is located, stop the boat and pitch live pilchards, cut ballyhoo, or small live baits to the school — mahi travel in groups and multiple hookups are common. Casting light jigs, spoons, or fly-rod streamers to fish visible near floating objects is incredibly exciting. Keep one fish in the water next to the boat to hold the school in place while catching others.
No — when you book a charter in St. John's, your captain provides all required Antigua & Barbuda fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Mahi Mahi regulations in Antigua & Barbuda include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Mahi Mahi in St. John's, you may also catch Permit, Bonefish, Mangrove Snapper, Yellowfin Tuna, King Mackerel. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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