Florida · Keys
MAHI MAHI FISHING
IN KEY WEST
Key West is an outstanding destination for mahi mahi fishing, with peak season in April, May, June and good catches in March, August, September. Book a charter and target mahi mahi with local experts.
About Mahi Mahi Fishing in Key West
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 — Key West
Month-by-month availability for mahi mahi in Key West, FL.
How to Catch Mahi Mahi in Key West
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 Key West
Top spots where local captains target mahi mahi and other deep sea fishing species.
The Hump (West Hump)
The Hump is a legendary deepwater seamount about 14 miles west of Key West where the bottom rises from 1,100 feet to around 480 feet. This underwater mountain concentrates blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and mahi-mahi in massive numbers. It is also one of the top swordfish deep-dropping spots in the entire Florida Keys.
The Wall (Gulf Stream Edge)
The edge of the continental shelf runs just 10-15 miles south of Key West where blue Gulf Stream water meets the reef line. Sailfish, blue marlin, wahoo, and mahi-mahi patrol this edge, making Key West one of the closest ports to bluewater fishing in the entire United States. Winter sailfishing along The Wall is a Key West tradition.
Marquesas Keys
The Marquesas Keys are an uninhabited atoll roughly 24 miles west of Key West surrounded by pristine flats and deeper offshore waters. The surrounding depths hold permit, tarpon, and barracuda on the flats, while deeper edges produce mutton snapper, grouper, and pelagics. The remote location means less fishing pressure and bigger fish.
Riley's Hump
Riley's Hump is a deepwater reef formation in the Tortugas Ecological Reserve roughly 30 miles west of the Dry Tortugas. It is a critical spawning aggregation site for mutton snapper and attracts large pelagics including yellowfin tuna and wahoo along its deep edges. The area's protected status ensures a healthy ecosystem that benefits surrounding fisheries.
Other Species in Key West
More fish you can target while visiting Key West.
Mahi Mahi Fishing in Key West — FAQ
The peak months for Mahi Mahi fishing in Key West are April, May, June, July. During these months, Mahi Mahi are most active and abundant in the Key West area.
Mahi Mahi fishing charters in Key West 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 Key West, your captain provides all required Florida fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Mahi Mahi regulations in Florida 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 Key West, you may also catch Blackfin Tuna, Sailfish, Tarpon, Mangrove Snapper, Snook. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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