New Jersey · Jersey Shore
MAHI MAHI FISHING
IN ATLANTIC CITY
Atlantic City is a solid destination for mahi mahi fishing, with good fishing in July, August. Book a charter and target mahi mahi with local experts.
About Mahi Mahi Fishing in Atlantic City
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 — Atlantic City
Month-by-month availability for mahi mahi in Atlantic City, NJ.
How to Catch Mahi Mahi in Atlantic City
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 Atlantic City
Top spots where local captains target mahi mahi and other deep sea fishing species.
Atlantic City Offshore Wrecks
The waters 15 to 30 miles offshore of Atlantic City contain dozens of shipwrecks in 80 to 130 feet of water that hold tremendous concentrations of sea bass, tautog, ling, and pollack. These wrecks include historic vessels from both World Wars and modern vessels sunk as artificial reefs, creating a reef ecosystem in otherwise featureless sand bottom. Wreck-fishing trips out of Atlantic City produce heavy bags of bottom fish from spring through fall.
Mudhole (Hudson Canyon Approach)
The Mudhole is a large area of soft bottom along the continental shelf approximately 20 miles offshore of Atlantic City where ling, whiting, and sea bass concentrate in enormous numbers during winter. The area serves as a staging ground for boats heading farther offshore to the Hudson Canyon and other deep-water destinations. Winter ling and cod fishing at the Mudhole is a tradition for Atlantic City party boats and charter boats.
Wilmington Canyon (AC Access)
Wilmington Canyon is accessible from Atlantic City on extended offshore trips of approximately 80 miles, offering world-class pelagic fishing along the canyon's deep walls and edges. Yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, white marlin, blue marlin, and mahi-mahi patrol the temperature breaks where warm Gulf Stream eddies meet cooler shelf water. The canyon's productive fishing grounds make the long run worthwhile for serious offshore anglers.
Chicken Canyon
Chicken Canyon lies along the continental shelf edge approximately 60 miles from Atlantic City, a smaller submarine canyon that concentrates yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo along its walls and edges. The canyon earned its name because it is close enough for boats to reach without the commitment of a full overnight trip to the deeper canyons. Warm-water intrusions from the Gulf Stream push pelagic species into the canyon during summer and early fall.
Other Species in Atlantic City
More fish you can target while visiting Atlantic City.
Mahi Mahi Fishing in Atlantic City — FAQ
Mahi Mahi fishing in Atlantic City is productive during July, August.
Mahi Mahi fishing charters in Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City, your captain provides all required New Jersey fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Mahi Mahi regulations in New Jersey 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 Atlantic City, you may also catch Striped Bass, Fluke, Tautog, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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