New Jersey · Jersey Shore
MAHI MAHI FISHING
IN LONG BEACH ISLAND
Long Beach Island is a solid destination for mahi mahi fishing. Book a charter and target mahi mahi with local experts.
About Mahi Mahi Fishing in Long Beach Island
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 — Long Beach Island
Month-by-month availability for mahi mahi in Long Beach Island, NJ.
How to Catch Mahi Mahi in Long Beach Island
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 Long Beach Island
Top spots where local captains target mahi mahi and other deep sea fishing species.
Barnegat Ridge
Barnegat Ridge is a natural bottom feature approximately 15 to 25 miles offshore of Long Beach Island where the seafloor rises to create a ridge that concentrates gamefish. Sea bass, ling, cod, and pollock hold on the ridge during cooler months, while mahi-mahi and bonito cruise above during summer warm-water events. The ridge is a key transitional fishing ground between nearshore reef fishing and deep-water canyon trips.
LBI Offshore Wrecks
The waters 20 to 40 miles offshore of Long Beach Island contain numerous shipwrecks in 80 to 150 feet of water that create rich artificial reef ecosystems on the continental shelf. These wrecks hold enormous concentrations of sea bass, tautog, ling, pollock, and cod during their respective seasons. Party boats and charter boats running from LBI ports target these wrecks year-round for reliable bottom-fishing action.
Hudson Canyon (LBI Access)
Hudson Canyon is accessible from Long Beach Island on extended offshore trips of approximately 80 to 100 miles, offering world-class pelagic fishing at the mid-Atlantic's most famous submarine canyon. Yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, white marlin, blue marlin, and mahi-mahi concentrate along the canyon's walls and temperature breaks during summer and early fall. Overnight canyon trips from LBI are the pinnacle of the region's offshore fishing season.
Tuna Grounds (Offshore Lumps)
The offshore lumps and bottom features along the continental shelf edge 50 to 70 miles from Long Beach Island create natural fish-concentrating structure in open water. Yellowfin tuna, longfin albacore, and mahi-mahi gather over these rises when warm Gulf Stream eddies push onto the shelf during summer months. Charter captains out of LBI use these lumps as waypoints when running to and from the deeper canyon grounds.
Other Species in Long Beach Island
More fish you can target while visiting Long Beach Island.
Mahi Mahi Fishing in Long Beach Island — FAQ
Mahi Mahi fishing in Long Beach Island is productive during .
Mahi Mahi fishing charters in Long Beach Island 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 Long Beach Island, 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 Long Beach Island, you may also catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Black Sea Bass, Tautog. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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