Sint Maarten · Sint Maarten Coast
MAHI MAHI FISHING
IN SIMPSON BAY
Simpson Bay 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 Simpson Bay
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 — Simpson Bay
Month-by-month availability for mahi mahi in Simpson Bay, SX.
How to Catch Mahi Mahi in Simpson Bay
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 Simpson Bay
Top spots where local captains target mahi mahi and other deep sea fishing species.
West Bank Drop-Off
The shelf edge west of Simpson Bay drops into deep Caribbean water where blue marlin, sailfish, and wahoo patrol the depth transition. The drop-off is the closest offshore fishing ground to Simpson Bay's marinas, making it a productive destination for half-day bluewater charters.
Anguilla Channel
The deep channel between Sint Maarten and Anguilla funnels Caribbean currents through a narrow passage, concentrating wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and mahi-mahi along current edges. The channel produces best when wind and current create defined rips and color changes.
Saba Bank Northwest
The northwestern edge of Saba Bank is accessible from Simpson Bay and offers deep-drop fishing for queen snapper and silk snapper along the bank's vertical walls, with wahoo and tuna trolling along the bank edges. The remote location means less pressure and larger fish.
Offshore FADs
Fish Aggregating Devices deployed in deep water west and south of Sint Maarten attract mahi-mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna to floating structure in the open Caribbean. The FADs are reliable producers for Simpson Bay charter boats during the spring and summer pelagic season.
Other Species in Simpson Bay
More fish you can target while visiting Simpson Bay.
Mahi Mahi Fishing in Simpson Bay — FAQ
The peak months for Mahi Mahi fishing in Simpson Bay are January, February, March, April, May, December. During these months, Mahi Mahi are most active and abundant in the Simpson Bay area.
Mahi Mahi fishing charters in Simpson Bay 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 Simpson Bay, your captain provides all required Sint Maarten fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Mahi Mahi regulations in Sint Maarten 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 Simpson Bay, you may also catch Yellowfin Tuna, Caribbean Red Snapper, Blue Marlin, Amberjack, Wahoo. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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