Dorado (Mahi-Mahi)

Category: Offshore

Trip Type: Offshore

Dorado are colorful, aggressive offshore fish known for fast action, aerial fights, and excellent table fare.

Appearance

Dorado, also known as mahi-mahi or dolphin fish, are among the most colorful fish in the ocean. Their backs shimmer with brilliant shades of blue, green, and gold, while their sides often glow with vibrant yellows and metallic blues. Males can be identified by their distinctive blunt, vertical forehead, while females have a more rounded profile. Their long dorsal fin extends nearly the entire length of their body.

Habitat

Dorado thrive in warm offshore waters and are commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico when water temperatures exceed 68°F. They are famous for gathering around floating objects such as weed lines, sargassum mats, buoys, debris, and other offshore structure where baitfish concentrate.

Average Size

Most dorado caught in Louisiana waters weigh between 5 and 20 pounds, though larger bull dorado can exceed 40 pounds under the right conditions.

Best Time to Catch

Summer is generally considered the peak season for dorado in Louisiana. Warm water temperatures and offshore weed lines create ideal conditions for finding schools of fish throughout the Gulf.

Fishing Tips

Keep an eye out for floating weed lines, sargassum patches, debris, and offshore buoys. Dorado are commonly caught on skirted trolling lures, feather jigs, live bait, and cut bait. If fish are spotted around structure, chumming can help keep a school near the boat and create fast-paced action.

Louisiana State Record

95.0 pounds — caught by Rodney Odom in 2020. The fish is one of the largest dorado ever recorded in Louisiana waters and demonstrates the trophy potential available in the Gulf of Mexico.

Fun Fact

Dorado are one of the fastest-growing fish in the ocean. Under ideal conditions, they can grow from hatchlings to more than 20 pounds in a single year.