Mahi-Mahi Fishing in Costa Rica

Mahi-mahi (also known as dorado and dolphinfish) is a colorful and acrobatic fish that's a favorite game fish for anglers all over the world.

Once hooked, high leaps and lengthy tail walks are a common sight. A colorful and delicious fish, landing a mahi-mahi is a bonus. You get a great fight and an even better meal out of it.

Mahi-mahi is unique for both its shape and stunning colors, which can range from all gold to green and blue. They also have spots along their sides, which also vary in color and size. 

When removed from the water they seem to lose all color and turn an iridescent blue. Later they become more yellow in color.

They mainly feed on small pelagic species like flying fish and squid, but will eat nearly any small fish or object found in the sea.

Mahi-mahi are found along trash lines or current lines. They hide in the masse underneath a floating tree, garbage, or anything else they can use as cover.

Unlike billfish that swim into your spread from behind, mahi-mahi almost always seem to attack the spread from the sides.

Most mahi-mahi weigh from 10 to 30 pounds, although big ones in the 50-60 pound range are quite common as well.

The world record mahi-mahi, an 87-pounder caught in 1976, was actually landed here in Costa Rica. Unlike many other species, the males (bulls) are the largest.

Mahi-mahi is one of the easiest fish to target in Costa Rica. 

There's no specialized style for this species, as they pretty much eat any bait in the water.

Typically, they're caught on rigged ballyhoo. It's also possible to use topwater casting plugs, live bait, jigs, or lures. In Costa Rica, fishing for mahi-mahi with a fly rod is also a good fight.

Anglers traditionally catch mahi-mahi while trolling for billfish as a bonus during a fishing vacation. However, you can target them by seeking out weed lines, floating debris, or current rips.

Easy to catch, fun to fight, and even better to eat, mahi-mahi allows anglers to enjoy a good result after a hard day’s work.

Mahi-mahi are found all over Costa Rica – up and down the coast and in both oceans.

It's possible to catch smaller mahi-mahi near islands or pinnacles inshore, but the big, hard-fighting bulls are found off-shore.

Whatever Costa Rica destination you pick for your vacation, rest assured there’s a good chance to get a good-sized mahi-mahi for dinner.

Mahi-mahi are caught year-round in Costa Rica.

The prime months, however, tend to be during the low season in the months of May through November. When mahi-mahi are around, the billfish are usually not far behind.

Several of our personalized fishing packages include mahi-mahi and other species you can target. Simply contact us and let us know what you want to catch. We’ll be happy to help!