If anyone one out there has Mahi-Mahi on their mind, and you don’t have time for a keys trip, they are here, sort of. 40 miles out into the gulf. Here’s a weird thought, if I were in the keys it would be nothing to go out 40 miles looking for dolphin. I wonder why here it is like the forbidden zone: too scary to think about?
Anyway they are out there. Small dolphin getters are trolling with some sardines or other fish cut into small chunks, about one inch pieces. Keep these in a bowl or something with a lid, freeze them before you leave. If you catch them fresh and cut them, make sure it is into a bucket. When you see or hook up a Mahi, start tossing the pieces of fish out in a fan pattern, get them eating the chunks. Then cast a slightly bigger piece out with a hook in it. Keep the first one in the water as it fights the line it make the other Mahi think it is feeding and brings them close.
Billy baits in smaller sizes are the best lures to troll as they have dissimilar metals which create a magnetic field in the water attracting fish to them. But small spoons or jig work well also.
As you are heading out, start looking for weed lines when you reach 30 miles. That is as close as I have heard about.
Good luck and be safe out there.
Frank