OffshoreHookup
Bull mahi in full color leaping clear of the water at sunrise

Mahi Mahi SeasonEvery Port

Mahi Mahi season across US offshore ports peaks May–Aug: that's when at least half of the 23 ports we track are at peak. August is the hottest, with 16 of 23 ports at peak. Fishable year-round somewhere across US offshore ports.

Bars: share of the 23 ports at peak (orange) and fishable (blue) each month. Number = ports at peak.

Gulf Coast5 ports

Mahi Mahi in the Gulf →
Mahi Mahi bite calendar by port, Gulf Coast
PortJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Destin, FLPeak May–SepOffOffFishableFishablePeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFishableOffOff
Galveston, TXPeak Jun–AugOffOffOffFishableFishablePeakPeakPeakFishableFishableOffOff
Orange Beach, ALPeak May–AugOffOffOffOffPeakPeakPeakPeakFishableFishableOffOff
Port Aransas, TXPeak Jun–SepOffOffOffFishableFishablePeakPeakPeakPeakFishableOffOff
South Padre Island, TXPeak Apr–AugOffOffFishablePeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFishableFishableOffOff

Florida Atlantic & Keys6 ports

Mahi Mahi off Florida's Atlantic coast and the Keys →
Mahi Mahi bite calendar by port, Florida Atlantic & Keys
PortJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Islamorada, FLPeak Aug–NovOffOffFishableFishableFishableFishableFishablePeakPeakPeakPeakFishable
Key West, FLPeak May–JulOffOffOffFishablePeakPeakPeakFishableFishableOffOffOff
Miami, FLPeak May–AugOffOffOffOffPeakPeakPeakPeakOffOffOffOff
Palm Beach, FLPeak Apr–AugOffOffOffPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakOffOffOffOff
Port Canaveral, FLPeak Apr–MayFishableFishableFishablePeakPeakFishableFishableFishableOffOffOffFishable
Stuart, FLPeak Apr–MayOffFishableFishablePeakPeakOffOffOffOffOffOffOff

Carolinas5 ports

Mahi Mahi off the Carolinas →
Mahi Mahi bite calendar by port, Carolinas
PortJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Charleston, SCPeak Apr–JunOffOffOffPeakPeakPeakFishableFishableFishableFishableOffOff
Hatteras, NCPeak May–JunOffOffOffFishablePeakPeakFishableFishableFishableOffOffOff
Hilton Head, SCPeak Jun–OctOffOffOffOffOffPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakOffOff
Morehead City, NCPeak Jun–AugOffOffOffFishableFishablePeakPeakPeakFishableFishableOffOff
Oregon Inlet, NCPeak May–SepOffOffOffOffPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakOffOffOff

Mid-Atlantic3 ports

Mahi Mahi in the Mid-Atlantic →
Mahi Mahi bite calendar by port, Mid-Atlantic
PortJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Cape May, NJPeak Aug–SepOffOffOffOffOffOffFishablePeakPeakOffOffOff
Ocean City, MDPeak Jul–SepOffOffOffOffOffFishablePeakPeakPeakFishableOffOff
Virginia Beach, VAPeak Jun–SepOffOffOffOffFishablePeakPeakPeakPeakFishableOffOff

Northeast2 ports

Mahi Mahi in the Northeast →
Mahi Mahi bite calendar by port, Northeast
PortJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Montauk, NYPeak Jul–SepOffOffOffOffOffFishablePeakPeakPeakFishableOffOff
Point Judith, RIPeak —OffOffOffOffOffOffFishableFishableFishableOffOffOff

Pacific2 ports

Mahi Mahi bite calendar by port, Pacific
PortJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Kona, HIPeak Mar–May, Sep–NovFishableFishablePeakPeakPeakFishableFishableFishablePeakPeakPeakFishable
San Diego, CAPeak Jun–SepOffOffOffOffOffPeakPeakPeakPeakFishableOffOff

Where to run

Each port's primary offshore run, and its window for mahi mahi. Tap a port for every run, regulation and source.

Florida

Destin

Peak May–SepFishable Mar–Apr, Oct
Primary runjust over 10 milesto 100-Fathom Curve
Texas

Galveston

Peak Jun–AugFishable Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Primary run40 miles or less in peak seasonto Summer billfish and pelagic water
Alabama

Orange Beach

Peak May–AugFishable Sep–Oct
Primary runabout 8-15 miles offshoreto Orange Beach artificial reef zone
Texas

Port Aransas

Peak Jun–SepFishable Apr–May, Oct
Primary runabout 35 milesto Bakers and Hospital Rock
Texas

South Padre Island

Peak Apr–AugFishable Mar, Sep–Oct
Primary runabout 13 miles northeast of the jettiesto RGV Reef
Florida

Islamorada

Peak Aug–NovFishable Mar–Jul, Dec
Primary runabout 3.5 nautical milesto Alligator Reef (lighthouse)
Florida

Key West

Peak May–JulFishable Apr, Aug–Sep
Primary runabout 6 milesto Outer reef (main ship channel)
Florida

Miami

Peak May–Aug
Primary runabout 3 milesto The Edge (reef drop-off)
Florida

Palm Beach

Peak Apr–Aug
Primary runless than 10 milesto Gulf Stream (Sailfish Alley)
Florida

Port Canaveral

Peak Apr–MayFishable Jun–Aug, Dec–Mar
Primary runabout 20 milesto 20-mile weather buoy
Florida

Stuart

Peak Apr–MayFishable Feb–Mar
Primary runabout 6-8 milesto Sailfish grounds (Sailfish Alley)
South Carolina

Charleston

Peak Apr–JunFishable Jul–Oct
Primary runabout 60-65 milesto Georgetown Hole (Gulf Stream ledge)
North Carolina

Hatteras

Peak May–JunFishable Apr, Jul–Sep
Primary runabout 25 milesto Gulf Stream edge
South Carolina

Hilton Head

Peak Jun–Oct
Primary runabout 16 milesto Betsy Ross Reef
North Carolina

Morehead City

Peak Jun–AugFishable Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Primary runabout 30 miles from Beaufort Inletto Gulf Stream
North Carolina

Oregon Inlet

Peak May–Sep
Primary runabout 35 milesto Gulf Stream
New Jersey

Cape May

Peak Aug–SepFishable Jul
Primary runabout 15-25 milesto Mid-shore pot lines and debris
Maryland

Ocean City

Peak Jul–SepFishable Jun, Oct
Primary runabout 30 milesto Jackspot
Virginia

Virginia Beach

Peak Jun–SepFishable May, Oct
Primary runabout 13 milesto Chesapeake Light Tower
New York

Montauk

Peak Jul–SepFishable Jun, Oct
Primary runabout 14 milesto Block Island
Rhode Island

Point Judith

Fishable Jul–Sep
Primary runabout 12 milesto Block Island
Hawaii

Kona

Peak Mar–May, Sep–NovFishable Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb
Primary runabout a quarter-mile from the harborto Kona ledge (trolling grounds)
California

San Diego

Peak Jun–SepFishable Oct
Primary runabout 15 miles or lessto 9 Mile Bank

How to fish it

Tackle class:20-30lb spinning or conventional. The window gets you on the water; the rig gets the fish to the boat. Full breakdown on the mahi mahi page.

  • Kite Fishing Sailfish and MahiFly two baits off one kite and turn a dead-current day into a sailfish bite: the setup, the release clips, and the mistakes that cost you the shot.

Kits for this fish

  • The Sailfish & Mahi Kite Spread KitA complete kite kit, spare release clips, a drag-smooth reel, and the leader to keep it invisible: everything to fly a spread that actually hooks up.

Frequently asked

When is mahi mahi season across US offshore ports?

Mahi Mahi season across US offshore ports peaks May–Aug: that's when at least half of the 23 ports we track are at peak. August is the hottest, with 16 of 23 ports at peak. Fishable year-round somewhere across US offshore ports.

What is the best month for mahi mahi across US offshore ports?

August. In August, 16 of the 23 ports we track are at peak: Destin, Galveston, Orange Beach, Port Aransas, South Padre Island, Islamorada, Miami, Palm Beach, Hilton Head, Morehead City, Oregon Inlet, Cape May, Ocean City, Virginia Beach, Montauk, San Diego.

Which US port has the longest mahi mahi season?

Kona, HI: 12 fishable months on our calendar, peaking Mar–May, Sep–Nov.

What rig do you use for mahi mahi?

20-30lb spinning or conventional. Start with Kite Fishing Sailfish and Mahi.

Where this comes from

Every window here is rolled up from the port calendars on this site, and each port page cites its sources. Peak means the port's sources call it the best stretch; fishable means the fish are around but not at their best. Water temperature and bait move these windows every year. Check state and federal regulations before you leave the dock. Not legal advice.