

With trolling, you can use live bait (ballyhoo or squid are most recommended) or artificial lures. If you choose to do so, make sure you employ the use of 30- to 50-pound class rods and reels. This fish species can be caught with trolling near weedlines, floating debris, and currents. Also, anglers should keep a look out for frigate birds trolling any floating debris as they can take you to some big catch. When fishing for the common dolphinfish, one should look for an area that has a lot of floating debris by the edge of the reef, as this fish species are attracted to such. Anglers love fishing for them because they are quite stunning to look at and can also make great food. The common dolphinfish are prized both as game fish and as commercial species.

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The common dolphinfish is also a known vector for ciguatera poisoning, which is caused when the toxins from Gambierdiscus toxicus are consumed by the fish accidentally and grow in their bodies through time.įishing Technique: How to Catch Common Dolphinfish.Because its flesh is firm, it is also good to cook it over wood or coal.

It tastes best pan-fried, grilled, roasted, or simmered in sauce. The flesh of the common dolphinfish is similar to that of the swordfish.This serves two purposes: it keeps your fish fresh, and it makes cleaning much easier. If you're catching a common dolphinfish to eat, make sure to store it with lots of ice before you clean it.The Japanese, Hawaiian, and Australian markets are also significant. Big consumers of this fish species: the United States and the Caribbean.In their lifetime, they can produce millions of eggs. Female common dolphinfish spawn two to three times annually.This practice apparently guarantees a better chance of fertilization. They practice broadcast spawning, a reproductive behavior wherein both females and males release their respective eggs and sperms into the same water column. This fish species mature quickly at three to four months.Its other more common name, dorado, is from the Spanish language, and it means “golden”. This name comes from the Hawaiian term for “very strong”. The common dolphinfish is also called mahi-mahi.Interesting Facts About the Common Dolphinfish They are quite partial to the flying fish. The juveniles of this fish species feed on crustaceans, while the adults focus on bony fishes. They are not very particular with what they eat, though they do adapt as they mature. The common dolphinfish are carnivorous and are known as great swimmers, making them fantastic predators. The world record for the common dolphinfish is 87 pounds. The average size for the common dolphinfish is 39 inches, weighing from 15 to 29 pounds. They, however, spawn all year long and mature quite quickly, making their population quite strong and stable. The common dolphinfish do not live long, with some reaching five years but rarely exceeding four. The common dolphinfish will look a little more yellow, while the pompano will sport a more prominent silver. They also differ in color once out of the water. The pectoral fins of the common dolphinfish are longer compared to that of the pompano. One way to distinguish them is to look at the pectoral fins. The juvenile common dolphinfish are often mistaken for the pompano as the latter are quite small. The common dolphinfish belong to the family Coryphaenidae, with the other one being the pompano dolphinfish. Male common dolphinfish have a protruding head, while the female head looks a little more rounded. It is characterized by a single dorsal fin that extends from the head to the tail or caudal fin. The head of this fish species is also quite distinct. However, once taken out of the water, they change colors drastically like a light show, before finally fading to a silver or muted yellow-grey upon demise. Their sides are golden, with splotches of bright blue and green on the back and sides, and pectoral fins a shimmering blue, and underwater they can boast a myriad of other colors depending on where the light hits. The common dolphinfish, also known as the mahi-mahi or dorado, are distinctive because of the play of colors on their bodies. Common Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) Fish Description
