Dolphin

coryphaena hippurus dorado, mahi mahi

Breaking News!! "Dolphin can be taken on flies"
A neon streak across the surface of the warm clear water, a dolphin slams the fly and begins spectacular aerobatics and fifty mph runs. Although Fly fishing for dolphin is still in its infancy, this action is quickly drawing new and enthusiastic participants.

Dolphin Facts:
Dolphin are a pelagic species found in all tropical and sub tropical waters world wide
Dolphin are found in the Keys offshore near the Gulf Stream
Dolphin are most plentiful in Spring through Summer in the Keys
Dolphin sometimes form schools of thousands in spring and summer
Dolphin spawn from April though August
Dolphin prefer warm (75 degrees) clear water
Dolphin, as juveniles, are prey for larger dolphin and billfish
Dolphin grow very fast gaining up to 20 pounds per year
Dolphin grow to over 50 lbs
Dolphin have short lives (about 4 years +/-)
Dolphin are excellent food (sold in restaurants under Hawaiian name Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin fishing regulations:

No size limit
Daily limit 10
20" limit for sale

Prime dolphin habitat is found offshore where the warm clear bluish-green water meets the dark blue waters of the Gulf Stream. Once there, locating dolphin requires attention to the following items:

Temperature breaks
Current rips
Color change
Floating debris
Bird Activity
Flying fish
Bottom structure and Bait Pods

Throughout the year a variable temperature difference exits between the near shore water and the gulf stream. This temperature "break" is prime dolphin country (as well as billfish). Temperature breaks may be only 1 degree to effectively hold dolphin. The best dolphin fishing is usually in the warmer water side of the break but if the action is slow, try the cooler side. The larger the temperature differential across the break, the better the chance that dolphin will hold in the area. Temperature breaks are usually associated with current rips and/or color changes.

Weed mats, tires, plywood, sea turtles or any floating material may hold dolphin below. Sargassum weed rips are a favorite dolphin hangout, especially along a strong current or sharp color change. These weed lines formed best in warm water during the spring and summer. In the autumn the weeds do not form as well with the result that dolphin are scattered and harder to find. Occasionally a south wind may blow the weedline much closer to shore bringing along the dolphin.

Look for bird activity. Anytime that birds are diving to the surface, its a good indication that gamefish are driving the bait fish to the surface. Often times this is dolphin attacking flying fish driving them though the surface where they are accessible to the birds which attack them from above. The dolphins speed allows them to flush flying fish into the air then catch them as they fall back to the water. This carnage creates a feeding frenzy attracting many other gamefish to the area. Head for this scene quickly but when you get close to the area, slow down, approach quietly as possible and cast to the periphery of the activity. This will prevent spooking the gamefish.

Sometimes strong winds or current rips can scatter the bait fish and break up the weedlines making the dolphin harder to find. When dolphin cannot be found at their usual holding areas, your electronics can save the day. Look deep for bait pods or structure that will cause food to be pushed off the bottom. The dolphin may be nearby.

Dolphin Food
The dolphin diet consists of a variety of crustaceans, squid and fishes including their own species. Flying fish are a major food source. While dolphin are usually caught on the surface or upper water column, autopsies have shown stomach contents to contain bottom dwellers such as various filefish and triggerfish that live in the sargassum grasses or deep water off the reef.

Dolphin flies
Flyfishing for dolphin is a new discipline with much experimentation in the development of flies. Streamer and Deceiver type flies that imitate or suggest the natural food have been proven to be effective for dolphin. They are tied on #1 to 3/0 hooks 4-6" long in different color combinations of green, white, yellow, chartreuse and blue with plenty of flash. Since adult dolphin eat young dolphin, some flies should imitate the juvenile fish. Also keep handy a squid imitation as dolphin sometimes will favor them. Visit the tackle shop for proven dolphin flies.

Dolphin Tackle

Flyrod: The recommended flyrod is the 9' 10 weight. While the standard 9' 9 weight flyrod will handle many of the dolphin, extra lifting power may be necessary for large bull dolphin.
Reel: Saltwater reel with strong drag and capacity for 250 yards of 30lb backing. While this length of backing will suffice for most dolphin, keep the boat ready to follow a large fish.
Flyline: 10 weight Floating Weight Forward (FWF). Over sizing the flyline one size offers the benefits of casting large flies in windy conditions and the extra weight of the line through the water will help tire the dolphin.
Class Tippet: 16 lb class tippet. Tie bimini twist at both ends 15" between the knots.
Shock Tippet: 50 lb mono shock tippet snelled to the fly. Use the albright knot to fasten the class tippet. The IGFA standard is 12" including knots.

While the action is usually near the surface, dolphin are sometimes found 40-50 feet below following baitfish and require a fast sink flyline to reach down to their level.

While fishing dolphin, a 12 weight flyrod should be kept available for sailfish or other larger predators. It should be rigged with 400 yards of 30 lb. Mono backing, 20 lb class tippet and 80-100 lb shock tippet.

Dolphin Methods
Sight casting may be realistically employed only after locating the dolphin or likely holding areas such as flotsam. When isolated floating material is encounter during your search for dolphin, give it a couple of quick casts then move on. Old floating material is more likely than new for holding dolphin.
Cast the streamer type fly and strip quickly. Dolphin like fast moving targets. If this doesn't bring a strike after a few casts, try allowing the fly to sink dead drift giving it an occasional twitch.

A floating popper or deerhair pattern worked noisily on the surface are often deadly.
Squid fly patterns occasionally work best.
Dolphin will sometimes bite on anything in the water that moves.

Dolphin have a peculiar trait that should be noted:
In schools they are highly competitive for the fly. When one is hooked, the others will follow right to the boat. By leaving at least one dolphin in the water, the whole school will stay close biting to oblivion.

Chumming will also keep a school nearby and biting.
When fishing a school of dolphin feeding on the surface, look for large bull dolphin down current of the activity.

When first hooked, play the dolphin lightly right off the reel with the rod tip pointed at the fish and bow to their jumps as best you can. As they begins to tire, increase the pressure by palming the reel and retrieve line.
Large dolphin will generally fight near and above the surface rather than sounding. 250 yards of backing should be adequate but if a large bull should run , be prepared to follow with the boat.

The teasing technique used to attract sailfish works well for dolphin, with minor variations. This technique is accomplished by setting out a spread of teasers (hookless baits or lures) to bring in the dolphin and requires the coordination of the skipper the mate and the fly caster.
The flyrod should be prepared by casting the flyline out the desired distance and pulling back the line coiling it in a bucket as it comes through the guides. Keep in a handy location away from the teaser spread.
Generally a set of four teasers are spread off starboard side (for right handed casters) in varying distance behind the boat. The boat is trolled at 6-10 knots until you find the dolphin. When they hit the teaser, the fly is cast while the mate pulls up the teasers and the skipper drops the boat into nuetral. This method produces large dolphin.

While not exactly in keeping with fly fishing ethics, trolling flies can be an effective method for taking dolphin. Try this spread trolled at 4-6 knots; a large popper close behind, Squid pattern medium back, large streamer full back and a large streamer on the downrigger at 40 feet.

Bait Method
Bait fisherman troll for sailfish with small mullet or balao (ballyhoo) 50 feet down. Also feathers, jigs and artificials are effective on light sailfish tackle.
Calamari squid are a good bait for dolphin trolled on the surface.
Dolphin are very often caught instead of the sailfish when employing this method.

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