Dolphin Fishing

Dolphin fishing is not a commonly considered fishing sport, but it is still practiced just the same. To many people, such an activity is as easy as it is exciting, as long as those who go fishing for dolphins know the creatures’ habits. The thing is dolphins are not too difficult to figure out.

Dolphin fish come in a spectrum of types, although three in particular are well-known: the porpoise, which is what people think of when they think of dolphins, such as in the show “Flipper”; Mahimahi, much smaller species featuring a snub nose and weighting up to 40 lbs; and Bull dolphins, similar to the Mahimahi and caught in the same place, usually in or near the Gulf streams around Key West, off the southwestern coast of Florida.

When it comes to fishing, a dolphin can just as easily ignore the bait as much as be drawn to it, depending on the school of fish, the day and the time. Not all baits work with all dolphins all of the time. Ballyhoo with a colorful skirt over 5/0-7/0 sized long-shank hook having a mono leader on a medium-weight monofilament line strung on a light, spinning rod seems to be the ideal combination for Mahimahi and Bull dolphins. Larger porpoise dolphins will likely require a heavy pole with a heavy line to challenge these acrobatic critters. Live and cut bait, such as squid, mullet and other fish are among dolphin delicacies. Dolphin fishing supplies are easy to get, as many fishing supply stored do accommodate.

To find dolphin, dolphin fishing boats are to head out to deep water, anywhere from seven to fifteen miles away from shore. Whenever debris is sighted, either wood, foliage and fish parts, dolphins are sure to be close by, especially in the morning when they are hungry and feed heavily (dolphins only eat during the day, so they rest at night). Multiple rods and lines are suggested, each one with a different hook-lure-beat set implemented, as long as a single hook is always used, as that’s appropriate over a two hooks. Trolling, by suspending these fish lines over the side or far off the back of a slowly maneuvering boat, is a common tactic, because dolphins are drawn to moving food sources. Cut and live bait should only be left until later and are typically used to bring dolphins from the depth to the surface of the water.

Tuna and dolphin fishing is sometimes conducted at the same time on the same boats, which are large and use a trawling net to snatch fish from the seabed. Those who prefer keeping their own fishing schedules have the option to, of course, use their own dolphin fishing boat are book one for many dolphin fishing charters that are available in various places, but especially in Florida.

Those interested in going dolphin fishing should remember one thing, though: The early dolphin catches the bait!