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The “Bull Run” is a special time of year for deep-sea fishing out of Venice, LA. Large schools of bull and cow mahi-mahi ride the currents to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, often following large weedlines, current rips, and floating debris. These powerful ocean-going predators are amazing to catch as they eat readily, roam in large schools, and display incredible feats of acrobatics once hooked.
Larger mahi mahi specimens are particularly aggressive and can pull hard for up to an hour. Fishing for mahi mahi in Venice, LA is particularly productive in the summer months as calm conditions afford the opportunity for sargassum weeds to ball up along current eddys or rips in the open ocean.
Fishing for Mahi Mahi is an exciting experience as these fish tend to hang around once one is hooked. Their schooling and “frenzy feeding” behavior makes them an entertaining fish to catch during deep sea fishing charters out of Venice, LA.
Mahi-mahi is the common name for dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), not to be confused with the unrelated marine mammals (Delphinidae) that we might think of when we hear the name. Dolphin-fish are in fact fish, and bear no relation whatsoever to the mammalian dolphins.
The species is called mahi-mahi in the Hawaiin-native tongue, although the original English translation was “MahiaMahia”, the spelling was changed after the word was added to the English dictionary with the dash. Mahi-mahi are in the class of groupers, made up mostly of sea bass. They can weigh up to 70 pounds, usually ranging between 15 and 30 pounds.
They tend to be found in relatively shallow waters, from 130′ to 800′ and are extremely swift and acrobatic. They’re known for their beauty and ability to display many different colors. While in the water, they will show bright blue, yellow, green, and sometimes red. Once fished out of the water, they shine a yellowish-gold. This earned them the Spanish nickname “Dorado maverikosâ”, meaning “golden maverick”. When they die, their color fades to a dull gray.
Mahi Mahi can be found in the ocean all around the world. They are especially prominent in the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. They are an excellent sportfish due to their sheer abundance and strength. They reproduce extremely quickly and are an abundant pelagic species which is thriving across the world.
While Mahi Mahi only live to be about 5 to 7 years old, both males and females are fertile after only one year, and females can produce up to one million eggs in a single event, while it is more likely that they produce about 100,000.
“Dorado” or DolphinFish are a highly migratory species which roam the open ocean. They can be found offshore patrolling grass lines, floating structure, or following schools of baitfish.
The best time of year to catch Mahi Mahi is the summer. The “Bull Run” typically takes place during the Spring and Summer months.
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