MAHI TACKLE AND TROLLING LURES

Strong fighters, vibrant colors, and taste delicious, whats not to like about Mahi.

Here at Fathom Offshore, we offer tons of lures and tackle items designed specifically for targeting dolphin offshore. Trolling gear has been the primary method of catching Mahi as they spend most of their time feeding on the surface.

With hundreds of products in our line up, we decided to outline our top 5 most productive lures and baits when looking to target Mahi.As always, if you have questions or need assistance in getting your boat geared up, give us a call, we are always here to help. 910-399-6882.

1. MEAT FISH TROLLING LURE 4 PACK

Perfect for days when you're looking to fill the cooler and put some Mahi on the deck.

The 4 lure meat fish pack is the go to pack for targeting Dolphin, but you wont miss a chance at Tuna and even smaller Billfish like Whites and Sails.

This pack is designed for those without outriggers running a 4 rod spread (checkout our 6 lure pack HERE). Rigged and ready to fish out of the bag, simply clip the lures onto your main line and put em out; No bait needed. These lures are ready to fish when you are.

All lures come pre-rigged with stainless hook sets and premium mono. Each lure pack includes recommended spread chart and tips.

"Bought the pack and was fishing and catching the next day. Saves having to thaw Ballyhoo. Will be buying more lures to add to the spread" - Rick W

2. Mini soft head ballyhoo rigs

Mahi love a Ballyhoo, and you can take your ballyhoo or dead bait to the next level with our dolphin smacking “Mini Soft Heads.”

These high quality durable miniature lures add just enough pop and color to your ballyhoo, giving it some extra attention to help get bit. Mahi can't resist em.

Pre-rigged with our ballyhoo pin rig setup, featuring Fathom Offshore Stainless Steel long shank Ballyhoo hook, 1/2 oz chin weight, Stainless Ballyhoo spring and 6' of 100lb mono.

If you're looking for a quick change rig to keep baits in the water when the dolphin are biting or your in heavy grass, this is the rig for you.

"Quick and simple way to pull ballyhoo, have all but two of the colors. Caught 4 Mahi on these last trip. Do you sell them with cable for Wahoo?" - Kevin E

3. agitator bar

The Agitator bar is the go to lure when you want to create some action, and simply put, catch Mahi.

Attach your favorite rigged bait or Dolphin lure to the snap swivel contained within the last mini skirt and watch it work.

While the bird and skirts act as a teaser, the trailing bait offers a simple “easy odd man out” approach that Mahi can’t resist.

We recommend a 3’ to 4’ leader when attaching the rigged bait to the snap swivel, this keeps the bait just far enough back to look like the bait that fell behind the group..

"Can’t say enough about the quality of these agitator bars. Everything Andrew and the crew build is top shelf. You can’t go wrong with Fathom Offshore!" - Nick P

4. EPIC SQUID CHAIN

Four Epic squids in front of our rigged Bubble Trouble Mahi lure, this creates the appearance of fleeing squid or baitfish on the surface being chased. This commotion with the trailing bait creates a predatory response and reaction strike in Mahi and other meat fish.

These chains are deadly on Dolphin and smaller tuna like Blackfin and schooly Yellowfin. FULLY RIGGED. No bait needed, simply connect to your mainline and start fishing.

The Bubble Trouble is a lightweight lure crafted from our high quality hand poured resin. Featuring a 3D molded eye, the translucent glitter head is paired with a matching traditional lure skirt outer, and holographic Mylar inner that is hard to ignore in the water.

"Good product. I did not think that from the first use I was going to have 3 Mahi Mahi on board. I really liked its performance and it also helped me to continue trolling even if there was a lot of sargassum" - Andres

5. SAME OLE ROLL HALF PINT

A classic Mahi Mahi magnet that leaves a smoke trail long in its wake.

The Same Ole Roll is proven irresistible to all species of meat-fish, especially Dolphin. The flat head forces a beautiful 6-8 second methodic chug.

This pint size version is built with the same high quality materials as our larger baits; including ballistic grade resin, jewelry quality shell and hand made skirts all done here in the USA.

No bait needed. Available rigged and ready to fish.

Geographical:

Temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters with temperatures between 68°f – 83°f. Some of the more popular destinations for Mahi Mahi are North and South Carolina, the Atlantic Coast of Florida, Hawaii, Panama, the Florida Keys and Costa Rica. Mahi Mahi prefer pelagic habitats of open water, not typically associating with the sea floor or coasts.

Things to look for:

Weedlines: When fishing for Mahi Mahi be sure to look for weedlines, but more specifically ones made up of Sargassum grass. Sargassum has leafy appendages, branches, and round berry-like structures. When this grass starts to clump together it often creates larges mats or "weedlines". These mats can run on for miles and often hold large number of Mahi that use it for both a food source (large numbers of baitfish can be found within and around these weedlines) and protection for offspring. Sargassum mats are abundant with life, from plankton to baitfish; find a weedline, you will more often than not, find mahi.

Floating Structure: Basically anything that’s floating on or near the surface of the deep is worth checking out. Driftwood, balloons, tangled buoys, hurricane debris, etc. We will usually take advantage of any kind of floating debris by trolling around it a few times in order to pick off a Mahi or two. Mahi are using the floating structure in the same way they congregate around weedlines, for protection and to feed off the baitfish that school around the debris.

Strong Currents and Temperature Breaks: Mahi Mahi often swim in offshore currents and temperature breaks. Currents like the Gulf Stream contain warmer water than the surrounding ocean. They, along with other gamefish, will swim these currents making them ideal to troll. Even small temperature variations can be enough to congregate Mahi and other open ocean feeders.

Sea birds and Frigates: Birds are a good indication of bait near the surface, and Mahi love to coerce their prey towards the top of the epipelagic zone for feeding. Schools of Mahi Mahi will often push bait to the surface, attacking it from below while birds dive on the same bait ball from above. Keep an eye out for birds in the distance, they will follow the bait balls.

Bait: You find the bait, you find the Mahi. It's really that simple. Dolphin grow rapidly, and in order to do so they need to consume constantly. Look for Flyers and other baitfish around the boat.