Dorado
name: Dorado
other names: Mahi Mahi, Dolphin fish, Fulisi
The dolphin is perhaps the most beautifully coloured of all saltwater fish. Unfortunately, the bright turquoise, green and yellow patterns fade almost immediately upon death. The male's profile will have a very tall, blunt head. Females will be much more streamlined. These fish are striking when flying through the water chasing prey.
Dorado are another great wanders of the sea and vast open ocean. They have large migration paths. You can normally find Dorado near any floating objects, as these will attract small fish using the object for shelter. Dorado will congregate around these as the small fish become their prey.
Most of the food eaten by dorado is small fish, crabs, and shrimps that are found in or around floating mats of sargassum. Feeding characteristics of dorado vary greatly. At times the dolphin is a voracious predator that pursues and captures fast swimming fish such as flying fish and mackerel. On other occasions it seems content merely to nibble on small crustaceans and insects that float on the surface in the weed lines.
Like allot of other pelagic fish, dorado grow very fast but do not live very long ( approx only 5 years). Average length for mature males and females is 60 inches. However males grow faster and live longer than females.
Trolling lures from large boats are most effective at catching dorado. Use vividly colored, feathers, skirts, and other lead-headed lures rigged with 6/0 to 9/0 hooks baited with squid or mullet strips. Favorite lures are green and yellow feathers, red artificial squid, and purple jelly bellies. Standard boat rods and reels with 30- to 80-pound test line are used. For best results, baits are trolled at about 4 to 6 knots adjacent to weed lines. Adventuresome anglers may fish for dolphin with saltwater fly rods and large poppers or bait fish patterns. When you encounter a shoal of Dorado you can keep them with you and all around the boat by chumming the water with chunks of fish. At times like this it is great fun to use a light spinning outfit casting from a stationary boat.
