Species guide · California
Mahi-mahi fishing in California
Coryphaena hippurus, a pelagic species also called dolphin, dolphinfish and dorado. Listed for the Southern California region. Peak season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Outer waters from Santa Cruz Island to San Clemente Island to 60 NM offshore including San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Islands at 63.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Southern California
Peak season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Aug to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jul to Oct.
Research notes, Southern California region
CDFW: dorado show up in the California catch mainly in warm-water years, south of Los Angeles, during a July-October season, and the fishery depends on water above about 68 degrees. Most are caught under floating kelp paddies. Expect near zero in cold years.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 1
California bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's mahi-mahi score this hour.
Best window today 7 AM-8 PM (63) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 5 PM (66) · 9 named spots
Not scored in this forecast: East Santa Barbara Channel from Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu CA including Santa Cruz Island, Inner waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt. CA including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands and Waters from Pt. Sal to Santa Cruz Island CA and westward 60 nm including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands.
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 68°F to 86°F, best between 74°F and 82°F.
- Water depth
- 100 to 10000 ft of water.
- Structure
- Bluewater, open water, ledge, canyon and bank, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage is not a factor offshore. Mahi gather on floating sargassum weedlines, debris, buoys, FADs and current edges, so floating structure and warm clean water matter far more than tide.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Mahi feed near the surface along weedlines, floating debris, buoys and current edges offshore, in water from the low 70s to the low 80s. Troll ballyhoo or small skirted lures along the weed, and when a school comes up behind the boat keep one hooked fish in the water while you pitch cut bait or jigs to the rest. Look for birds working over weed and flotsam.
- Methods
- trolling, sight casting, pitching bait to schools, chumming
- Lures
- skirted ballyhoo rigs, small feathers, plastic squid, bucktail jigs, spoons
- Bait
- ballyhoo, cut squid, sardine or pilchard chunks, cut bonito
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 18, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
10 per day
Season: No closed season on file
Counts toward the general limit of 20 finfish, no more than 10 of any one species.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026