Species guide · Hawaii
Mahi-mahi fishing in Hawaii
Coryphaena hippurus, a pelagic species also called dolphin, dolphinfish and dorado. Listed for the Hawaii region. Peak season, about 10 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Chuuk Coastal Waters at 56, one of 4 Hawaii bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Hawaii
Peak season, about 10 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Peak season
- Apr: Peak season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Mar to May, Sep to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): Feb to Jun, Sep to Dec.
Research notes, Hawaii region
Available most of the year with catches usually peaking March-May and September-November (Hawaii Seafood Council). Trollers work FADs, drifting logs and flotsam.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 4
Hawaii bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's mahi-mahi score this hour.
Best window today 4-8 PM (57) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 7 AM (63)
Best window today 6-8 PM (54) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 5 PM (54)
Best window today 5-9 PM (53) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 6 AM (57)
Best window today 5-8 PM (50) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 6 AM (57)
Not scored in this forecast: Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Leeward Waters, Big Island Southeast Waters, Big Island Windward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Kauai Channel, Kauai Leeward Waters, Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Maalaea Bay, Maui County Leeward Waters, Maui County Windward Waters, Oahu Leeward Waters, Oahu Windward Waters, Pailolo Channel and Waters out to 40 Nautical Miles.
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
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. Sync unavailable, last verified Sep 13, 2026.
No reviewed mahi-mahi rule for Hawaii is on file yet. Check with DLNR DAR before you keep one.