Species guide · New Jersey
Mahi-mahi fishing in New Jersey
Coryphaena hippurus, a pelagic species also called dolphin, dolphinfish and dorado. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region.
Season by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Mid-Atlantic
- 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: Off season
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Aug to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jul to Sep.
Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region
Summer fish in the Virginia to New York canyons and along offshore lobster-pot buoys and weedlines when Gulf Stream water pushes inshore.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 0
Not scored in this forecast: Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM, Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM, Delaware Bay waters north of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE and Delaware Bay waters south of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE.
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
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with NJFW Nov 3, 2026.
No reviewed mahi-mahi rule for New Jersey is on file yet. Check with NJFW before you keep one.