Dorado
Illustration: gardenroutefishing.co.za
The mahi-mahi — a neon-gold acrobat that rides warm blue water down the coast in high summer. Finding one usually means finding a school.
Where & how: offshore colour lines, current rips and any floating object — kelp mats, logs, buoys. Troll small konas and feathers, then pitch chunk baits or poppers when a school lights up behind the boat. Wild jumps and searing runs on light gear.
Tackle: 8-15 kg spinning or light trolling outfits — heavier gear spoils one of the ocean's most exciting fights.
Table: superb. Fast-growing and short-lived, dorado are among the most sustainable gamefish to keep.
Field guide
Blistering first runs and often spectacular aerial work — a light-tackle thrill.
How to catch Dorado
8-15 kg spinning or light trolling
Fast 6000–10000 spinning reel for casting and jigging, or a light conventional for trolling.
20–30 lb braid with a mono top shot.
5/0–8/0 for bait, or upgrade the trebles/singles on lures.
0.60 mm fluorocarbon; single-strand wire for toothy species (katonkel, snoek).
Small konas, feathers, chunk baits, poppers
When to catch Dorado
High summer around floating structure
Low-light around the tide change, especially when bait is being funnelled past a point.
Warm water of 19–24 °C pushes them inshore; find the temperature/colour break.
🥅 Landing
Net or lip-gaff at the boat; on the rocks lead it to a gulley on the swash. Keep the line tight — they throw hooks.
♻️ Release
Bleedable table fish are usually kept; if releasing, minimise the fight, keep it in the water and revive before letting go.
No tours targeting this species yet — browse all tours.
