Florida Keys Fishing Report
Florida Keys mahi fishing explodes. This month has been fantastic for these tasty pelagic fish that cruise our Gulf Stream making babies and looking for a fight. From fishing Key Largo to fishing Key West we have had some amazing reports of some great numbers and sizes. For a change this year the larger fish are not an anomaly. We have been hammering mahi mahi weighing in the teens to 40 lbs pretty consistently. The numbers have been up as well. Reports from all up and down the Florida Keys have been saying there are plenty of dolphin (mahi mahi) out there. Best part of those reports is, you dont have to go far to get in them.
Why Is Mahi Mahi Fishing So Good
We asked around a couple of deep sea fishing captains to find out what they thought. Capt. Steven Lamp on board the INXS a 47 Ft Viking deep sea fishing boat out of Key West at Oceans Edge Resort and Marina on Stock Island said this..
The better dolphin fishing this year in our peak months has been primarily due to a couple of factors.
1. The Gulf Stream is very close to the reef with a strong flow. Usually this time of the year we are running very far off shore to get to the larger fish and the past few years the grass has been minimal. This year the stream has brought the grass and the fish to us.
2. Fresh sargassum weed and lots of junk in the water. Sargassum and flotsam (junk in the water) is the key to survival for all the pelagic species. It’s a great place to (the only place) for smaller fish and critters to hide from predators or a great place for predators to find fish and critters to eat. This double edge sword keeps all the species working around the same areas allowing us as captains to focus our efforts and catch our clients quality fish. Grass and junk is very important. The right piece of junk floating like a pallet, bucket or similar can take a good day and make it a great day in a hurry. – Capt. Steven Lamp
Predators need food, food needs a place to hide from predators add sargassum weed and junk in the water and you will have good mahi dolphin fishing and that is exactly what we have had for the month of May so far.
How To Go Mahi Dolphin Fishing
The Florida Keys are covered up in great Mahi fishing right now. So, how do you get out and go fishing for them? Best way is to book one of the well known deep sea fishing guides of the Florida Keys. This year 2025 things have been a bit slower for our Florida Keys Fishing Charters, be it due to the economy or whatever some boats just are not very busy. This makes it easier for the prospecting charter fishing client to book a fishing trip a little closer to the day and work the weather.
DIY folks heading offshore should stop by local tackle stores to get up to the day information about the dolphin fishing to get them on the fish faster and more efficiently. Watch your weather and be safe.
Pro Tip: Don’t run over fish to catch fish. Sometimes the better dolphin fishing is closer.
