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However you call it, Dorado, Mahi mahi or Dolphinfish, it is one of the most common of the world's offshore fishes. It is a fish and completely unrelated to the dolphin, which is an incorrect name used for the porpoise, an air breathing mammal. To this day I still come across anglers who think that we fish for "Flipper". Dorado are considered by many anglers, to be the ultimate sport fish, the "package deal" if you will. The fish is relatively easy to locate and often travels in large schools; requires little skill to target as it hits most trolled lures; is an excellent fighter providing lots of acrobatics and spectacular runs; you can catch them on relatively light tackle and even flies; and it's delicious eating, no matter how it's prepared. Despite this though, the Dorado has been dubbed the "dodo" by many an experienced angler, due to its eagerness to hit about any lure or bait, whole or cut, live or dead, at times, especially when in a schooling situation. Dorado have about the best eyesight of all fish and quite often you can see one charging a lure from 50 yards away or more.

Description: Dorado, are an absolutely spectacular colored fish in the water, but fade to non-descript of browns and grays when dead. In life they can be electric blue to green along their backs, with brilliant yellow or golden bodies, with blue and green spots throughout. Their bodies are long and compressed with a forked tail. Males, or "bulls" have a unique blunt square head unlike any other fish and grow considerably larger than the female. An average Dorado would be 15-30 pounds with a 40 or 50 pounder being large. The all-tackle record is currently 88 pounds.

Fishing Techniques: By Boat: Most anglers targeting Dorado will catch them while trolling assorted tuna feathers and plastic trolling lures. Just about any trolling lure in assorted colors will work for these fish. Size of the lure though is in direct correlation to the size of the fish you are targeting. There doesn't appear to be any set lure pattern that works better than others for this fish, although I probably would have to say that the majority of your strikes will probably be between 40-80 feet back. Once you have a fish or two on your line quickly retrieve the other lines and get a bait rod ready. Once the fighting angler(s) has their fish within casting range of the boat, cast out the bait fish in the direction of the hooked Dorado. If there is a follower, which is frequently the case, it will most certainly jump on the sudden meal, placed in front of it. Every so often you will come across an old floating cactus, log or dead seal or whale. These floating items are magnets for curious Dorado, who love to hang around underneath the objects, waiting to feed on the smaller hiding fishes or chunks of rotting flesh falling from the carcass, in the case of a dead animal. Slowly pull the boat up to the object and cast in what you will. Live bait usually gets the ball rolling at which time you can cast cut bait, lures or flies. Fly Fishing: Use a intermediate sinking line and just about any streamer or a floating line and just about any popper-type fly. Cast at floating debris or troll alongside of typical trolling lures. When trolling flies you may want to attach a slip on popper head. 10 weight to 12 weight outfits are fine in most cases, depending on size of fish in the area.

Edibility & Cleaning: Dorado is considered by many anglers to be the best eating fish anywhere. To fillet the fish, first score an outline of the fillet in the skin, no more than about 1/4" deep. Grab the head end of the skin and quickly and firmly pull the skin back towards the tail, off of the flesh. After skin has been removed, remove the fillet.

* The abbreviated text on this page is taken from the upcoming book "Fishing - Mexican Style" by Jeff Klassen, is copyrighted and may not be used for purposes other than personal use without the written permission from the publisher.

If you want to go catch your own Dorado in Barra De Navidad, Melaque or anywhere in the Costalegre Mexico area please check out our Fishing Rates and Packages