Overview
Mahi mahi grow faster than almost any fish in the ocean, reaching several kilos in their first year, which is why the fishery renews each summer.
They congregate under anything floating — FADs, logs, weed lines, even a drifting esky — making them relatively easy to locate.
Hooked fish are acrobatic and their schoolmates will follow, so keep one fish in the water while casting to the rest.
Where to find them
- ▸State-deployed FADs off the NSW and QLD coast in summer.
- ▸Weed lines and current edges in blue water.
- ▸Floating debris and logs well offshore.
- ▸Temperature breaks where warm current pushes in.
Tackle
- ▸Rod: 6–10 kg spin stick.
- ▸Reel: 5000–6000 spin.
- ▸Line: 30 lb braid with 40–60 lb fluorocarbon leader.
- ▸Terminal: small skirted lures for trolling, 5" plastics for casting.
Tips from the water
- ▸Keep the first hooked fish in the water — the school will stay with it.
- ▸Approach FADs quietly and cast from a distance.
- ▸Bleed and ice them immediately; the flesh spoils quickly in heat.
Regulations
Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are deployed seasonally by state fisheries; bag limits apply.