How to Catch Wahoo: High Speed Trolling, Trolling, and Jigging

Conventional trolling reels hold lots of fishing line, have strong drags, and are able to catch large fish. When I think of conventional reels, the first reel that comes to mind is a Penn International 80 which is a big game offshore fishing reel. This 80 class reel can catch the biggest fish in the ocean like bluefin tuna, marlin, swordfish, and large sharks.

There are many different styles and sizes of conventional reels and can be used to catch all types of fish. Small conventional trolling reels are used in freshwater to catch walleye, bass, musky, steelhead and salmon.

Primary Fishing Applications for Conventional Reels

Conventional reels are primarily used for two main fishing applications: trolling and jigging/bottom fishing. Let’s explore both of these applications and the reels designed for each.

Trolling Conventional Reels

Trolling involves pulling baits or lures behind a moving boat to attract fish. Trolling reels have specific features that make them ideal for this application:

• High Line Capacity: Trolling reels typically have large spools that hold substantial amounts of line. This is crucial when targeting big fish that can make long, powerful runs. The largest 80-130 class reels can hold over 1,000 yards of heavy monofilament line.
• Powerful Drag Systems: Most dedicated trolling reels feature strong drag systems that can handle the sudden strikes and fights from large fish hit while the boat is in motion. The drag needs to be smooth to prevent line breakage during the initial hit.
• Loud Clickers: Trolling reels usually have loud clicker mechanisms that alert anglers when a fish is taking line, which is essential when multiple lines are deployed.
• Harness Compatibility: Many larger trolling reels include lugs that allow a fighting harness to be attached, which helps distribute the weight of heavy fish during prolonged fights.

In my experience guiding offshore charters, 30-80 class trolling reels are great for targeting species like tuna, marlin, and wahoo. Trolling allows multiple lines to be set with lures at different depths. This makes trolling one of the most effective techniques for covering water and locating fish. For salmon trolling and freshwater trolling, much smaller conventional reels are needed, as most fish are under 50 pounds.

Big Game Reel Options

Penn International VIS 2 Speed Big Game Reel

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The Penn International VI series reels come in gold or silver color options. This is the 6th generation of this classic high-quality big game fishing reel. Features of the reel include quick shift two-speed drag, dura-drag with two large-diameter drag washers, stainless steel gears, and an anodized aluminum reel body.

Line capacity rings mark approximately one third, two-third, and a full spool. These reels have line shedding lugs. The lugs allow a fishing harness to be hooked onto the reel. Vesa-strike allows the strike button position to be adjusted with a screwdriver. These Penn reels are made in Philadelphia USA. Below is a video that goes over all the new features of Penn International reels.

Penn Squall Two Speed Big Game Offshore Reel

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Note: The drag values are the max drag for the reel.

The Penn Squall 50 VSW is one of my favorite big game offshore fishing reels. This reel and the Shimano TLD 50 which is reviewed later are both awesome lightweight reels that can catch big fish. This reel even works well for high-speed trolling for wahoo.  The size 50 reel weight is about the same a Penn international 30 and is half the weight of a Penn international 80. I like to always have a 50 class reel on the boat because a reel this large can catch almost any fish in the ocean.

Features of the reel include the Dura-drag system, 4 stainless steel bearings, and aluminum spool that has line capacity rings. The body of the reel is lightweight graphite and the gears are made of stainless steel. It also has a quiet double-dog anti-reverse system.

Shimano TLD Two Speed Conventional Trolling Reel

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The Shimano TLD-II is an offshore trolling reel that is widely used in charger fishing operations. This is because it is lightweight, durable, strong, and a great value compared to similar class reels. The TLD 50LRS can catch all types of fish from a 1 pound bonito to a 500 pound blue marlin.

This is a two-speed reel with lever drag. Features of the reel include 4+1 A-RB corrosion-resistant ball bearings, stamped graphite frame, aluminum spool, and a loud clicker. There is a football-shaped handle on the 20-30 size reels and a large offset handle on the 50 class reels. These reels will last for many years of heavy use with proper care and maintenance.

Jigging/Bottom Fishing Conventional Reels

Jigging and bottom fishing require reels with different characteristics than trolling reels:

• Lower Profile: Jigging reels are typically more compact and lightweight, as they need to be held and actively worked for extended periods.
• Faster Retrieve Rate: A higher gear ratio helps quickly retrieve jigs from deep water and maintain control of artificial lures.
• Casting Ability: Some jigging reels are designed with “free spool” features that reduce friction during the cast, allowing anglers to make accurate casts with jigs and other lures.
• Enhanced Ergonomics: Jigging/bottom fishing reels often feature more ergonomic handles and grips since they’re actively held and worked by the angler.

When I guided bottom fishing trips for halibut and rockfish in Alaska, I relied on jigging-style conventional reels that could handle the weight of heavy jigs while still being comfortable enough to use all day. The compact size and high torque were essential when working in deep water over structures.

Penn Torque Gold Lever Drag Fishing Reel

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The Penn Torque LD2 is much smaller and lighter than the international series reels. However, they do not hold as much line. These reels are well-built and are great for trolling or vertical jigging.

Color options are silver or gold. Features of the reel include 6 shielded stainless steel ball bearings, anti-reverse, and Dura-drag. This reel has a lever drag system and has two reel retrieve speeds than can be adjusted with one hand using the quick shift system. The Penn Torque 25N and 40N have a narrow spool. These hold about the same amount of line though because the spool is taller than the standard width spool.

Penn Fathom Lever Drag Fishing Reel

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The Penn Fathom LD2 is very similar to the Torque LD2 above except its body and side plates are made from diecast aluminum rather than machined aluminum. This does make the reel slightly lighter.

Left-handed reels are available in the 25N and 30 size options. When using a conventional fishing reel most right-handed people hold the reel with their right hand. If you are left-handed getting a left-handed reel is likely a good idea. The narrow reels are less wide but have taller spools.

Shimano Tyronos II Conventional 2 Speed Reel

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The Tyrnos is a solid high-quality two-speed lever drag reel. This reel in a size 50 is what I used on charters to bottom fish for halibut and rockfish. The high gear was nice for bring up the 2-pound lead weights quickly from around 400 feet of water depth. Pushing the button in the reel handle puts the reel in low-speed for more torque when reeling in a large heavy halibut. This reel also works well when trolling inshore or offshore for small and large pelagic fish.

Feature of the reel includes a Hagane rigid die-cast aluminum body, 4+1 A-RB corrosion resistant ball bearings, and cross carbon drag. In the video below I show how to properly set your drag using a pull scale on both star and lever drag conventional reels.

Key Design Features of Conventional Reels

Beyond their applications, conventional reels can be categorized by several key design features:

Level-wind vs. Non-Level-wind Reels

Level-wind Reels

• Feature a mechanism that automatically distributes line evenly across the spool
• Eliminate the need to manually guide line with your thumb
• Ideal for beginners and situations where you need both hands free
• Common on smaller to mid-sized conventional reels
• Limited to lower drag settings (typically under 30 pounds)

Penn Fathom II Levelwind Trolling Reel

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The Penn Fathom II is a levelwind reel. This means that line is evenly placed on the spool without having the move the line back and forth with your hand. For novice anglers this a great feature. Levelwinds can bend under high force and are not place on large high drag reels. LH stands for left-handed reel and LC stands for line counter reel.

This reel with 30 pounds of drag is still large enough to catch most types of fish including small tuna, mahi-mahi, mackerel, barracuda, striped bass, and many more. Features of the reel include a star drag system with HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers, diecast aluminum body, and 4+1 stainless steel bearing system. This Penn Fantom is a great option for a large levelwind reel. Other good large levelwind reels are the Penn Squall and Shimano Tekota 800 which will be reviewed below.

Non-Level-wind Reels

• Require the angler to manually guide line across the spool
• Fewer moving parts that could fail under heavy pressure
• Can handle much higher drag settings
• Standard on all large game fishing reels
• Better suited for targeting very large fish

I have found that level-wind reels are excellent for salmon trolling and light to medium bottom fishing. However, when targeting larger species like tuna or marlin, the level-wind mechanism becomes a liability due to the extreme pressure these fish can exert.

Penn Fathom

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This Penn Fathom II is a similar version to the Fathom LD2 but has a star drag system rather than a lever drag system. This reel does not have a level-wind system. Features include a diecast aluminum body, bronze main gear, Versa drag with carbon fiber washers, and 6+1 shielded stainless steel bearings. The size 12 and 15 reels also have a magnetic casting braking system rather than the standard centrifugal braking system.

The stand out feature of this reel is the live spindle design, this allows a bait to be pitched, cast, or jigged with minimal resistance against the spool. This is possible because the design allows the spool to spin independently of the gears.

Star Drag vs. Lever Drag Systems

Star Drag Reels

• Feature a star-shaped dial adjacent to the handle
• More affordable and simpler in design
• Drag adjustment is less precise
• Typically found on entry-level and mid-range reels
• Harder to make quick, precise adjustments during the fight

Penn Squall Levelwind Conventional Trolling Reel

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The Penn Squall is a cheaper version of the Fathom II shown above. Rather than being made from aluminum, this reels frame and side plates are made from graphite. The max drag strength is 10-15 pounds less than the Fanthom depending on the size of the reel. This is still a great conventional trolling reel and works well to catch fish under 50 pounds.

LW stands for levelwind and this reel does automatically spool the reel evenly during line retrieval. LC stands for line counter and the size 20 has a line counter option. This allows the angler to know how much fishing line has been taken off the spool. The line counter allows the depth of lure and distance behind the boat to be estimated. LH stands for a left-handed reel.  Other features include a machined aluminum spool, bronze main gear, HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers, and 2+1 stainless steel bearings. The size 50 reel has switchblade lugs than come up and down to secure a fishing fighting belt if desired.

Lever Drag Reels

• Feature a lever that moves through pre-set positions
• Allow for more precise and quicker drag adjustments
• Usually include free spool, strike, and full positions
• Standard on higher-end offshore and big game reels
• Visual indication of drag setting

From my experience guiding clients, lever drag reels offer significant advantages when fighting large fish. The ability to quickly adjust from strike to full drag with a simple lever movement can be the difference between landing a trophy and losing it.

Penn Squall Lever Drag Conventional Reels

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The Penn Squall LD is a lever drag conventional reel. Size 30 and 40 are topless and size 50 and 60 have a top reel frame. Features include a graphite frame, aluminum spool, Dura-drag, and 6+1 stainless steel ball bearings. On the size 50 and 60 reels, there are retractable lugs which are also called switchblade lugs.

This lever drag reel has more drag that than the star drag levelwind Penn Squall. The Penn Fathom LD2 is a very similar reel but is made of aluminum and has a higher max drag. This Penn Squall is a great reel though and works well for trolling and bottom fishing with bait or jigs.

Single-Speed vs. Two-Speed Reels

Single-Speed Reels

• Feature one gear ratio
• Lighter and more compact
• Less expensive
• Sufficient for most inshore and light offshore applications
• Simpler to operate

Two-Speed Reels

• Feature two different gear ratios that can be switched while fighting a fish
• High gear for fast retrieval of lures and line
• Low gear provides increased torque for fighting powerful fish
• Essential for deep dropping and big game fishing
• Usually activated via a button in the handle or side of the reel

The Tyrnos in a size 50 is what I used on charters to bottom fish for halibut and rockfish. The high gear was nice for bringing up the 2-pound lead weights quickly from around 400 feet of water depth. Pushing the button in the reel handle puts the reel in low-speed for more torque when reeling in a large heavy halibut.

Specialized Conventional Reel Types

Line Counter Reels

• Feature a mechanical or digital counter that displays how much line has been deployed
• Essential for precise depth control when trolling
• Popular for Great Lakes trolling and salmon fishing
• Help replicate successful presentations

I used line counter reels for a full salmon charter season in Alaska. The line counters held up all season fishing pretty much every day without any problems. My only complaint about some models is the star drag would not always hold a constant value.

Okuma Cold Water Line Counter Trolling Reel

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The Okuma Cold Water is a very popular line counter fishing reel. Features of the reel include 2+1 stainless steel bearings, a drop-down gearbox that lubricates the gears, ratcheting star drag, and a speed lock pinion gear system. This reel is constructed with an aluminum two-tone spool, large brass drive gear, and a graphite body. The 203 model is a ladies edition reel with pink rather than orange anodized parts.

This is a great reel for trolling for walleye, striped bass, steelhead, and salmon. The levelwind of this trolling reel does work with a lead core fishing line. There is an Okuma Cold Water Cw-553ls levelwind reel that works with wire-line. That particular reel retrieves 40.7 inches of line per turn of the handle.

Topless (Open Top) Reels

• Feature an open top design without the bridge over the spool
• Allow for direct finger control of the spool
• Improved casting performance for some techniques
• Easier to control line during drops
• Popular for jigging applications

Electric Reels

• Feature electric motors that assist in line retrieval
• Essential for very deep water fishing (800+ feet)
• Reduce physical strain during deep dropping
• Common for targeting swordfish and deep-water grouper
• Available as purpose-built units or as conversions of manual reels

Narrow Spool Reels

• Feature taller, narrower spools
• Designed specifically for use with braided lines
• Provide better line management with thin diameter lines
• Often designated with an “N” in the model number

Common Questions about Convential Fishing Reels

What is a conventional fishing reel?

Conventional fishing reels are sometimes called trolling reels, big game reels, deep-sea fishing reels, and bottom fishing reels. These reels hold lots of fishing line and are built to catch large fish. Some conventional reels have a levelwind to evenly place the line on the spool. However, with big game reels, the force on the line can bend and break the levelwind. 50 class reels, 80 class reels, and 130 class reels do not come with a levelwind, and the angler has to move the line back and forth with his hand.

Another important feature for a conventional reel is the type of drag. There is lever drag and star drag. Lever drag is typically stronger and more consistent. A newer feature on many conventional reels is a topless design. This makes it so the angler can manually adjust the force on the spool when sending out lures and jigs. This is done by pressing down on the spool with your fingers.

How do I choose a conventional reel?

When choosing a conventional reel is is important to buy the proper size reel. The two main factors when it comes to size is line capacity and max drag. Braided fishing line is much thinner than monofilament and often allows smaller lighter reels to be a good option.

The max drag should be 50 percent or more of the line strength intended to be fished with. For example, if you plan to fish with a 50-pound test line the max drag should be 25 pounds or greater. If fishing in saltwater the reel should have a sealed drag and a sealed bearing system. Having a line counter on the reel is nice when fishing with diving plugs to help estimate lure depth.

What reels are good for trolling and bottom fishing?

Topless conventional reels work well for trolling and bottom fishing. These reels often have lever drag that is strong and smooth for trolling. The open-top area allows manual resistance to be easily applied to the spool with fingers. This is nice when sending lines deep when bottom fishing or jigging.

When bottom fishing casting is not needed so a spinning reel is not the best option. Spinning reels are nice when jigging because they are lightweight. There are many small conventional reels today that can be spooled with braided line and perfect for stand up jigging.

What is the best tuna reel?

The best tuna reel depends on what size tuna is being targeted. For small skipjack, bonito, albacore, and blackfin tuna a 30 class reel is a great option. When trolling for yellowfin tuna a Penn International 50 or Shimano Tiagra 50 would be a good option. For bluefin tuna, over 400 pounds a Penn International 80 or Penn International 130 class reel is needed.

There are some heavy-duty saltwater spinning reels that can catch large tuna up to about 400 pounds. That is more for the challenge though than for practical reasons. For smaller tuna spinning reels are a good way to pitch live baits and use topwater poppers.

Can you troll with a braided line?

There are advantages and disadvantages to trolling with a braided fishing line. When trolling with diving lip plug lures braided fishing lines allow the lures to dive deeper into the water because there is less drag on the line itself. However, the braided line is more visible to the fish and using a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader is a good idea.

Braided line is stronger for a given thickness but is static and has very little stretch to the line. For this reason, it is important to have a reel with a quality smooth drag when trolling with a braided line. When high speed trolling for wahoo with a braided fishing line a 20-foot shock leader is added to add some flex to the system to prevent high forces from pulling the hook or breaking the line.

How do you spool a big game reel?

The most common way to spool a big game reel is to use a 60-pound monofilament line on the entire spool. This line is strong enough to catch wahoo, tuna, marlin, and mahi-mahi. Often times the leader line will be much heavier than the mainline.

When fishing for fish over 500 pounds it is common to use a 200-pound dacron line as backing to add lots of line to the spool that will stay good for several years. The reel is then topped off with a 130-pound monofilament line that is replaced once a year or as needed with heavy use. When daytime swordfishing it is common to fish deeper than 1800 feet. For swordfish reel it common to spool a large electric 80 class reel completely with braided line. The thinner diameter braid also has less drag in the current which helps keep the bait deep with less weight.

Can you use a conventional reel from shore?

Most conventional reels can only be cast a short distance and do not work well from shore. However, sometimes when fishing for large sharks, for example, a large conventional reel that holds lots of line is needed. Rather than casting the line can be set by the wind or current by using a float. Another common way to set a line from shore is by sending the out with a kayak but still fishing from shore. Some people even used drones to drop fishing lines while beach fishing. In general, though a bait runner spinning reel is the best option for shore and surf fishing.

Captain Cody Wabiszewski

Captain Cody has worked on charter fishing boats in the Florida Keys, Virgin Islands, and Alaska. Growing up in Pennsylvania Cody has also done extensive freshwater fishing including bass fishing tournaments. Cody strives to provide detailed information about the best fishing gear and tactics to help both novice and experienced anglers have a more productive and enjoyable time on the water. Cody also has a background in aerospace engineering and neuroscience but really only takes pride in being good at one thing and that is fishing!

My favorite type of fish to catch is, “mahi-mahi baby”! That is what we usually say during the excitement of catching mahi-mahi. These are tropical fish that seasonally migrate thousands of miles each year. Mahi-mahi are also called the dolphinfish or dorado in Portuguese.

These bright-colored carnivores are the fastest-growing fish in the world, growing up to 1 inch per week and gaining up to 3 pounds per month. Mahi-mahi live in surface waters and eat fish, crabs, squid, and shrimp.

Where to Find Mahi-Mahi

Mahi-mahi are found scattered in the open ocean generally in warmer waters near the gulf stream. The general strategy to find mahi-mahi in South Florida is to travel past the reef into blue water 200 feet or deeper in-depth but the mahi-mahi will be near the surface. Upon reaching blue water look for Sargassum Alge weed lines, debris, fish surfacing, or diving birds. Once one of these is found there is a good chance mahi-mahi will be around if it is the correct time of year. When fishing for mahi-mahi it is also common to catch sailfish, marlin, tuna, tripletail, and wahoo.

Effective Trolling Techniques for Mahi-Mahi

Once a good fishing location is found the baits can be pitched or trolled close to surface structure or activity. A six to seven-mph troll speed is typical for mahi-mahi. This can vary based on weather conditions, types of lures, and the size of the boat. Some lures need to be in locations fish can easily spot them. This is done by placing them far back or outside of the turbulence area of the wake. Mahi-mahi can swim at over 55 mph so don’t be afraid to try faster-trolling speeds if fish are not hitting lures at slow trolling speeds.

Some boats catch three mahi-mahi all day and others catch 60 mahi-mahi. The big difference is capitalizing once one fish is caught while trolling. Keep the fish in the water about 20 feet behind the boat until a second mahi-mahi is hooked. The second mahi-mahi should be caught by pitching a ballyhoo hooked through the nose close to the other mahi-mahi that is on the line. Once a second mahi-mahi is hooked the first mahi-mahi can be brought in. This cycle is repeated until the school of mahi-mahi leave. If the school is close to the boat a whole dead squid is a great pitch bait to use.

Bait Selection Strategies

Dead bait is typically all that is needed to pitch to the mahi-mahi but if the school of fish is not biting switching to live bait such as goggle eyes, cigar minnows, or pilchards is a great option to have. Once live bait is used that particular school of mahi-mahi may not bite dead bait anymore so it is a good idea to start out pitching dead bait. Some days the mahi-mahi are skittish and picky with baits and other days they will bite an empty hook!

There are lots of great lures and baits for mahi-mahi. In some locations, additional attractants are added to the trolling setup such as hookless spreader bars and dredges. Having good mahi-mahi trolling lures on board is very important so the first fish can be hooked which then keeps the school close to the boat. Pitch baits can then used to catch lots of fish very quickly.

Mahi-Mahi Lures and Trolling Setup

1. Captain’s Choice Fishing Mini Chugger

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Captain’s Choice mini chuggers have an overall length of 5-inches and come in colors of blue/clear with glitter, blue/white with glitter, and pink/white. These come pre-rigged in packs of five. I am always amazed at how well these lures work. It will catch the little schoolie mahi-mahi as well as huge marlin. If you ever ask a charter captain about mini chuggers you will usually hear something about catching marlin on a tiny lure. The mini chugger itself is only 3.5 inches long but a squid and duster are included which makes the overall lure length about 5-inches.

These lures work well to target mahi-mahi, tuna, marlin, sailfish, jacks, barracuda, mackerel, and wahoo. Mini-chuggers pick up fewer weeds than most baits which is one reason I love fishing with them.

Custom Mini Chugger Trolling Lure

Mini chuggers used alone work ok but with a squid, pearl duster, and crimp protector these lures work even better! Adding the squid skirt and twinkle skirt duster adds color, flash, and weight to the lure. The added weight gets the chugger a bit deeper into the water making it more visible to the fish and allows it to create awesome bubble trails.

These squid skirts are 4.5 inches in length and the dusters are around 4 inches in length.  The hooks are 7/0 Mustad 3407DT. A 100-pound 6-foot leader line is rigged with Ande Premium Line, chaffing gear, and crimp protector. This is exactly how I would rig up this lure as a charter captain. I prefer to run this lure a mid-distance behind the boat or on the longs, which for mahi-mahi is still not super far back.

2. Chugger Head Mahi-Mahi Lure

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These fully rigged chuggers are six inches in length and have soft pusher heads. The colors included are blue-clear with glitter specs, green with glitter specs, and pink. These come pre-rigged with a 150-pound leader line and number 8/0 Mustad hooks. These will work great to catch small schoolies and large slammer-size mahi-mahi.

Chuggers and mini chuggers are my favorite lures to use for mahi-mahi. They can be used right in the prop wash 15 feet behind the boat or on mid-distance lines set out on outriggers. These work well without being rigged with ballyhoo but are a common skirt to place over ballyhoo.  The chugger head is concave like a popper and makes noise, splashing action, and creates great bubble trails. When going offshore there should definitely be some chuggers on the boat. A great thing about these lures is they pick up fewer weeds than most trolling lures. They will defiantly still pick up weeds but not as many as heavy lures. If weeds are a major issue then run the lines closer behind the boat and slow down a bit so there is less engine turbulence.

In the video above I talk about how to catch mahi-mahi. This includes both trolling techniques and how to pitch to mahi with live bait and dead bait. The lures I am using include a chugger, mini-chugger, chugger daisy chain, nomad dtx minnow and little stubby. Good baits include ballyhoo, greenbacks, pilchards, goggle eyes, cigar minnows, and squid.

3. Daisy Chain Chugger

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The Captain’s Choice Fishing daisy chain is a great lure and teaser for mahi-mahi. I like to use it as a teaser that is trolled a bit closer than the other lures.  It is not just a teaser though as the last chugger has a hook. Mahi-mahi are aggressive fish and will bite baits very close to the boat, even when trolling.

This lure is rigged with a 200-pound line with means that it can catch the big bulls without breaking. Each chugger is 6 inches in length and even small schoolies will bite the lure. Running the lure short limits the number of weeds that get caught on the line. Typically I set this close and it is the only lure that does not catch weeds when switching sides of the weed lines. The blue clear with glitter specs is a great color and looks a lot like a flying fish.

My nephew caught both of these nice bull mahi-mahi in July in the Florida Keys. One was caught on a blue/clear chugger and the other was caught on a piece of pitch bait.

4. Classic Offshore Trolling Lure

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These classic trolling lures are 6 inches in length. Colors included are three blue-white lures and two black-red lures.These come rigged on a 6-foot 100-plus pound Ande line rigged with 8/0 Mustad 3407DT hooks.  A blue mesh bag is included to store the lures. If you are trolling offshore and not sure which lures to used this is a great option. The lures troll well at most speeds and can catch mahi-mahi, tuna, sailfish, marlin, jacks, mackerel, barracuda, and wahoo.

In the picture, is one bull dolphin and several female cow dolphin. These were caught offshore in the Florida keys.

5. Flying Fish Daisy Chain

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The mahi-mahi daisy chain has a 6.5 inch Bost 63 Mahi Snack skirted lure with 4 flyers. This comes rigged on a 200-pound mono leader with a 6/0 heavy duty hook.

Having a daisy chain out while trolling offshore help helps attract fish into the spread and is frequently the first lure to get hit. Smaller daisy chains are typically put way back in the shotgun position. This daisy chain would work in the shotgun or on a line set a midway distance back on an outrigger. Flying fish are a favorite food of mahi-mahi and this daisy chain is a great flying fish imitation bait. This lure works as a small teaser that also catches fish.

The video above shows a common dynamic found fishing offshore for mahi-mahi. Frigate birds follow mahi-mahi until they spook flying fish out of the air. The frigate birds then swoop down and eat the flying fish. Frigate birds do not have oily feathers and can not get wet or they can drown. This is why they wait for baitfish to be brought within scooping distance of the surface.

If frigate birds are high they are either looking for fish or following fish that are not actively feeding. When they hover low to the water or are swooping near the surface there is likely mahi-mahi feeding underneath the fish. In Florida mahi-mahi usually feed swimming into the gulf stream which flows to the north. This means if a frigate bird is flying to the south it is also more likely following mahi-mahi.

Chasing birds is fun but not a guaranteed catch. Sometimes the fish are scattered and the birds are traveling so fast that you can not catch them even at a nine or ten-knot troll speed. This could mean that mahi-mahi are chasing scattered bait or that the frigate bird is following, bonito, tuna, or in the worst-case porpoises. Low slow-moving birds are the best and slowly trolling by them and pitching ballyhoo underneath and slightly in front of them has a high chance of catching mahi-mahi.

In the picture, is mahi-mahi and tuna that were caught while trolling and pitching live baits. These were caught about 20 miles offshore at the famous North Drop of St. John in the United States Virgin Islands. The North Drop is an underwater ledge that goes from 300 feet deep to 29,000 feet deep in just a few miles. In the summer this is a very popular place to fish for blue marlin.

6. C and H Little Stubby

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The C and H Little Stubby is 5-1/2 inches and weighs 2 ounces. The color options include blue-white or pink-white.

This lure is lightweight which makes it good a staying weed-free and works at any distance behind the boat. It probably works the best when set far behind the boat. The lure does not look that great in my opinion by it consistently catches fish. This lure is very similar to the Williamson Dorado Catcher that I will review later in this article. I have had good luck with little stubbies so that is what I typically use. These also catch lots of small tuna.

In the picture, I am holding a female cow mahi-mahi. This was caught on a blue and white little stubby while trolling along some weeds about 20 miles off the coast of the Florida keys.

7. C and H Stubby Bubbler

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This C and H stubby bubbler comes in pink or purple, blue, white and has silver mylar within the skirt. The lure is 5 1/2-inches in length. Stubby bubblers come in a variety of other colors including, green-chartreuse, pink-blue, and pink-white.

This stubby bubbler can be run any distance behind the boat and will always create fantastic looking bubble trails. This lure has a plastic head and is lightweight which makes it great for staying weed-free. This lure also catches tuna, sailfish, and marlin so it is a great lure to have in the spread when fishing offshore! A strip bait can be added for scent but is certainly not

In the picture, my brother is holding a schoolie mahi-mahi. We caught a bunch of mahi-mahi that day trolling chuggers and squid baits along the edges of thick weed piles about 15 miles offshore.

8. Williamson Ballyhoo Combo

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The Williamson Ballyhoo Combo has an overall length of 10-1/2 inches and weighs 15 ounces. The lure is rigged on a 6-foot 100-pound premium sufix mono leader with VMC 9/0 hooks. The ballyhoo combo comes in color options of black-purple, bonita-blue, evil-black, Holloween blue, pink-blue, and lumo-black. The lure is a sailfish catcher that is used in combination with artificial ballyhoo.

The ballyhoo combo with artificial ballyhoo is great for recreational fisherman and is effective at attracting fish. If the dead ballyhoo is not rigged perfectly the lure can spin and fish will never bite a spinning bait. Also with dead bait, you have to deal with washout which is when the belly of the ballyhoo breaks apart which makes the bait not troll properly. This is why salt is applied to the belly of dead ballyhoo. Dead ballyhoo can also be bitten in half and then trolled for a long time without a chance of catching fish. Artificial skirted ballyhoo might not be as good as a freshly baited skirted ballyhoo but it is much easier for the recreational fisherman to use and still works great.

9. Naked Ballyhoo or Skirted Ballyhoo for Trolling

Ballyhoo Trolling Bait

To make a ballyhoo rig for trolling start with dead ballyhoo that is fresh or that was previously frozen but thawed out. Keep the ballyhoo as cold as possible and in an ice salt brine. At a minimum salt the bellies of the ballyhoo.

Chugger Head for Skirted Ballyhoo Rig

A chugger head is a great lure to place over the dead ballyhoo to make a skirted ballyhoo rig. This adds surface action to the lure and makes the ballyhoo troll more easily in the water without spinning. The skirt also helps the belly of the bait not get washed out as quickly. Other good skirts to place over ballyhoo include the dorado catcher, sailfish catcher, and Ilander Jr.

Mustad 7/0 Hook for Ballyhoo Rig

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Mustad 3407 Classic O’Shaughnessy Forged Hooks are great for rigging ballyhoo. These hooks come in packs of 5, 50, or 100. These are the basic hooks that are used when fishing for mahi-mahi. For average size ballyhoo, a size 8/0 hook is the perfect size. When pitching ballyhoo with a spinning rod a 6/0 or 7/0 hook is a good size.

When making a ballyhoo rig for mahi-mahi 80-pound fluorocarbon leader line is used. A hook is tied to one end of the leader and the other end is tied with a perfection loop so the leader can easily be changed out. The line on the pole has a barrel snap swivel on it that can easily be connected to the perfection loop. This makes changing out baits fast when mahi-mahi are biting.

Ballyhoo Rig Copper Wire

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This is 9-inch or 14-inch copper rigging wire. It comes with 50 copper wire strands in a clear plastic tube. Rigging wire is wrapped around the hook and then around the ballyhoo. There are many good YouTube videos about how to make a ballyhoo rig. A ballyhoo bait spring can also be used to quickly rig ballyhoo without the need for rigging wire.

In the picture is a school of mahi-mahi about 10 miles off the coast of the Florida Keys. One fish is hooked and the other fish are staying nearby. This was in the summer and the mahi-mahi would stay close to the boat and were easily caught with pitch baits.

10. Captain’s Choice Chrome Head Mylar Skirt

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Captain’s Choice Fishing chrome head mylar skirt lures are 5-1/2 inches and weigh 5/8 of an ounce.  These come in colors of black/red, blue/white, and blue/pink.

These are similar to Billy Baits Mini Turbo Slammer and Boone Turbo Slammer. A great thing is that these come rigged on a 6-foot 100-pound Ande leader line which is great for tuna which have great eyesight and tend to be leader shy. The red/black color is my go-to lure when fishing for backfin tuna in the Florida Keys. Blue/white and blue/pink are good colors for mahi-mahi. These lures work great to catch mahi-mahi but are best used when the weeds are not scattered everywhere as this style of lure will catch weeds.

11. Billy Baits Mini Turbo Slammer​

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The Billy Baits Mini Turbo Slammer is 5 ½ inches and weighs 5/8 of an ounce, the color options include pearl-pink shimmer, pink-silver, and purple-blue mylar. These come rigged on a 6 foot of 100-pound grand slam mono leader with a 7/0 Mustad hook. The rigged billy bait comes with a rubber hook protector which spaces the hook properly and offers some protection against fish with sharp teeth.

Billy baits are great to run far back in the spread. Any skittish fish that are not willing to get close to the boat can still find these trailing in the back. They are small and will catch any size fish. If there are not a lot of weeds around these work great to catch all types and sizes of offshore fish.

12. Iland Ilander Jr

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The Iland Ilander Jr is 6-3/4 inches weighs 1-3/4 ounces and has a bullet head. Color options include blue-white, pink-white, blue-chartreuse, and black-purple.

This lure runs well when rigged with ballyhoo. Using a ballyhoo bait spring is the fastest way to rig ballyhoo. The bait spring goes between the lure and the hook. The hook gets placed in the bottom of the ballyhoo and the spring then gets twisted on to the front of the ballyhoo which previously had its beak broken off. The blue-white and pink-white are great colors for mahi-mahi.

In the picture, I am reeling in mahi-mahi that was caught about 20 miles off the coast of the Florida keys. There was a good weed line and a frigate bird hovering low on our way in from fishing for tuna offshore. This was in early January and we did not see other mahi-mahi traveling with this one.

13. Williamson Big Game Catcher

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The Williamson big game catcher is an 8-inch lure and weighs 2-1/2 ounces. This lure comes pre-rigged on a 5-foot 175-pound test sufix leader line with a 9/0 VMC hook. Color options include blue-pink-silver, black-purple, bleeding dorado, bonito, Halloween, Lumo, pink-white, and red-black.

I like running small baits but like having at least one large 8-inch plus bait in the trolling spread. These large baits will still catch small mahi-mahi, bonito, and blackfin tuna.

Custom Rigged 8-inch Trolling Skirt Bait

The bait rigged above is very similar to the big game catcher. Beads and crimps were used to have the hook be located just past the end of the skirt. This reduced the number of short strikes on larger baits.

14. Sea Witch on a Planer

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The sea witch comes in weights of 1/8 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/2 ounce, 3/4 ounce, 1 ounce, 1.5 ounces, 2.5 ounces, and 4 ounces. Color options include pink-white, blue-white, and black-purple. A 1-ounce size if good to run with a planer on a fishing pole. These should be rigged with ballyhoo. This is also a great bait for wahoo so be careful where you are running this bait without wire.

Fishing Planer Size 3

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The Sea Strike planer comes in size 1 which runs 5-12 feet deep, size 2 which runs 10-20 feet deep, size 3 which runs 12-25 feet deep and size 4 which runs 15-30 feet deep. The size 1 corresponds to a once weight being used at the front of the planer. There is also a size 8 high-speed planer that gets tied off to the boat and acts similar to a downrigger.

I would recommend getting a size 3 or size 4 planer when using large baits. A snap swivel from the pole connects to the front metal ring. A snap swivel with a 30-50 foot leader then connects to the back of the planer.  Drone spoons are typically used inshore on planners and skirted baits like sea witches are used offshore. In both cases, these are run on 30-50 class reels.

When the planer is placed in the water the metal ring slides toward the back and sets the planner pulling down. When a fish strikes the ring slide forward stopping the planer from diving. If the planer pole releases without catching a fish, raise the rod and drop it quickly to put slack in the line. This should reset the planer to dive. When a fish bites the line tension may decrease so be ready to reel in the slack like when using downriggers.

15. Rapala Magnum 30 Diving Plug

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The Rapala x-rap 30 magnum diving plug is 6-1/2 inches in length and weighs 2.5 ounces. Good color options for mahi-mahi include hot pink, bonito, blue sardine, red-head, and silver.

When fishing offshore it is always good to have one or two lines set deep. This is often overlooked by many anglers who run all surface baits. It the fish are hanging deeper in the water the deeper baits can catch their attention. Once one fish is caught it then brings the school up near the surface baits.

The easiest way to run a line deep is with a plug that has a large diving lip. Planers, as mentioned above also work to get the bait deep. However, with planers baits need to be rigged and when a fish is caught pulling in the long leader can be a pain. Especially when there is a school of mahi-mahi behind the boat waiting to be caught.

16. Mahi-Mahi Jig

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Shimano jigs come in a large variety of sizes. These are fast-sinking vertical jigs. For mahi-mahi a smaller 80 gram, 2-3/4 ounce is a good size since these will be used to fish the top 150 feet of water. Good color options include black anchovie, purple-silver, and pink-blue.

These jigs are a good option to drop around floating debris and thick patches of weeds. Sometimes the fish are there but are too deep for pitch baits at the surface.  These jigs are also good at catching tuna and wahoo offshore.

17. Boone Rigged Feather Baits

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Boone tuna treat feathers are 6 inches in length weigh 1-1/2 ounces. These come rigged on a 125-pound mono leader. The colors include green-yellow, blue-white, Mexican flag, red-white, purple-black, and pink-white. Bass Pro Shops has Billy Baits Ahi Slayer which is the same tuna feather style lure.

The cone shape head have reflective layers to add flash to this feather bait. Some people prefer feathers to skirted baits and these are the best looking feather baits available. These can be run empty, with strip baits or with ballyhoo.

Finding the Birds: Key to Finding Mahi-Mahi

The key to catching the first mahi-mahi of the day is finding the birds. Sometimes finding good weed lines or debris works. However, I feel much more confident that I am going to catch fish when a warbird which is also called a frigate bird is found hovering low near the water. When a low-flying frigate bird is found trolling in front of the bird while trying to directly run over the fish with the boat. Ballyhoo can be also be pitched directly underneath the frigatebird. Using binoculars or even radar can help find birds faster.

My Preferred Mahi-Mahi Trolling Setup

When trolling about four lines are typically set out. Two fill-size chuggers are typically trolled about 2o-40 feet directly behind the boat. Naked ballyhoo or skirted ballyhoo can be trolled on the outriggers if you have ballyhoo. If you do not have ballyhoo using two mini-chuggers is a great idea. A stubby bubbler, daisy chain set deep could be used.  A small lure like a mini turbo slammer, little stubby, or small daisy chain should also be run straight on the back 150 feet or more. This catches any skittish fish and frequently catches tuna.

Make sure that lures do not have weeds on them at all times. You will not catch any fish if the lure has weeds on it. Sometimes the lures have to be continuously reeled in to remove the weeds. Running the lines a bit closer to the boat using lightweight lures helps to reduce the number of weeds that get caught on the line. It is better to have one lure in the water without weeds than 10 lures that all have weeds. Focus your energy on keeping the baits weed-free.

When trolling four lures are set out on 30-class conventional fishing reels. When pitching live or dead baits large spinning reels with 30-50 pound lines are. The pitch bait is usually hooked onto a 6/0 Mustad J-hook with an 80-pound fluorocarbon leader.

Once one fish is caught keep it in the water about twenty feet behind the boat until a second fish is hooked. Pitch the bait just behind the fish on the line using ballyhoo, squid, goggle eye, cigar minnow or pilchard.

Pitch Baits for Mahi-Mahi

Once you catch one mahi-mahi while trolling, it is good to see if others are following when you are reeling it in. If this is the case, stop the boat, bring in the other lines, and get ready to pitch bait with spinning rods to the school of fish. This approach can quickly allow you to go from catching a single fish to potentially catching your limit in a short period of time. See the article on “Pitch Bait for Mahi-Mahi” for more information on this effective technique.

Common Questions About Mahi-Mahi Fishing

How fast do you troll for mahi-mahi?

The best speed to troll for mahi-mahi is 5-8 knots when using baits with ballyhoo and 7-10 knots when using lures without ballyhoo. If I was just going to tell someone one speed to troll, it would be 8 knots, which is about 9 miles per hour. In reality, it is best to look at the lures and see what they look like. They should be splashing on the surface and going beneath the water. The lures should never be tumbling. Also, make sure they do not have weeds on them. Going faster and keeping lines close helps them stay weed-free. Often, troll speed is referred to by the RPMs of the boat. We go 2100 RPM, for example. Sometimes a small change in RPMs allows the lures to be more visible relative to the boat wake.

What depth do you catch mahi-mahi?

Mahi-mahi are most commonly caught on the surface near surface structure. The fish can be down 100-plus feet depending on the conditions, but fishing lines are rarely set below 50 feet when fishing for mahi-mahi. It is a good idea to have a deep-diving plug or baited skirt on a planer to draw any deeper schools of mahi-mahi to the surface.

The overall depth of water where mahi-mahi are found ranges from 100 feet to 30,000 feet. If there is no surface structure, mahi-mahi are typically found near temperature breaks where currents come together and ledges where upwelling currents can bring nutrient-rich plankton and baitfish to the surface. The predator fish like mahi-mahi are attracted to these areas because of the baitfish.

How far behind the boat should I troll?

A typical offshore trolling spread has lines set at three distances behind the boat. One line is set close, about 25 feet behind the boat, basically right in the prop wash. This line is easy to keep weed-free, and mahi-mahi can be attracted by the prop wash and find this bait. Two lines should be sent midway back off the sides of the boat with outriggers if available. These are typically set 90-150 feet back.

The fourth rod should be sent straight out the back and is called the shotgun rod. It is typically set 200-250 feet behind the boat. A small daisy chain is a great option for the shotgun position. A fifth line should be set not for distance but for depth. A deep-diving plug or planer should be used to get a line 15-30 feet below the surface. This line is typically set about 75 feet behind the boat.

Where do you fish for mahi-mahi?

Mahi-mahi are fish that are found offshore near the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. Mahi-mahi are also found offshore of California, Mexico, and Central America in the Pacific Ocean. However, mahi-mahi are commonly called dolphin or dorado on the west coast. Mahi-mahi seasonally migrate thousands of miles each year and typically spawn in waters around 83 degrees. Mahi-mahi season in Florida goes from late spring until the end of summer. Some smaller mahi-mahi can be caught year-round around good offshore structure.

What is the best bait for mahi-mahi?

The best live baits for mahi-mahi are goggle eyes, cigar minnows, ballyhoo, pilchards, and scaled sardines. The best dead baits for mahi-mahi are ballyhoo, squid, bonito chunks, and shrimp. Lures that are the best for mahi-mahi include chuggers, stubby bubblers, and daisy chains.

Are dolphin fish and mahi-mahi the same thing?

In most cases, dolphin fish, dorado, and mahi-mahi are the same type of fish species. There is a pompano dolphinfish that is found in Central America that is commonly mistaken for small mahi-mahi. These are the only two fish that are in the Coryphaena genus. It is also important to note that a dolphin fish is different than a porpoise dolphin. When you tell someone that you want dolphin for dinner, they often look at you with an evil grin. That is when you have to tell them you are not talking about Flipper.

Is mahi-mahi fish good for you?

Mahi-mahi is a high-protein food that is full of essential amino acids and enzymes such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B, potassium, selenium, and iron.

Mahi-mahi is considered a lower mercury fish. These are the fastest-growing fish in the world and typically live for four years. This means there is less time for mercury and heavy metals to build up in the fish. Mahi-mahi also live far offshore away from nearshore pollution. Personally, I think this is a very safe fish to eat, with mahi-mahi and small blackfin tuna being my favorite fish to eat.

Captain Cody Wabiszewski

Captain Cody has worked on charter fishing boats in the Florida Keys, Virgin Islands, and Alaska. Growing up in Pennsylvania Cody has also done extensive freshwater fishing including bass fishing tournaments. Cody strives to provide detailed information about the best fishing gear and tactics to help both novice and experienced anglers have a more productive and enjoyable time on the water. Cody also has a background in aerospace engineering and neuroscience but really only takes pride in being good at one thing and that is fishing!