DORADO

 

Coryphaena hippurus

 

OTHER NAMES: Dolphin fish, Mahi Mahi.

 

WHERE FOUND:

Dorado can be found offshore anywhere along our coast where there are warm currents.

 

SEASONS:

In the Cape and Southern KZN Dorado are common during the summer months when the water is warmer. They can be caught year round in Zululand and Mozambique, but there is a peak in summer catches.

 

SIZE:

Dorado grow to around forty kilograms, although the biggest fish taken in our waters are around twenty five to thirty kilo’s.

 

NATURAL HISTORY:

The Dorado is a true pelagic game fish. It occurs all round the world in a wide band including the tropics and equator. It is one of the fastest growing fish and is farmed commercially in some parts of the world. Dorado are also one of the fastest swimming game fish in the ocean. These fish swim near the surface and do almost all of their feeding close to the surface. They especially like floating objects at sea. A floating object in a warm current will provide a good opportunity to fish for these energetic fighters. It would seem that they like to shelter beneath the shade of floating objects, as well as feeding on small fish and crustaceans, which gather around these mini ecosystems. These fish often feed around current lines, and drifting along a current line with a chum trail being let out is a good way to attract these fish around a boat. Dorado often occur in pairs and seem to have strong bonds as a hooked fish will be followed by its mate right up to the boat in many cases. In this situation the other fish will often eagerly accept a lure as well.  Dorado are daylight feeders.

 

HOW TO CATCH DORADO:

Dorado are aggressive and opportunistic predators. They will hit almost any lure worked near or on the surface with spectacular speed and agility. Light or medium tackle is sufficient for most Dorado, and will provide the angler with the greatest entertainment. These fish are most commonly caught on heavy trolling gear aimed at Tuna and other large gamefish, for this reason they are often unable to give a good account of themselves and have not earned a reputation in South Africa as good fighters. On light tackle however, they provide a spectacular show with high leaps out of the water and blistering runs. The best way to fish for them is to flick small spoons, bucktail jigs, dropshots or surface plugs around floating debris at sea, or to set up a chum line in the current and work spoons, plugs or jigs in the slick. Lures worked close to or on the surface will usually provide the best results.

 

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-ZA
JA
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-ZA;}