Though the colorful and speedy dolphin is caught year-round in tropical and subtropical offshore Atlantic and Gulf waters, it's during the warmer spring and summer months that it is most bounteous.
It's also the time when 80 percent of the saltwater anglers on Florida's lower southeast coast seek them out, says Bob Flocken and Freeman Lee at Tournament Angler, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale.
Due to distances, the dolphin isn't listed among prime targets for Florida's west coast contingent because fishermen are often forced to travel offshore 60 miles or more before reaching productive areas.
Conversely, east coasters frequently find this pelagic from just three to five miles off the beaches.
When in the mood, a voracious dolphin (also known as a mahi mahi or dorado) swats about anything crossing its path. Live baits, strip baits, plugs, plastics, jigs, spinners, streamers--you name it and the dolphin will eat it...most of the time.
According to Flocken and Lee, the firm's hottest dolphin seller for trollers are rigs made up in their store consisting of a six- to eight-foot length of 80-pound test mono, a 5/0 to 8/0 hook (for use with 20- to 30-pound line), and a silver swivel.
"If you are afraid of hooking kingfish, wahoo, barracuda, or other toothy species, you can use wire instead of monofilament when making up a rig," Flocken emphasized.
Those using lighter tackle or who prefer using lighter leader rigs may want to drop down to 50-pound test. For hooks, both Flocken and Lee recommend the #3407 Mustad or #254 Eagle Claw.
"Be sure the hooks are plenty sharp," adds Lee.
With this rig trollers can employ a wide variety of live or strip baits, artificial lures, or combos of both.
Excellent live baits to be used for slow trolling or drifting are pilchards, goggleyes, or sardines.
Strip baits, baleo, or squid can be used plain or in conjunction with plastic trolling skirts. Green and yellow or pink and white seem to be the preferred colors unless it's a dark overcast day when they suggest using reds, blues, blacks, or purples.
Popular soft plastic sellers at Tournament Angler include Moldcraft's Little Hooker, Little Bird, Dolphin Juniors, Jelly Bellies, and Cotee's already rigged and biodegradable Strip Bait.
"When in a feeding frenzy, dolphin will hit just about any lure in an angler's tackle box including bass plugs, jigs of all types, and spinnerbaits," Lee said.
Perhaps the best seller in hard plastic lures for the specie is the Rat-L-Trap. But, they strongly suggest replacing the multiple hooks with a single.
All types of streamer flies or chuggars will take dolphin within fly caster's range.
Another tip from Flocken and Lee: Always have one or two spinning rods rigged and ready for action for when a school of dolphin follow a hooked comrade to the boat.
If you'll keep one hooked fish in the water until your fishing companion gets one, you can keep a school of dolphin in the area and feeding for 20 minutes or more.
Copyright (c) 1997 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
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