Mahi mahi (dolphinfish)
Mahi mahi in South East Queensland: minimum 50 cm, 5 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: November, December, January and February.
Updated
Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus. Also called dolphin fish, dolphinfish, dorado and mahi.
| Scientific name | Coryphaena hippurus |
|---|---|
| Other names | dolphin fish, dolphinfish, dorado, mahi |
| Minimum size | 50 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 5 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Nov–Feb |
| Also in season | Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Daytime |
| Habitats | Bluewater (FADs and the shelf) |
| Access | Mostly a boat fishery |
Mahi mahi size and bag limit in QLD
Min 50 cm. 5 per person. No closed season.
Checked 8 Oct 2026 against the Queensland Government pages: size and possession limits and closed seasons.
Limits are possession limits: they count everything you hold, including any at home in the freezer. In yellow (conservation park) zones: max 2 lines and 2 hooks in total per angler. Green zones: no fishing. All QLD fishing rules
When to catch mahi mahi in South East Queensland
October 2026: Mahi mahi is in season across South East Queensland, though not at its peak.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ-wide | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: in season | April: in season | May: off season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off season | September: in season | October: in season | November: peak season | December: peak season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Tide: Not tide-driven.
Time of day: Daytime; more than 95% of their time is spent in the top 10 m under the object.
Weather: not fussy about wind; rain makes little difference.
Seasons partly come from Coastwatch report mentions, not catch numbers.
| Area | How common | Best | Also in season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore Sunshine Coast | Main area | Nov–Feb | Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct |
| Offshore Moreton | Main area | Nov–Feb | Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct |
| Offshore Gold Coast | Main area | Nov–Feb | Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct |
Not in our guide for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Pumicestone Passage & Bribie, Northern Moreton Bay, Western Moreton Bay, Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Straddie & Jumpinpin and Gold Coast.
Where to catch mahi mahi in SEQ
Around floating objects and the Queensland Government FADs: off Noosa, Mooloolaba (10 nm, east), Wide Caloundra, Bribie, Cape Moreton, Moreton and Stradbroke offshore, Point Lookout, and the Gold Coast 24s, 36s and 50s. Check the FAD page for which units are deployed.
Mahi mahi is mostly a boat fishery in South East Queensland.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate mahi mahi: Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra, Offshore: Cape Moreton & Point Lookout, Offshore: Gold Coast.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| FAD 7 Mooloolaba 10 nm | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| FAD 6 Bribie offshore | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| FAD 8 Mooloolaba east | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| FAD 17 Cape Moreton offshore | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| FAD 18 Wide Caloundra | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| FAD 16 Moreton offshore | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits mahi mahi (our habitat match), not from catch reports. Each spot links to its place on the area page; tide times are for the place our forecast reads for that spot.
How to catch mahi mahi: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Live slimy mackerel or yakka
- Pilchards floated back near the FAD
- Cubes as burley
Lures
- Small skirted lures trolled past the FAD
- Stickbaits, poppers and soft plastic jerkbaits
Mahi mahi rig
15-30 lb spin or overhead gear, 40-60 lb leader; keep one hooked fish in the water to hold the school.
Good to know about mahi mahi
Warm-water fish (21-30 °C), fast-growing and short-lived; FADs hold more females ("cows"). Coastwatch mentions peak Nov-Feb, with a second showing in Sep-Oct. Report tagged FAD fish to fads@daf.qld.gov.au.
Open in the forecast
See mahi mahi in the Catch Signal app: seasons for the area you fish, closed-season warnings and the best days this week.
Sources
- Queensland Government: size and possession limits for tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Queensland Government: fish aggregating device (FAD) locations
- Moreton Daily, Ask Dr Dazza: All you need to know about mahi mahi
- Coastwatch weekly reports (seasons from report mentions, not catch numbers; we use the facts only)
Rules are short, dated summaries: always check the official pages before you keep a fish. Species notes are in our own words from the sources listed.