Skip to content
Piscatorium
Sign in

Sea fish

Common dolphinfish

Coryphaena hippurus

Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.

Other names: Mahi mahi

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Common dolphinfish
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE (Wikimedia Commons) · source
Habitat
Warm open water
Method
Trolling · Spinning
Family
Coryphaenidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Common dolphinfish caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

Central & South Aegean fishing spots

180
Central & South Aegean
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

Open map

A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Central & South Aegean

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Season information is no guarantee of a catch.

Best spots in October

By month

Average monthly score of the spots in Turkey (0–100).

  1. — Jan
  2. — Feb
  3. — Mar
  4. — Apr
  5. — May
  6. 0 Jun
  7. 0 Jul
  8. 20 Aug
  9. 48 Sep
  10. 49 Oct
  11. 42 Nov
  12. 37 Dec

The best spot in each Turkish province, by this month’s score.

  1. D-Marin Didim The Blue Point Beach Club Didim, Aydın 57/100 Good
  2. Günbatımı Plajı Bodrum, Muğla 57/100 Good
  3. Küçük Çakıl Plajı Kaş, Antalya 54/100 Good
  4. Deniz Feneri Seferihisar, İzmir 52/100 Good
  5. İskele Burhaniye, Balıkesir 50/100 Good

A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.

Best times of day

When in the day it bites best, month by month.

  • Active by day
  • Poor at night

In October

  1. Dawn Best 95

    0.5 h before sunrise → 3 h after

  2. Midday 70

    1.5 h before midday → 1.5 h after

  3. Dusk 70

    2 h before sunset → 0.5 h after

Not productive at night

Moon phase

Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.

  1. New moon 40
  2. First quarter 40
  3. Full moon 40
  4. Last quarter 40

Best phase: No clear effect

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 50 50 60 60 60 95 95 95 95 95 95 50
Midday 50 50 55 55 55 55 55 55 70 70 70 50
Dusk 40 40 45 45 45 70 70 70 70 70 70 40
Night

Windows follow sunrise and sunset; clock times change with place and date. Scores are relative within the month: 100 is the best window of the day.

7 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.

Depth

0–85 m

mostly 5–10 m

Water temperature

15–31 °C

ideal 25–30 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

21–39.3 ‰

Shore types

  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Headland
  • Cliff / steep shore
  • Harbour mouth

Bottom

Lives in open water

Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.

Confidence: shore type low, temperature high

Bait and tackle suggestions

Recorded baits and fishing techniques.

Bait by month

Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.

In October

Natural baits

Lures

By water clarity

Pelagic sight hunter — Chases baitfish shoals by sight. Lures shine in clear water; in murky water its hunting range shrinks.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Lure First natural bait: Live baitfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Stickbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: Blue-green back, Silver, White
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First natural bait: Live baitfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Stickbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: Silver, White, Blue-green back, Pink
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Garfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: White, Fluorescent, Gold
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Garfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Fluorescent, Dark silhouette
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Garfish · Suitable Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Weak Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
January closed season
Closed season 1 January–14 August. No bait advice is shown for this month.
February closed season
Closed season 1 January–14 August. No bait advice is shown for this month.
March closed season
Closed season 1 January–14 August. No bait advice is shown for this month.
April closed season
Closed season 1 January–14 August. No bait advice is shown for this month.
May closed season
Closed season 1 January–14 August. No bait advice is shown for this month.
June closed season
Closed season 1 January–14 August. No bait advice is shown for this month.
July closed season
Closed season 1 January–14 August. No bait advice is shown for this month.
August closed season
Natural baits: Live baitfish, Garfish, Octopus piece Lures: Metal jig, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait, Stickbait
September
Natural baits: Live baitfish, Garfish, Octopus piece Lures: Metal jig, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait, Stickbait
October
Natural baits: Live baitfish, Garfish, Octopus piece Lures: Popper, Metal jig, Stickbait, Jighead + soft swimbait
November
Natural baits: Live baitfish, Garfish, Octopus piece Lures: Metal jig, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait, Stickbait
December
Natural baits: Live baitfish, Garfish, Octopus piece Lures: Metal jig, Popper

This is the usual pattern; the water and weather on the day can change it. Colour is fine-tuning: bait type, size and action come first. Confidence: natural high, lures high. Colour and presentation guide

Natural baits

Fishing technique

Fishing rules for Türkiye

Türkiye

Minimum size
50 cm
Maximum quantity
1 fish

Closed season: 1 January–14 August

Single-species or mixed total; details and exceptions are in the regulation.

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

MVT0023

2024/21 Çizelge 7

No additional species note; the general provisions of 2024/21 apply

The table in our records

Minimum size
50 cm
Maximum quantity
1 fish
Closed season
1 January–14 August

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.

Species profile

Common dolphinfish
Scientific name
Coryphaena hippurus
Family
Coryphaenidae
Order
Carangiformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Lambuka, Mahi mahi

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Common dolphinfish?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Common dolphinfish is 50 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Common dolphinfish closed to fishing?

The closed season for Common dolphinfish is 1 January–14 August. Fishing for it is banned within those dates. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Common dolphinfish found in?

In our records Common dolphinfish appears in these seas: Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, North Aegean & Thrace — Greece, Central & South Aegean — Greece, Ionian Sea — Greece, Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece, Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus, Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus, Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus, Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus, Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus, Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus, Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus, Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus, Ligurian Sea — Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy, Adriatic — Italy, Ionian Sea — Italy, Strait of Sicily — Italy, Atlantic Ocean — Spain, Mediterranean — Spain, Alboran Sea — Spain, Strait of Gibraltar — Spain.

In which months is Common dolphinfish at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Aegean Sea June–November; Mediterranean May–October; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Central & South Aegean — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece April–November; Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus June–September; Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus June–September; Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus June–September; Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus June–September; Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus June–September; Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus June–September; Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus June–September; Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus June–September; Ligurian Sea — Italy July–October; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy July–October; Adriatic — Italy July–October; Strait of Sicily — Italy July–October; Ionian Sea — Italy July–October; Atlantic Ocean — Spain August–November; Mediterranean — Spain July–October; Alboran Sea — Spain July–October; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain July–October.

Which bait is Common dolphinfish caught with?

Baits and lures on record: European sardine, European squid, mamun, sülünez, minnow, popper, jig, shrimp.

Similar species

Pick your spot, check the conditions, then head out.

Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 454 fishing grounds

Pisca AI

Members only

Ask about this species

Common dolphinfish · Coryphaena hippurus

Works with Piscatorium data: spot scores, seasonal species and tackle recipes. Type your question and the chat opens in the side panel.

What can you ask?

Weigh the answers together with their sources.

Ask Pisca AI

Pro membership

PRO MEMBERSHIP