When is mahi season in Islamorada?
April to September. Bud N’ Mary’s calls summer the most consistent, A Fishing Guru peaks mahi May to July with a fall window in October, and Robbie’s calls spring and summer the height of dolphin season. The limit is 5 per person at 20 in FL in Keys state waters.
The fish
Mahi-mahi, or dolphinfish, live offshore in warm water, and the young shelter in floating sargassum weed, which is why crews hunt weed lines. FWC puts them at up to 63 inches and 88 pounds, common to 30; NOAA says they live up to five years and can breed at four to five months old. FWC notes that when one fish in a school is hooked, the rest often stay close. NOAA calls the flavour sweet and mild.
Mahi season in Islamorada
Bud N’ Mary’s: April to September, summer the most consistent. A Fishing Guru: April to September, peak May to July, and a fall mahi and wahoo window in October. Robbie’s: spring and summer are the height of dolphin season. Big Dave lists mahi as a top fish from March to September.
The Keys tourism council grades mahi Peak in May, June, July, August and September and Lower in January, February, March, November and December. Summer also brings Islamorada’s dolphin tournaments, from the Nick Sheahan Dolphin Rodeo in early May to the Coast Guard Station Islamorada Dolphin Rodeo in July.
Can you keep mahi-mahi?
On a charter the boat’s limit is 5 times the customers fishing. The captain and crew may keep none.
Every limit is on what fish you can keep.
| Rule | FWC, Keys state waters |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 20 in FL |
| Bag limit | 5 per person |
| Season | Open all year |
| Source | FWC: Mahi-mahi (dolphin) |
Which trip to book
Offshore, six or eight hours, in summer: Islamorada full days ran $950–$2,000 per boat in October 2026. Bring a cooler: mahi are the offshore fish most crews keep. See deep-sea fishing and what happens to your fish.
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Shake N Bait
4.7 Google · 26 reviews · read 4 October 2026
Mahi-mahi first on its list of offshore targets; the mate cleans and bags your catch.
Departs: Whale Harbor Marina
Check availability -
A Fishing Guru
4.6 Google · 20 reviews · read 4 October 2026
Offshore for mahi, tuna, sailfish and wahoo on a 39-ft Contender or 26-ft Pathfinder.
Check availability -
Hound Dawg Charters
5.0 Google · 10 reviews · read 4 October 2026
Offshore half, three-quarter and full days; a first mate cleans and fillets the catch.
Departs: Whale Harbor Marina, MM 83.5
Check availability
Google · 26 reviews · read 4 October 2026 Read for this page on 6 October 2026: FWC: dolphinfish profile ; NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic mahi mahi ; Bud N’ Mary’s: dolphin fishing ; Robbie’s: offshore fishing .
Check it at the source
- FWC — Recreational saltwater fishing regulations Current state size limits, bag limits and seasons, species by species. Link checked 6 September 2026
- South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Federal management for snapper, grouper and reef species on the Atlantic side. Link checked 6 September 2026
Mahi-mahi: questions
What is the best month for mahi in Islamorada?
May to July is the peak by A Fishing Guru’s guide, inside an April-to-September season that Bud N’ Mary’s and Robbie’s describe the same way. A Fishing Guru adds a fall window in October.
How many mahi can you keep in the Florida Keys?
Five per person per day, at least 20 inches to the fork, in Keys state waters. On a charter the boat’s limit is five times the customers fishing, and the captain and crew may keep none.
Next step
Looking for fishing trips in Islamorada?
Islamorada Charters Fishing is an independent guide — no boats, no bookings, nothing to sell. It exists so you can ask better questions before you hand an operator a deposit.
Islamorada Charters Fishing takes no bookings and earns nothing from a click. You book with the operator directly.