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Fish & Other Seafood

Beche De Mer
(Sea Cucumber)

Also known as Dorado, Mahi Mahi

Dolphinfish have a tightly compressed, deep body and a steep frontal slope.  In males and older fish, the 'forehead' has a pronounced crest or hump.  It has a long dorsal fin which runs from the top of the head to the butt of the tail, the dorsal fin has no hard spines.  It has a deeply forked, long lobed and wide tail. Dolphin fish are prolific spawners, grow quickly, and have short life spans (believed to be around 5 years).

Dolphinfish are brilliantly coloured fish that light up with irridescent blues, greens, gold, yellow and orange colours.  They are an excellent sport fish, that fight hard and can leap from the water.

Although its common name is dolphin-fish, the mahi-mahi is a fish not a dolphin, and is not at all related to the Delphinidae family of mammals whose common name is simply dolphin. An alternative name for mahi-mahi is simply dolphin, or common dolphin. The English language adopted the Hawaiian word, mahi-mahi without formalizing its spelling.

Fishing for Dolphin Fish, Mahi Mahi:

Mahi-mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes. Sport fishermen seek mahi-mahi due to their beauty, size, food quality, and healthy population.  Mahi-mahi can be found in Australia,  the Caribbean Sea, on the west coast of North and South America, the pacific coast of Costa Rica, the Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Asia, Hawaiʻi and many other places worldwide.

They are taken on lures and live baits, and are usually found around floating objects such as wood, seaweed, fish buoys at sea. Frigate bird diving can also be an indication of the presence of Dolphinfish Mahi Mahi when there is debris in the water.  Watch for flying fish. These fish are a favourite meal for mahi-mahi.

Mahi-mahi are carnivorous, feeding on flying fish, crabs, squid, mackerel, and other small fish. They have also been known to eat zooplankton, squid, and crustaceans.

Thirty- to 50-pound gear is more than adequate for trolling for mahi-mahi. Fly-casters may especially seek frigatebirds to find big mahi-mahis and then use a bait-and-switch technique. Ballyhoo or a net full of live sardines tossed into the water can excite the mahi-mahis into a feeding frenzy. Hook-less teaser lures can have the same effect. After tossing the teasers or live chum, fishermen throw the fly to the feeding mahi-mahi. Once on a line, mahi-mahi are fast, flashy and acrobatic, with beautiful blue, yellow, green and even red dots of colour.

Sport catches average 7 to 13 kg (15 to 25 pounds). Though they can grow to be up to 45 kg (90 pounds) any Mahi-mahi over 40 pounds is exceptional.

Did you know?
Dried dolphin fish skin has been used in the past to make trolling lure skirts? It's very strong, and when it gets wet again - no matter how old - it softens up and has flash, action and smell.

Did you know?
Mahi Mahi means Strong Strong in Polynesian.

Cooking Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish):

Dolphinfish are excellent eating table fish. Grilled, blackened, or baked are the most common ways to prepare Mahi fish. Dolphin is low in saturated fat and is a good source of vitamin B12, phosphorus, and potassium and a very good source of protein, niacin, vitamin B6, and selenium.

Mahi Mahi offers a tender but firm flesh with a large moist flake and a sweet yet slightly strong flavour. The meat is smooth and firm with a pink to creamy white appearance. Typically, there is a small bloodline along the center of the fillet that is a slightly darker tint than the meat.

Well-wrapped Mahi Mahi can be frozen up to two months in a refrigerator freezer, and three to four months in a deep-freeze.

Commercial Fishing For Mahi Mahi, Dolphinfish, Dolphin Fish, Dorado, (Coryphaenidae hippurus):

Although not related to dolphins, Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) was originally marketed under the name “Dolphin Fish.” The name caused wide-spread consumer concern, so the “Dolphin Fish” was renamed Mahi Mahi and consumer acceptance and commercial sales began to increase.

Most Mahi Mahi comes from commercial wild marine fisheries caught by trolling, and to a lesser extent by pole and line.

MAHI MAHI SUPPLIERS

Exporters of Mahi Mahi  |  Importers of Mahi Mahi  |  Processors of Mahi Mahi  |
Wholesale Suppliers of Mahi Mahi  |  Agents for Mahi Mahi