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Dorado
(Mahi Mahi) World
Record
~ 88 Lbs. Caught at
Highbourne Cay, Bahamas on May 5, 1998 by angler Richard D. Evans. Scientific
name
~ Coryphaena Hippurus Other
names
~ Dolphinfish, Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Common Dolphin Fish, Common
Dolphinfish, Dolphin Dish, Green Dolphin, Mahi Mahi, and Mahi-Mahi, Bull
dolphin Identification
~ The colors of the Dorado
are quite dramatic with golden hues on the sides, patches of metallic
blue and greens on the back and sides, and white and yellow on the
underside. This fish is very colorful underwater, catching light and
reflecting a wide range of brilliant colors. Freshly caught individuals
change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color. The
two species of Dorado are easily distinguishable. Both exhibit the same
elongate, fusiform body shape. The single dorsal fin extends the length
of the body. The anal fin begins approximately in the middle of the body
and ends at the same point as the dorsal fin. The pelvic fins are
located under the pectoral fins and can be compressed into a shallow
groove on the body. The tail fin is strongly forked. The head is very
blunt on males (called Bulls) the forehead is more vertical and higher
then the more tapered head of the female. The mouth contains many small
teeth as well as a small and oval-shaped tooth patch on the tongue. Size
~ Most angler caught Dorado
are in the 5 to 15 pound range with occasional catches of up to 50 Lbs.
The Dorado can reach a length of 6 feet, but more common are lengths of
3 feet . The record for Florida waters is 77 pounds, 12 ounces and the
world record is 87 pounds. Dorado that school together range in size
from 1-20 pounds while larger individuals live alone or in pairs. Habitat
~ Generally a pelagic fish, the Dorado is found offshore under floating
objects. It is sometimes known to follow large ships and to hangout
under large floating mats of sargassum. Dorado are also found near the
coast, ranging in depth from the surface to 280 feet. Small Dorado
travel together in schools ranging from just a few fish to over 50
individuals. The Dorado is distributed in tropical and subtropical
waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. It is
abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Current, and throughout the
Caribbean. Feeding
Habits
~ Dorado are swift-moving, agile predators and are able to overcome most
prey items. This fish often associates with Sargassum in the Florida
Current and Gulf Stream, where they prey primarily upon the smaller
fishes and invertebrates associated with these tide lines. They feed
during the day on small oceanic fishes such as flyingfish, man-o-war
fish, sargassum fish and triggerfish, juveniles of large pelagic fish
including tunas, billfishes, jacks, mackerels, and dorado, and also
squid and crabs.
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