GOLDEN WONDER
Swimming at speeds up to 50mph, these fish give a spectacular display of neon acrobatics
Enjoy a show of neon acrobatics.
One species of fish I am certain figures prominently on the bucketlist of most anglers is the dorado. These exquisitely beautiful golden fish not only look amazing, but also fight out of all proportion to their size. If that were not enough, they rank among the finest eating fish you’ll ever have the privilege to taste.
They are widespread throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, and readily attack almost any bait or lure you manage to get in front of them. They can swim at speeds up to 50mph and, once hooked, can be guaranteed to take to the air in the first of a multitude of breathtaking displays of neon acrobatics.
Dorado is Spanish for gold, and the name certainly matches their colour. In
some areas, such as the USA, they are called dolphin fish. Not surprisingly this often causes confusion at restaurants where diners assume they are being offered dolphin, the mammal. The most likely reason for this confusing name is due to the fact it was previously classified under the genus Dolfyn. Elsewhere they are called mahi-mahi or felusi.
Dorado (Coryphaena hippuru), can live up to five years, but rarely exceed four. They are the fastest-growing fish that swim, reaching maturity between four and five months of age. They start spawning when they reach a length of just 20cm.
Females spawn two to three times each year, producing 80,000 to a million eggs each time. Consequently, global stocks of dorado remain healthy. Indeed, they are one species anglers can eat with a clear conscience.
In many areas the average size is between 10-30lb, with fish bigger than 40lb regarded as a trophy. The IGFA all-tackle record is a fish of 87lb, caught in 1976 from the Papagayo Gulf, Costa Rica.
FLOATING DEBRIS
Dorado are often caught as a bycatch by boats targeting other species, typically when trolling as they can be encountered anywhere in blue water.
If you specifically want to target dorado, then finding them revolves entirely around locating weed lines and any other floating debris, such as old pallets or tree trunks, beneath which the fish shelter.
On several occasions I have seen many dozens of fish beneath seemingly insignificant pieces of floating debris, such as a single tree branch or plastic barrel, presenting the opportunity to catch fish more or less at will. This offers outstanding sport when sight casting baits or lures on light spinning tackle.
Once located, a popular trick is to keep at least one hooked fish in the water at all times.
This ensures the rest of the shoals remain inquisitive, allowing additional catches.
Many dorado are caught on relatively heavy tackle when fishing for other species, but aside from providing a pretty sight and a tasty meal, the angler will experience little if any actual sport.
My favourite way to catch these amazing fish is to cast lures at floating debris or visible, cruising fish. When a dorado lights up with excitement, its fins turn an incredible neon electric blue. They then charge down a lure – something I will never tire of seeing. Poppers, stick baits, casting jigs, buck tails and more, dorado will hit pretty much any type of lure.
I love using surface poppers for the visually spectacular surface strikes they invariably induce, or stick baits that rarely go unnoticed.
I’ve caught dorado on all lure colours, but the most effective seems to be hot pink, which looks like absolutely nothing I have ever seen in the natural world, yet fish find them irresistible.
WIDELY TARGETED
Some of the very best dorado fishing I have experienced has been off the Pacific coast of Central America, along with numerous destinations throughout the Indian Ocean, notably Costa Rica, Panama, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, The Maldives, Tanzania and Oman.
Dorado are plentiful throughout the Caribbean and widely targeted from boats fishing from any of the popular tourist destinations in the region, such as Florida, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia.
Often you can arrange a good deal for a local boat to take you fishing for either a half or a full day. You’ll most likely end up trolling lures or deadbaits, but if you make it clear that it is dorado that you would like to catch, your chances of success are high.
Very few British sea anglers realise that the Mediterranean has a massive population of dorado. Throughout the summer and early autumn, lots, and I mean lots, of fish can be caught from numerous destinations in Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus and elsewhere. Invariably, these will be small fish, but caught on light spinning tackle, and especially flyfishing gear, they provide wonderful sport that is available to all, right on your doorstep.
I host trips to several destinations where we catch plenty of dorado, along with other popular species. If you would like to join me, then contact Anglers World Holidays, tel: 01246 221717. ■
Dave Lewis’s recently published book, ‘Destination Angler 2’, features 26 beautifully illustrated chapters, covering fishing for snook in Nicaragua, along with many other bucketlist species at destinations around the world. Cost is £30 plus £3.99 p&p to a UK address.
Contact: david.lewis21@hotmail.com