Best TROLLING lures for Catching MAHI MAHI | Dolphin Fishing Basics & Tactics

In this episode I go over the best Saltwater Trolling Lures for catching Mahi Mahi. A comprehensive insight to what choices, uses & rigging I use when trolling for dolphin, going over my select favorite saltwater lures, such as, the bucktail jig, trolling squid, trolling skirt, Ilander trolling lure & Billy Bait Mini Turbo Slammer . If you've ever wondered about the trolling lure selection process for catching Mahi. The episode is made for you... Here to answer some frequently asked questions and offer some sound advice to help you catch more fish on your deep sea fishing adventures.
Enjoy,
Tight lines & good vibes.
If you're new to the channel and you'd like to learn more about fishing, grow as an angler, or just enjoy some exciting offshore fishing adventures, you can start right now by clicking on the link below to subscribe:
kzbin.info...
If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or have a product you would like showcased in one of our episodes, please email [e-mail]
Seaguar
Red Label Fluorocarbon
seaguar.com/saltwater/fluoroc...
SPRO Jig
3/4 ounce white/glow bucktail jig
amzn.to/46Cn5PR
SPRO Jig
1/2 ounce white bucktail jig
amzn.to/3XEBkjb
Boone 6 inch squirt squid
bit.ly/3ghIQKt
Ilander Trolling lures
www.tackledirect.com/ilandlur...
Boone Turbo Hammer (blue/silver)
amzn.to/3pCq6za
Mustad 5/0 O'SHAUGHNESSY HOOKS
bit.ly/3yd8yZA
Mustad 8/0 O'SHAUGHNESSY HOOKS
bit.ly/3fdBKqE
Reel - Penn Spinfisher ssv5500
bit.ly/2PO6MXY
Rod - 7 foot Penn Battalion 15-20 lb class
bit.ly/2QJDSt8
line - 12lb Momoi smoke blue Nylon Mono
bit.ly/2No8tia

[@ronparker6401]

Thanks Heath for sharing your wealth of knowledge !!!... just found your channel and cannot thank you enough. I love the rigging techniques, the lures, and the detail each video delivers. 👍👍

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and leaving some great feedback. I truly appreciate it and your support for the channel. Glad you found useful. Thanks again. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@johnhollis7290]

IMHO "South Florida Saltwater Fishing" is consistently one of the BEST fishing info videos on all types of trolling combinations. Especially true for 1-2 private fishermen on (non -chartered/guided) fishing trips. Tight Lines always,

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a bazillion for watching and leaving a great & humbling compliment. I truly appreciate it. Can't thank you enough for taking out time to watch and always chat with me. That's what makes this channel run. Sincerely, thanks for everything you do. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@AnnexF]

Thank you!! Awesome tip.

[@krzyhrsefla]

Great job Heath!!! You covered a lot of ground in this video. No doubt we will all benefit by having these lures in our tackle boxes. Personally, the mini turbo slammer and 4 inch squid skirt are my favorite lures. Have caught Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo and Sailfish and more on them. And let’s not forget the white buck tail. Always have one rigged up and ready to go. Stay well brother. Jay

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Hi Jay, thanks a boat load for watching and always being here to support the channel. Yea, these are some very common lures for the seasoned salty angler. Definitely make life easy when hunting down feeding fish. That bucktail tho, 100% correct, always locked and loaded. I'm waiting for this wind to cut me some slack, so I can get out in the morning... dying to do some Mahi slaying. They're biting right now. Can't thank you enough for everything. Hopefully see you out on the water soon. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@AdventureswithaaronB]

Quality vid, hopefully one day I’ll have a Boat and I could utilize this! Thank you

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Hi Alex, thanks a million for watching and always being here to support the channel. Yes, hopefully some day you will have a boat. I dreamt about it for decades. I got lucky when Hurricane Irma hit and I was able to acquire the CRABCAKE. With my grandmother's help, I financed a new motor and well, here I am. Ultimately, I knew it would be a struggle financially, and it still is, but you only live once, so I figured out how to work as hard as I can to make this happen. Can't thank you enough for everything you've done for the channel. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@anaquintanar9606]

Always putting fantastic fishing tutorials!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a boat lad for watching and leaving some fantastic feedback. I truly appreciate it and your support for the channel. Sincerely, couldn't do this without you. Thanks again. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@aquaman461]

Great info and video Heath!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a bazillion for watching. Always a true pleasure hearing from you, and I can't thank you enough for all your support and making this happen. Glad you found the information useful. Thanks again for everything you do. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@cl89521]

More great tips Heath! Fist bump my dude for me! Hope to see you back out getting the lines tight! Thanks again, brother! ~Chuck

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Hi Chuck, Thanks for watching and always being here. Avi and the girls say "Hi Chuck, right back at ya with a big fist bump!!!" Hopefully, soon the winds will be cutting me some slack and I'll be able to get out and do some slaying with the crew. Thanks again for all your support, sincerely couldn't this without you. I'll see you on Thursday. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@cl89521]

@@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing Heath, I always liked your vids, for the straight forward, no nonsense info, and a great dad, spending quality time with his kids. I'm not so lucky, thanks to the X. You had gotten busy there for a while and didn't post much, I think back pre-covid. Glad you're back, plugging away!

[@1539Mickey]

Hi Heath, Great information again. This video should save fishermen money by purchasing the right lures for Mahi and not wasting money on lures that don't work well. Of course, the how to rig and how to troll is a big part of using the lures correctly. All three aspects of correct lure, proper rigging and how to troll equals success. Hope the family's well. As always, my best to Avi and the "Fishing Girls". I'll "talk" to you on Thursday. Take care and have fun, Mickey

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Hi Mickey, thanks for watching. It's a real journey, the further I get into this, I find it truly fulfilling to be able to share what works versus what won't. I never thought I'd get to this point, where it has taken over my second job, and I am able to really concentrate more on the development of content and help develop the skills folks are looking for, and listen to what people are asking for and try and accommodate them as best as I can in a timely manner. It's like the channel is morphing consistently into a living breathing entity that hears out and tries to understand, in order to better serve on a day to day basis. Sincerely, though, I can't thank you enough for your friendship throughout the years. Avi and the girls Say "Hi Mickey". Hope all is well with you and the family. I'll see you on Thursday. Until then, take care :)

[@1539Mickey]

Hi Heath, You provide a fun and interesting service to us fishermen. Thank you, Mickey

[@ronmelton9706]

Great tutorial Heath!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a bazillion for watching and always being here to share and leave some positive vibes. Sincerely can't thank you enough. As simple as it may seem, hope it helps. Thanks again for everything. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@TomRFL]

Thanks again, Heath. Great as always

[@TomRFL]

And thanks for the tip on the turbo hammer. I have used the Billy Baits Master Hooker with great success, but it is not cheap. A lower cost version is good to know about.

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks for watching and always being here to support the channel. Sincerely, can't thank you enough. I ran into these alternates after BIlly Bait became scarce and the price increased. I actually ran into them in West Marine, then I looked them up on line. So I went ahead and stocked for Mahi season. I've lost quite a few to wahoo lately... Funny, how when I'm not looking for them they show up :) Boone seems to be a good website for keep cost on specific items down. Thanks again. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@pakde8002]

Hi again Heath. As always another informative and fun video. Living in Indonesia it's a lot more difficult finding some of the materials so we have to be creative or make a run to Australia. For example I've found that the bags used for Doritos or some laundry detergent make a good replacement for mylar skirts, with color on the outside and foil on the inside. Fortunately we do have squid squirts up to 15 cm (6") and jump frog (or kaburu jig) skirts. You know what they say, a country boy can survive LoL.

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and sharing. I truly appreciate hearing from you. Your creativity is unsurpassed when it comes to making it happen. A true role model for anglers. I sincerely thank you for your support and all you're doing. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@CaptainCody7]

The blue and white billy baits are great if there are no weeds around. Chuggers are better though, IMHO, cause they get less weeds. As you know it usually becomes more about keeping your lures weed free than anything else when trolling for mahi. I enjoyed your video!

[@PetClipdog]

Thank you for tips, Teacher!!!!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a boat load for watching and always being here. Sincerely couldn't do this without you. Glad to hear you are enjoying the tips, hopefully, they are helping you out. Thanks again for everything. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@PetClipdog]

@@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishinghow do you select the day to Go offshore? I have windfind add but it doesn't work very well for me. Thank You!!!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

@@PetClipdog I usually try to avoid Saturdays. That day is pretty crazy because of the people on the water. Other than that I try get out on Sundays, but the weather is usually the main factor. I use NOAA website, Here's the link: bit.ly/3uCspyy Hope this helps.

[@phatbastard]

Hello Heath, Great content and thank you for sharing your knowledge freely! I remember those pink and white skirts from years ago when I was a boy but I cant seem to find that style anywhere. I found some similar that have glitter in them. Where should I look for those plain pink/white or mahi colored skirts? Central Florida here. Looking to pull the boat down your way soon and do a little trolling.

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and asking about the lures I use. I normally pick them up from Dick's Sporting Goods. They are from the company P-Line. They are called Double Squid Skirt. Here's a link to where you can get them if you are interested: www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/p-line-double-squid-skirt-saltwater-lure-20pleu62pkdblskrtlur/20pleu62pkdblskrtlur?sku=15570997&camp=CSE:DSG_92700040964604519_pla_pla-506289573789&segment=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7pKFBhDUARIsAFUoMDYu8OeyDn9o596uEXdABgKdQLoHHh9Lg90xrROjfs9J4jXmeVMBPEIaAqYBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Hope this helps. Thanks again for your support of the cannel. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@TheJwhollis]

An oldy but a very goody !!!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching. Definitely oldies, but goodies. Can't go wrong with these tried and true lures, that are very common for us seasoned salty anglers, and perfect advice for newcomers looking to get out and have some fun. I truly enjoy teaching folks how to get into the Mahi bite, it's the fish that made trolling famous and the most addicting fish to get hooked into. Thanks again for all your support and always being here. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@oriolcuba]

as always thank you!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a boat load for watching and leaving some great feedback. I truly appreciate it and your support for the channel. Sincerely, can't thank you enough. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@orlandoduran7740]

bass pro shops brand offshore angler sells a similar product , called tuna turbo , i bought a couple , have to try them next time i go to the keys, my first 2 dolphin i caught them one on a squid skirt, and the orher on a islander on top of a squid skirt!

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

U got the right method

[@mudshark412]

Thank You

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and always being here. Sincerely couldn't do this without you and your support. Truthfully never thought I'd make it this far, but I really enjoy teaching and sharing. Thanks again for everything. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@fishingthesurf496]

Great in depth tutorial. What do you think about a rigged ballyhoo with a chugger skirt on top of it for mahi?

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a boat load for watching, leaving some great feedback and asking a good question. Definitely yes, ballyhoo on a chugger always works. Didn't mention it, because I wanted to avoid the fresh bait aspect and stick with just lures. But you're spot on. I personally like pink & white or green & orange chuggers. What's your favorites? Thanks again for your support of the channel, couldn't do this without you. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@Icecat21]

@@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing In my humble opinion and experience, you usually catch bigger mahi on a trolled ballyhoo. But to be honest, they are not the hardest fish to catch, so why mess with rigging a ballyhoo if you don't have to. Trolling a plain lure gets tons of mahi in the boat.

[@fishingthesurf496]

@@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing I like using a blue and white chugger. Quick questions for ya though. If I’m trolling two planers how far should I let out my short and my long. My short is a #8 and my long is a #4. I’m using a 100ft leader. Also keep in my I troll two shotgun flatline baits from the center t-top, so ideally I think it’s better for the two baits in the center to be the furthest out and staggered a big, then have the #4 planer next after the two flatlines and finally the #8 closest. Let me know what you think the best distances for them would be. I don’t have outriggers for the two flatlines by the way

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks for writing and asking a good question. Your setup and reasoning is spot on. Bigger planer is short, Smaller planer is long, flat lines out past the planers with an offset pattern... Entirely OK to not use out riggers. You'll want to set the shotgun planer out at least 200 ft. That'll get it down to the depth it belongs and will keep it away from everything else. Short planer goes out 100-125 feet. Only this to keep in mind trolling multiple lines in your spread, is whatever line gets hit, make sure you clear (reel in) all the shorter lines in order to avoid cutoffs and tangles. Hope this helps, even though it sounds like you've got it down to a science. Thanks again for your support. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@fishingthesurf496]

@@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing great advice appreciate it. Only the I have trouble with is knowing actually how far I’m putting my lines out. How do I know that I’m putting a bait out 100-125ft and then 200ft. Is there a way to count? Or what’s the trick?

[@vitalymdq]

👍👍👍

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and giving the triple thumbs up approval. I truly appreciate it and your support for the channel. Thanks again. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@feesh00]

Great video thank you What about spoons ? Is it worth to put them on this trolling list?

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and asking a great question. I have found spoons to be ineffective when it comes to Mahi. They are great for other species, but, I typically keep them over the reef. Hope this helps. Always a pleasure hearing from you and I truly appreciate your support for the channel. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@feesh00]

@@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing ❤❤❤

[@dandodge637]

Can you troll a heavier spro jig to make a bigger profile and get deeper in the water column say 2-4 ounce?

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Yes you can, but I've never been successful with anything larger than one ounce.

[@craiglewis5940]

Great video...question though. My friend likes to rig with gear and a knot that makes the hooks fairly stiff. He claims that when it gets hit the hook does not get knocked out of the way so easy. I disagree and like the hooks to swing loose in the set up. What is your opinion or anybody else out there??

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

I believe it's personal preference. I like a free swinging hook, I think it helps with setting the hook.

[@pepperjack-ue7dc]

Hello Mr. Heath I have a few questions for you , on your boone turbo hammer rigged with squid trailer , I was wondering if you did add weight on squid ? and for the hooks is that the same 3407 DT 8/0 hooks ? thank you Mr. Heath ...

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and asking a great question. Yes the squid under the turbo slammer has a 1 ounce weight in it. and yes, the hooks are those. Here's the link, as Mustad seems to have changed things: Mustad 8/0 O'SHAUGHNESSY HOOKS bit.ly/3fdBKqE Thanks again for your support of the channel, I truly appreciate it. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@pepperjack-ue7dc]

@@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing Thank's a lot Mr. Heath you are the best ....

[@jjeffk68]

Which make of skirt are you adding? Thanks

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and asking a great question. The trolling squids I use to add behind the turbo slammers as trailer lures are from the company Boone and they are called Hoochie Squids. Here's the link if you want a closer look at them: Boone 6 inch squirt squid bit.ly/3ghIQKt Thanks again for your support of the channel. Hope this helps. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@wellcraftinla]

When rigging your baits 4" Billy bait etc dont you need a weight in front? Dont the baits tend to skip on the surface?

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

No weight needed. The chrome bullet head is 3/8 ounce keeps the lure just below the surface... catches lots. Thanks for asking

[@ltmdangle]

What kind of barrel swivels do you use

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Mustad size 7 barrel swivel with a coast lock

[@gonefishing4929]

which is better for marlin and sailfish--wire leader or monofilament. fishing mexico

[@SouthFloridaSaltwaterFishing]

Thanks a million for watching and asking a great question. Monofilament is definitely better for sails and marlin. I'd go with 60 to 80 lb test for sails, and 150 lb test mono for marlin. Hope this helps. Thanks again for your support of the channel. Tight lines & take care ;)

[@gonefishing4929]

Thanks for the quick response 🎣