Fall Mahi…. One More Shot at Carolina Gold

There is something different about running offshore in the fall. The summer heat has finally broken, the mornings have a little bite to them, and the ocean seems to have taken on a deeper blue that makes you want to keep going. For Carolina anglers, September and October can offer one last shot at one of the most exciting fish in the Atlantic, the mahi-mahi.

Mahi are better known around here as dolphin, and regardless of what you call them, they are hard to beat when it comes to pure fishing excitement. They are fast, aggressive, beautifully colored and famous for turning a calm day offshore into controlled chaos when a school suddenly appears behind the boat. The fish may be moving south as fall progresses, but that is part of what makes the season so interesting. You are not necessarily going to find them everywhere, so when you do find them, you had better be ready.

The search often begins with the water itself. Temperature changes, weed lines, floating debris and anything else that gives small baitfish a place to gather can be worth investigating. Mahi are opportunistic feeders, and a piece of floating grass that looks insignificant from a distance can sometimes hold a school of fish underneath it. Birds working the surface are another reason to slow down and take a closer look, because where bait is being pushed around, predators are usually not far away. Along the Carolina coast, anglers also keep an eye on the blue-water conditions associated with the Gulf Stream, where mahi and other pelagic species spend much of their time.

Once a school shows itself, things can get interesting in a hurry. A few fish may appear behind a hooked mahi, and suddenly there are green and gold flashes everywhere as the rest of the school races around the boat. This is when having another bait or lure ready can make all the difference. It is also one of those moments when an angler needs to slow down mentally, because excitement can make even an experienced fisherman forget the basics. Keep the fish moving in the direction you want, keep the lines organized and be ready for another fish to appear at any moment.

The beauty of fall mahi fishing in the Carolinas is that you never really know what the day is going to bring. Mahi can be part of a mixed offshore catch that includes tuna, wahoo or other pelagic species, and the same weather systems that make fall offshore fishing so appealing can change the entire character of the trip. Mahi may not be the guaranteed headline act they can be during the heart of summer, but that hardly makes them less exciting. In fact, it can make the encounter even better.

There is something special about putting a Carolina mahi in the box in October, knowing that the warm-water season is beginning to wind down and another year of offshore fishing is slipping away. The boat is heading home, the afternoon sun is getting lower and that brilliant green, blue and gold fish is lying on the deck. For a Carolina offshore angler, that is a pretty good way to say goodbye to summer.