I have never been on anything other than a 4 or 6 hour charter. What are the different experiences you gain moving to an 8, then 10, then 12 hour? (Let’s say for example launching out of Orange Beach).

Is simply more fishing time, or do you then gain access to a different quality of fishing/more species by being able to presumably access deeper water and less pressured waters? Do you stand better odds of bringing home more quality fish in the cooler (perhaps more accessible species that are in-season), or is it more that you gain access to non-food game fish like bill fish?

Thanks

Doubt you get mahi on a 12 hour trip

Doubt you get mahi on a 12 hour trip

Depends on the speed of the boat as well. You can definitely bill fish on a 10-12 hour charter if you are fishing out of a 39 yellowfin, etc…. But an overnight trip will definitely increase your odds.

Lots of grass and mahi out there right now.

That’s true peach. Those bulls have changed the game for sure. Running 65mph in 3-4s is a difference maker for a 12 hour trip.




Can we go back to the old days when everyone just called them chicken dolphin? We are a pretty good ways from Hawaii. 🤣

I got a friend that says “Man we filled the boat up with Mahi Mahi on a weed line today!” Then sends me a pic of 20 barely legal chicken dolphin. Don’t get me wrong they are fun to catch but I guess Mahi sounds more exotic than chicken dolphin. The mature Dolphin are some of the prettiest fish in my opinion. And don’t usually school up on weed lines. You hook a 70lb bull dolphin and you will see the difference.

You can use mahi in open dialog most places without having the entirely ignorant people bother you about abusing Flipper.