Fujairah Mahi Fishing Advice

Season in Fujairah anchorage – July to January/February. The start of the season tends to see smaller fish but in greater numbers, whilst the end has larger fish but less of them, generally. August, September can also produce some good sized fish if you find them. August to November is peak.

Gear: 5000 or 6000 size reel (4000 also ok). PE 2 to 3. 40 or 50lb leader. Rod medium action boat casting rod, jigging rod, not too light, something with a bit of backbone. Mahi are powerful fish.

You can catch them on jigs, stickbait, lures and poppers when the conditions are right. Usually at the start of the season artificials work well. However live bait fishing is the most fun way to fish for mahi in my opinion.

All you need is a single hook (live bait hook or circle hook size 2/0 or 1/0) tied directly onto your leader (captain can provide the hooks no problem). Good idea to use 40lb or 50lb leader because mahi mouths are like sandpaper (small teeth) so don’t use too light leader.

Fish around buoys and the front of tankers. Captain will know. Try to find local fishermen and fish next to them. If you find them, they will be throwing in lots of live baits into the water to attract the mahi and they will be catching with their handlines.

Important:

Hook the live bait carefully through the bottom of the tail area/behind the vent.

Carefully cast out the live bait. Cast into the sun. Don’t cast too close to buoys or tankers anchor chain. Keep the bail arm open at all times and feel the fish swimming with your fingers (pinch the braid, never wrap it around your fingers or you risk losing a finger once a mahi takes the live bait). Let the fish swim away from the boat naturally, give it line. Be aware where your bait fish is, keep tension in the braid so you know where it is and can feel it swimming. If the line goes slack, your bait fish has probably turned and headed for the cover of the boat or engines. Avoid this and carefully wind it back in and recast it out carefully, away from the boat, into the sun. Often mahi will hit the live bait right after it is cast out and hits the water so be ready! Don’t cast too aggressively and don’t reel in the live bait too quickly or it will probably come off.

Once a mahi has eaten the live bait you will see your braid rush out from the reel at high speed. Keep your fingers away and give it 2 to 3 seconds, let the mahi eat, then quickly close the bail arm without getting your fingers in the way (be very careful) and lift into the fish with the rod, no need to aggressively set the hook. Make sure drag is not too tight, the mahi will run and probably jump and go crazy.

Useful tip:

Try to bring some dead sardines/fish/squid anything with some scent. Cut it into small pieces on the boat and throw it in to chum the water and get some scent going to attract the fish and keep them in one spot around the boat.