Mahi Mahi

Habitat Distribution

• A warm-water pelagic found around most of Australia's coastline — most common off QLD, northern NSW, WA's mid-to-north coast, and the NT, with rare appearances in Victorian waters.
• Follows the East Australian Current south through summer and autumn, pushing fish from Far North QLD down through the Gold Coast, Tweed, Coffs Harbour, and in warm years well south of Sydney.
• On the west coast, Exmouth, Ningaloo, and the broader WA coast produce fish regularly, where they're taken as a secondary species in tuna fisheries and by recreational anglers.
• Strictly oceanic — found from the surface down to around 85 m, almost always associated with floating structure or current lines rather than the bottom.

Key Locations

• Gold Coast and southern QLD — reliable summer fishery with accessible offshore FADs and warm EAC water pushing fish close to port.
• Coffs Harbour and northern NSW — a key zone as the East Australian Current brings fish south through summer and autumn.
• Far North Queensland — fish are present much of the year given consistently warm tropical water.
• Exmouth and Ningaloo, WA — the mid-to-north WA coast produces mahi regularly, particularly around FADs and offshore current lines.

Specific Spots

• FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) are the most reliable starting point — NSW and QLD both run offshore FAD programs, and mahi gather under anchored buoys consistently. Check state fisheries websites for current positions.
• Weed lines, current edges, and temperature breaks where warm blue water meets cooler green water concentrate bait, and mahi follow. Look for 22°C-plus blue water.
• Any floating debris — a stray log, pallet, or clump of sargassum weed — can hold fish. Approach from up-current and cast back to the object rather than motoring through it.
• Working birds over the surface are a reliable indicator of bait schools with mahi underneath, especially on calm mornings when the surface is readable.