Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Also known as Mahimahi, Dolphinfish, Dolphin, Dorado
Culinary Profile
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Mahi mahi is lean and fairly firm with large, moist flakes.
Low in saturated fat and a good source of vitamin B12, phosphorus, and potassium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Atlantic mahi mahi are brightly-colored fish—back is an electric greenish blue, lower body is gold or sparkling silver, and sides have a mixture of dark and light spots. Bright pattern fades almost immediately after mahi mahi is harvested. Adult males have a square head and females have a rounded head.
Biology
Atlantic mahi mahi grow up to almost 7 feet and 88 pounds. They live up to 5 years and are capable of reproducing at 4 to 5 months old. Mahi mahi are believed to spawn every 2 to 3 days during the spawning season, releasing between 33,000 and 66,000 eggs each time. In the Atlantic, these fish spawn under patches of floating brown algae called Sargassum .
Where They Live
Range Atlantic mahi mahi are found in the Atlantic, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), and Caribbean, and are caught from Massachusetts to Texas. About one-third of U.S. commercial harvest (excluding imports) of mahi mahi comes from the Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean. The rest comes from the Pacific , mainly Hawaii.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
Wild-caught from Massachusetts to Texas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial Fishery In 2023, commercial fishermen harvested approximately 100,000 pounds of mahi mahi in the Atlantic and Gulf of America valued at $400,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch Hook-and-line gear (including handlines and longlines) is used for commercial harvest. Hook-and-line gear has minimal impact on habitat because it does not contact the ocean floor. Longlines can incidentally catch sea turtles, marine mammals, and other species. Longline fishermen follow measures to prevent bycatch and protect other species.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 111 Species
Where Atlantic Mahi Mahi ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 1.13 mg | 18 / 111 | 84% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Protein | 18.5 g | 57 / 111 | 49% |
| Zinc | 0.46 mg | 61 / 111 | 45% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 88 mg | 85 / 104 | 18% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 20 mg | 96 / 104 | 8% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.6 µg | 100 / 106 | 6% |
| Phosphorus | 143 mg | 108 / 111 | 3% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Atlantic Mahi Mahi.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Atlantic Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Both wild-caught and farmed striped bass have a slightly sweet flavor.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Atlantic Mahi Mahi, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atlantic Mahi Mahi a lean fish or a rich one?
At 85 kcal per 100 g raw, Atlantic Mahi Mahi counts as lean on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
Where is Atlantic Mahi Mahi found?
Range Atlantic mahi mahi are found in the Atlantic, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), and Caribbean, and are caught from Massachusetts to Texas. About one-third of U.S. commercial harvest (excluding imports) of mahi mahi comes from the Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean. The rest comes from the Pacific , mainly Hawaii.
How much Atlantic Mahi Mahi is caught commercially?
Commercial Fishery In 2023, commercial fishermen harvested approximately 100,000 pounds of mahi mahi in the Atlantic and Gulf of America valued at $400,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch Hook-and-line gear (including handlines and longlines) is used for commercial harvest.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught mahi mahi is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are four mahi mahi stocks and stock complexes: the South Atlantic, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John stocks, and the Puerto Rico Dolphinfish Complex. Conducting a traditional stock assessment for mahi mahi is challenging due to the species’ short life span, highly migratory behavior, broad geographic distribution, and environmentally-driven abundance trends.
Population
The population level of the South Atlantic stock is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Fishing Rate
Overfishing status is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch mahi mahi rarely contacts the ocean floor and has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries , the Caribbean Council , and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils) manage Atlantic mahi mahi. In the U.S. South Atlantic, mahi mahi are managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic .
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.