When mahi-mahi are around Indian River Inlet
Mahi-mahi fishing out of Indian River Inlet peaks in late June and July, with fish scattered through August. Inshore boats fish them on light tackle, and offshore boats run to the Hot Dog and Massey’s Canyon when upwellings form.
This page is a port briefing for Delaware boaters covering when the fish show, how far the run is, what structure sits along the way, and how local boats fish it. It makes no promise of fish; the aim is to give you the numbers to plan the run.
Scattered mahi in late summer is the standing August pattern, so plan on fewer fish and more searching than in July. The main run here is one piece of a longer coastal pattern. For the wider picture, see mahi along the Northeast Atlantic (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide).
| Window | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Late June and July | Main run |
| August | Scattered fish |
| Inshore | Light-tackle mahi trip |
| Offshore | Hot Dog and Massey’s Canyon when upwellings form |
Where boats run: grounds and structure
The named structure runs from about 6 miles off the beach to about 35 miles offshore. Distances are listed as reported, and each keeps its own reference point (the beach, the inlet or the bell), so they can’t be compared directly. A ground’s presence on this list doesn’t mean it holds mahi on any given day.
| Ground | Depth | Distance as reported |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Artificial Reef Site 9 | – | – |
| Delaware Artificial Reef Site 10 | 60 ft | 6 to 7 miles from the beach |
| Old Grounds | – | 13 miles off the bell on a 113 heading |
| Delaware Artificial Reef Site 11 (Redbird Reef) | 75 ft | About 18 miles from the inlet |
| Del-Jersey-Land Reef | – | 22 miles southeast of the inlet |
| USS Arthur W. Radford wreck group | – | About 28 miles from the inlet |
| Massey’s Canyon | 80 ft | About 35 miles offshore from Indian River Inlet |
| The Hot Dog | – | – |
Load these as waypoints and check them against the DNREC reef charts.
Inshore reefs: Sites 9 and 10
Reef Site 10 is the closest named structure with a listed depth: 60 ft, 6 to 7 miles from the beach. Reef Site 9 belongs to the same nearshore network. Both sit within reach of a light-tackle inshore day.
Old Grounds and Redbird Reef
The Old Grounds lie 13 miles off the bell on a 113 heading, which you can enter directly into your plotter. Redbird Reef (Reef Site 11) sits in 75 ft, about 18 miles from the inlet.
Del-Jersey-Land Reef and the Radford wrecks
Del-Jersey-Land Reef is 22 miles southeast of the inlet, and the USS Arthur W. Radford wreck group is about 28 miles from the inlet. Both are mid-range structure on the way offshore.
The Hot Dog and Massey’s Canyon
Offshore boats run to these two grounds when upwellings form, and the oceanography behind that trigger is covered in the species guide linked below. According to DNREC, Massey’s Canyon sits in 80 ft, about 35 miles offshore from Indian River Inlet. The Hot Dog is a named tuna and dolphin ground.
The same offshore grounds draw tuna, which our coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover.
How mahi are fished out of Indian River Inlet
Local boats use two methods, matched to the two bands: light tackle on the inshore mahi trip, and trolling on the offshore grounds.
The inshore split day
Action Jackson runs the inshore trip as a split day. You fish light-tackle mahi first, then the same day switches to bottom fishing for sea bass and flounder. If you already fish the reefs for sea bass and flounder, this adds mahi to a day you would run anyway.
Offshore trolling
Trolling is the method at the Hot Dog and Massey’s Canyon when upwellings form. Rigging and behavior are in our mahi-mahi fishing guide and apply to Indian River Inlet mahi the same as anywhere else on the coast.
Who fishes for mahi here
Four local charters list mahi-mahi, on boats from a 28-foot Sportsman to a 46-foot Ocean Yacht.
| Charter | Boat | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Makai Charters | 28-foot Sportsman with twin 300 HP Yamaha engines | Captain Lawrence Coyle |
| Action Jackson Sportfishing | 35-foot Henriques | Captain Christopher Keller |
| Quick Draw Sport Fishing | 46-foot Ocean Yacht Super Sport | Not listed |
| JaySea II Sportfishing | Custom-rigged Jay Sea II | Captain Jamar Campbell |
Action Jackson runs the light-tackle and bottom-fishing split day described above. The Kids Catch-all Fishing Tournament, usually held in June, is a local tournament that includes mahi-mahi.
FAQ: mahi-mahi fishing out of Indian River Inlet
When is the mahi run out of Indian River Inlet?
Late June and July for the main run, with fish scattered through August.
How far is Massey’s Canyon?
About 35 miles offshore from Indian River Inlet, in 80 ft. Boats run it, along with the Hot Dog, when upwellings form.
Can you catch mahi without running offshore?
Yes. The inshore mahi trip is run on light tackle. Reef Site 10 is the closest named structure, 6 to 7 miles from the beach.
Which charters list mahi?
Action Jackson Sportfishing, Makai Charters, Quick Draw Sport Fishing and JaySea II Sportfishing. Their boats range from a 28-foot to a 46-foot.
What is the Kids Catch-all Fishing Tournament?
It is a local tournament that includes mahi, usually held in June.
Where are the rules?
DNREC sets the Delaware rules, and federal rules can apply offshore. See the Regulations section above for both pages.
