When mahi-mahi show up off Sarasota
Mahi-mahi fishing out of Sarasota is a summer trolling game, and it starts with a run of 20+ miles west of New Pass. This guide covers the grounds, the bearings and the local methods. For the passes and conditions, use the Sarasota port page. For biology and general tactics, see the mahi-mahi species guide.
Summer is the season. According to FishingBooker’s Sarasota offshore rundown, summer trolling is when mahi are fished from this port. Capt. Tony Blizzard says dolphin, the name captains use for mahi, and other blue-water fish show up over Swiss Cheese in summer. For the wider Gulf picture, read the Gulf of Mexico mahi guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide). The summer fish sit on the far grounds, so the run is the next decision.
The run from New Pass
Charter sources put these fish 20+ miles from shore. Swiss Cheese sits about 18 miles at 250° magnetic from New Pass, in 70 to 85+ ft. Every bearing on this page is magnetic and measured from New Pass, which is how these grounds are referenced locally. Kokomo lists mahi on 10-hour and 12-hour trips, which shows how much of the day this run takes.
Waypoints on the way out
- Cuda Hole / Table Rock ledge: 49 ft, 246° magnetic, 9.54 miles from the New Pass Gulf marker.
- The Gully: 259° magnetic, 10.29 miles from New Pass.
Cuda Hole at 246°, Swiss Cheese at about 250° and Old Barge at 249.6° sit along nearly the same westward line from New Pass.
Reading conditions
NDBC station VENF1 at Venice is the nearest NDBC station. It is a C-MAN station at 27.072 N, 82.453 W, and it reports coastal conditions at Venice, not conditions at Swiss Cheese 18 miles offshore. For offshore wind, wave height and period, read the official NOAA marine forecast. The Sarasota port page conditions list shows where to find it.
Grounds and structure that hold mahi-mahi
Swiss Cheese and Old Barge sit almost on top of each other in distance and bearing: about 18 miles at about 250°, and 17.69 miles at 249.6°. The table lists every ground on this page.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Bearing (° magnetic) | Distance | Reference point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Cheese | 70 to 85+ | about 250 | about 18 miles | New Pass |
| Old Barge | 80 | 249.6 | 17.69 miles | New Pass |
| The Gully | 259 | 10.29 miles | New Pass | |
| Cuda Hole / Table Rock ledge | 49 | 246 | 9.54 miles | New Pass Gulf marker |
| I-1 Silvertooth reef | 25 | 187 | 1.74 nm | New Pass |
| I-2 Fisher reef | 30 | 239 | 1.43 nm | New Pass |
| Casey Key Beach / Grassy Key ledges | 25 (5 to 8 ft ledges) | 152 | 11 nm | |
| Point of Rocks (Siesta Key) | Off Siesta Key beach |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The Chart Contours layer in the Breakpoint app shows the bottom around these waypoints. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Swiss Cheese
Swiss Cheese sits in 70 to 85+ ft, about 18 miles at about 250° magnetic from New Pass. Blizzard places the summer blue-water fish here.
Old Barge
Old Barge is in 80 ft at 249.6° magnetic, 17.69 miles from New Pass. It lies on nearly the same line and distance as Swiss Cheese, so one run covers both.
Nearshore structure
I-1 Silvertooth, I-2 Fisher, Point of Rocks and the Casey Key and Grassy Key ledges are nearshore structure. Use them as reference points on the way out; they are not mahi grounds.
How mahi-mahi are fished out of Sarasota
Locals troll in about 70 to 85 ft. According to FishingBooker, they work three targets:
- Color changes: An edge in the water to troll along.
- Weed lines: A line of floating cover to troll the length of.
- Structure: Swiss Cheese and Old Barge, both in 70 to 85 ft and both in the table above.
Color changes
A color change is an edge, and it is a stated local target. Work along it.
Weed lines
Weed lines are a stated local target. Troll the length of the line.
Over structure
Swiss Cheese and Old Barge are the structure on this run. Troll over them.
Who fishes for mahi-mahi out of Sarasota
Five local charters list mahi-mahi:
- Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters: FISH TALES, a 2001 Luhrs 40 ft sportfisher, with Captain Tyler.
- Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures: Capt. Tim Noe, based on Siesta Key, on a 42 ft Freeman.
- Kokomo Charters: Kai Fin, a 45 ft federally permitted six-pack, with Captain Rob. Lists mahi on 10-hour and 12-hour trips.
- Mother Ocean Charters: Deep-sea fishing out of Sarasota.
- Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters: Capt. Tony Blizzard, Ken Thompson Pkwy Dock 3.
For the other blue-water fish Blizzard mentions, see our offshore gamefish guides.
FAQ: mahi-mahi fishing out of Sarasota
How far do you run for mahi from Sarasota?
Charter sources put mahi 20+ miles out. Swiss Cheese is about 18 miles at 250° magnetic from New Pass. Kokomo’s 10-hour and 12-hour mahi trips show how much of the day the run takes.
What depth is Swiss Cheese?
Swiss Cheese is 70 to 85+ ft. Old Barge is 80 ft, at 249.6° magnetic and 17.69 miles from New Pass, on nearly the same line as Swiss Cheese.
When do mahi show up off Sarasota?
Summer. FishingBooker lists summer trolling for mahi from Sarasota. Capt. Tony Blizzard says dolphin and other blue-water fish show up over Swiss Cheese in summer.
Which buoy should I check before the run?
NDBC station VENF1 at Venice, 27.072 N, 82.453 W, is the nearest NDBC station. It is coastal, so it does not report offshore conditions. For offshore wind and seas, read the official NOAA marine forecast.
How do locals fish for mahi here?
They troll along color changes and weed lines, and over structure, in about 70 to 85 ft. Swiss Cheese and Old Barge are the structure on the run.
Do federal rules apply?
On the run to Swiss Cheese, yes. Boats that far out are in federal waters, where rules differ from state waters. The Florida regulations page and the dolphin and wahoo federal rules page cover both. Check them before fishing.
