This page covers mahi-mahi, also called dorado, fished out of Ventura Harbor. Dorado are documented only thinly here, and this page says what is and is not known. For the harbor, marinas and launch ramp, see the Ventura port page. For identification and biology, see the mahi-mahi fishing guide. For the wider coast, see the mahi-mahi fishing in the Pacific Southwest and the wider Pacific Southwest guide.
When mahi-mahi are around Ventura
No season is documented for dorado out of Ventura. Across Southern California, dorado come in late summer and fall in warm-water years, and that is the pattern to watch from here. The Ventura operator’s current fish count includes dorado, which shows the fish do reach the boats, though the count gives no month.
Where boats run
Ventura Harbor is a small-craft harbor on the mainland side of the Santa Barbara Channel, entered between two jetties behind a detached breakwater. Trips from the harbor run to Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara and San Miguel Islands, and no distance from the harbor to a dorado ground is documented. Winter breakers can form in the approach when winds blow from the west, and buoys in the channel move as conditions change.
In the channel, west and northwest winds blow nearly every day, especially in the afternoon. In northwest weather, boats heading toward the islands meet heavier seas along a belt on the north side of the islands that is locally known as Windy Lane. A nearer island, or the lee of an island, may keep a trip out of the widest part of that belt. Check conditions yourself before running to the islands.
Grounds and structure
The grounds named for these trips are the islands themselves. Anacapa is documented for white seabass, halibut, yellowtail, rockfish and calico bass, and Santa Barbara Island for halibut and white seabass. Santa Rosa is described as a place to hook a large fish. None of them is named as a dorado ground, and no depth is documented for any of them.
How mahi-mahi are fished out of Ventura
No method is documented for dorado from Ventura Harbor. The general approach applies: troll feathers or ballyhoo along the edge of floating kelp or weed, scan for birds and bait, and keep one hooked fish in the water beside the boat while others cast.
Who fishes them
Ventura Sportfishing, at venturasportfishing.com, runs open-party and private trips to the northern Channel Islands from the harbor. Its current fish count includes dorado, but its named targets are yellowtail, white seabass, halibut, lingcod, rockfish and calico bass. Ask the boat about dorado before you book. No tournament is documented here.
FAQ
Is there a dorado season at Ventura?
None is documented for the harbor. Across the region, dorado come in late summer and fall in warm-water years.
Does Ventura Sportfishing take dorado trips?
Its current fish count includes dorado, but no dorado trip is named as a target. Ask the boat before booking.
Which islands do the trips reach?
Trips from the harbor run to Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara and San Miguel Islands.
