The name for it that's ordinarily used in American sportfishing and scientific circles is "dolphin." Accordingly, we're not going to mimic the anxiously trendy restaurateurs who (seeking to avoid confusion as to whether marine mammals are suddenly items on the menu) label it "dolphinfish," "mahi-mahi" or "dorado." But whatever moniker is applied to it, this fish simply couldn't be any better for saltwater anglers in search of both fun and fillets.

Even relatively small boats can reach "schoolie"-sized dolphin in the month of May. Photo by Pete Cooper Jr.

Dolphin are prolific, fast-growing (though short-lived), quite speedy, wildly acrobatic, and awfully hard to beat when fresh from a hot skillet. They're also common in the clear offshore waters of the Gulf Coast.

The largest members of the tribe are almost invariably found in either blue or blue-green water. Conversely, smaller dolphins may be surprisingly abundant in "clear-green" water, which is frequently much closer to shore and therefore more accessible to more anglers. If you own a reasonably seaworthy rig in the 22-foot class or larger and the weather is forecast to be favorable for an offshore run, these fish are accessible to you.

Nearshore fish typically inhabit these waters from early May (or a tad earlier) into October and range up to 10 pounds, though larger ones are occasionally caught. Again, those rare bigger catches depend on the proximity of clear water, and the best way to locate that is to put the land off your stern and go!

On a reasonably typical day, you cross one or more "color changes" before you have gone far enough. These are created by opposing currents or eddies with slightly different surface temperatures. Once you cross one that has 10 feet or more sub-surface visibility on its outside edge, that's the spot.

Such color changes -- "rips," as they're sometimes called -- should have noticeable current moving along them. The best ones carry an abundance of flotsam: sea grasses, logs and other forms of wood, and human artifacts. Finding coconuts in the debris makes a rip almost a sure-fire bet. Also, look for schools of silversides or ballyhoo, baitfish that are great dolphin attractors.

Initially, you might be tempted to troll along such a rip, and a pair of 1/4-ounce single-hook feathered spoons might get the attention of a dolphin in such a situation. But those lures are guaranteed to attract hordes of hardtails, or "blue runners," which are common along such a rip.

Personally, I prefer sight-fishing for dolphin. This is best done from the boat's bow platform while idling along the side of the rip that offers the best visibility, but stay back perhaps 20 feet from it. A 6 1/2-foot medium-action casting rod is suitable, though the reel should hold a minimum of 150 yards of 15-pound-test monofilament line. The line should be tied to a 3-foot 40-pound fluorocarbon leader with something like an Albright knot. The other end of the leader is best tied directly to either a 1/4-ounce jighead dressed with a 3 1/2-inch plastic grub or to a swivel attached to a spoon via a stainless steel split ring.