Single-zone SST guide

Mahi-Mahi water temperature at Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore.

  • Coryphaena hippurus
  • Pelagic
  • August: good

Typical August SST in Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore is 78–84°F. Mahi-Mahi prefer 72–82°F with peak activity in 75–80°F.

SST threshold

Mahi-Mahi threshold gauge.

50°55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Peak 75–80°
Outside toleranceSuboptimalGoodPeak·Dashed line = hard threshold

Year-round overlap

Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore SST × Mahi-Mahi range.

Where Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore typical monthly SST overlaps with mahi-mahi's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.

Best months

May, June, July, August, September, October

MonthZone SSTStatus
Jan58–66°FOutside
Feb56–64°FOutside
Mar60–68°FOutside
Apr66–74°FFishable
May70–78°FPeak
Jun74–82°FPeak
Jul78–84°FPeak
Augnow78–84°FPeak
Sep76–82°FPeak
Oct70–78°FPeak
Nov64–72°FOutside
Dec60–68°FOutside

Best months

June, September

Use SST imagery to find 75–80°F water adjacent to a temperature break of at least 2°F. Run weed lines and color changes. Look for birds working bait above the surface — mahi push bait up.

Verify with current SST imagery

These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.

Live SST imagery for Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore.

Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore hits mahi-mahi's optimal 75–80°F window.

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