Sea surface temperature guide

Mahi-Mahi sea surface temperature guide.

Coryphaena hippurus
Pelagic
Agency-reported threshold data

Mahi-mahi are the most temperature-sensitive of the common offshore pelagics — they show up the day the water hits 72°F and disappear the day it drops below 65°F. SST imagery, weed lines, and temperature breaks are the three things that locate them every trip.

SST threshold gauge

The temperature ranges that matter.

The water temperature ranges that determine where mahi-mahi hold and feed. Hard thresholds (dashed lines) are values outside which fish actively depart or become inactive.

Outside toleranceSuboptimalGoodPeak·Dashed line = hard threshold

Optimal range75–80°F

Preferred range72–82°F

Avoid below65°F

Avoid above86°F

Threshold source (Agency-reported) →

Depth profile & SST reliability

Typical depth

0–200 feet

SST as locator

High — SST is a strong locator

Mahi feed primarily at the surface. SST is the most reliable single indicator of where they are holding.

Current systems & structure

Gulf StreamWarm core eddiesTemperature breaksSargassum

Mahi follow the warm side of temperature breaks and concentrate under floating sargassum mats. Find the weed line, find the mahi.

Best zones now

Where mahi-mahi are in range — June.

Zones where typical June SST falls in mahi-mahi's preferred range.

Zone-by-zone calendar

Overlap charts by zone.

For each zone where mahi-mahi are present, the chart overlays the zone's typical monthly SST range with the species' preferred and optimal ranges. Months where the bands overlap are when fish are in range.

Northeast

Block Island Canyon ComplexPoint Judith RI · Montauk NY

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

August

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	42–48°F	Outside
Feb	42–48°F	Outside
Mar	44–50°F	Outside
Apr	46–54°F	Outside
May	52–60°F	Outside
Junnow	60–68°F	Outside
Jul	65–75°F	Fishable
Aug	68–78°F	Peak
Sep	64–72°F	Outside
Oct	56–64°F	Outside
Nov	50–58°F	Outside
Dec	44–52°F	Outside

Mid-Atlantic

Hudson Canyon & New York Bight OffshoreMontauk NY · Manasquan NJ

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

July, August

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	44–52°F	Outside
Feb	44–50°F	Outside
Mar	44–52°F	Outside
Apr	46–56°F	Outside
May	54–64°F	Outside
Junnow	62–72°F	Outside
Jul	68–78°F	Peak
Aug	70–80°F	Peak
Sep	66–74°F	Fishable
Oct	58–66°F	Outside
Nov	52–60°F	Outside
Dec	46–54°F	Outside

Baltimore & Wilmington CanyonsCape May NJ · Ocean City MD

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

July, August

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	46–54°F	Outside
Feb	46–54°F	Outside
Mar	48–56°F	Outside
Apr	50–60°F	Outside
May	56–66°F	Outside
Junnow	64–74°F	Fishable
Jul	70–80°F	Peak
Aug	72–82°F	Peak
Sep	68–76°F	Fishable
Oct	60–68°F	Outside
Nov	54–62°F	Outside
Dec	48–56°F	Outside

Norfolk & Washington CanyonsVirginia Beach VA · Wachapreague VA

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

June, July, August, September

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	48–58°F	Outside
Feb	48–56°F	Outside
Mar	50–60°F	Outside
Apr	54–64°F	Outside
May	60–70°F	Outside
Junnow	68–78°F	Peak
Jul	72–82°F	Peak
Aug	74–84°F	Peak
Sep	70–80°F	Peak
Oct	64–72°F	Outside
Nov	56–64°F	Outside
Dec	50–60°F	Outside

Cape Hatteras & Point OffshoreWanchese NC · Hatteras NC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

June, July, August, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	58–66°F	Outside
Feb	56–64°F	Outside
Mar	58–66°F	Outside
Apr	64–72°F	Outside
May	68–76°F	Fishable
Junnow	74–82°F	Peak
Jul	78–84°F	Peak
Aug	78–84°F	Peak
Sep	76–82°F	Peak
Oct	70–78°F	Peak
Nov	64–72°F	Outside
Dec	60–68°F	Outside

South Atlantic

Onslow Bay & Morehead City OffshoreMorehead City NC · Beaufort NC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

May, June, July, August, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	58–66°F	Outside
Feb	56–64°F	Outside
Mar	60–68°F	Outside
Apr	66–74°F	Fishable
May	70–78°F	Peak
Junnow	74–82°F	Peak
Jul	78–84°F	Peak
Aug	78–84°F	Peak
Sep	76–82°F	Peak
Oct	70–78°F	Peak
Nov	64–72°F	Outside
Dec	60–68°F	Outside

Long Bay & Myrtle Beach OffshoreLittle River SC · Myrtle Beach SC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

May, June, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Outside
Feb	58–66°F	Outside
Mar	62–70°F	Outside
Apr	68–76°F	Fishable
May	72–80°F	Peak
Junnow	76–84°F	Peak
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Peak
Oct	72–80°F	Peak
Nov	66–74°F	Fishable
Dec	62–70°F	Outside

Charleston Offshore & Georgia BightCharleston SC · Hilton Head SC

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

May, June, September, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	62–70°F	Outside
Feb	60–68°F	Outside
Mar	64–72°F	Outside
Apr	70–76°F	Fishable
May	74–80°F	Peak
Junnow	78–84°F	Peak
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Peak
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Fishable
Dec	64–72°F	Outside

Northeast Florida Offshore & St. AugustineMayport FL · St. Augustine FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Outside
Feb	64–70°F	Outside
Mar	66–74°F	Fishable
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	76–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–76°F	Fishable
Dec	66–72°F	Outside

Southeast Florida Gulf Stream AccessPalm Beach FL · Fort Lauderdale FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

January, March, April, May, October, November, December

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	72–78°F	Peak
Feb	72–76°F	Fishable
Mar	74–80°F	Peak
Apr	76–80°F	Peak
May	78–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	78–82°F	Peak
Nov	74–80°F	Peak
Dec	72–78°F	Peak

Gulf of Mexico

Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa OffshoreTampa FL · St. Petersburg FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

May, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Outside
Feb	60–66°F	Outside
Mar	62–70°F	Outside
Apr	70–76°F	Fishable
May	74–80°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Fishable
Dec	62–70°F	Outside

Destin & Pensacola OffshoreDestin FL · Pensacola FL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	60–68°F	Outside
Feb	60–66°F	Outside
Mar	64–72°F	Outside
Apr	70–78°F	Peak
May	74–80°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	72–78°F	Peak
Nov	66–74°F	Fishable
Dec	62–70°F	Outside

Alabama & Mississippi Canyon OffshoreOrange Beach AL · Dauphin Island AL

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	62–70°F	Outside
Feb	62–68°F	Outside
Mar	66–72°F	Outside
Apr	72–80°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	74–80°F	Peak
Nov	68–76°F	Fishable
Dec	64–72°F	Outside

Louisiana Deepwater & RigsVenice LA · Grand Isle LA

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Outside
Feb	64–70°F	Outside
Mar	68–74°F	Fishable
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	82–86°F	Outside
Aug	82–86°F	Outside
Sep	80–84°F	Fishable
Oct	76–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–78°F	Peak
Dec	66–74°F	Fishable

Texas Offshore & Flower Garden BanksGalveston TX · Freeport TX

Peak overlapFishable (preferred range)Outside preferred range

Best months

April, May, September, October, November

Month	Zone SST	Status
Jan	64–72°F	Outside
Feb	64–70°F	Outside
Mar	68–74°F	Fishable
Apr	72–78°F	Peak
May	76–82°F	Peak
Junnow	80–84°F	Fishable
Jul	80–86°F	Fishable
Aug	80–86°F	Fishable
Sep	78–84°F	Peak
Oct	74–82°F	Peak
Nov	70–78°F	Peak
Dec	66–74°F	Fishable

Conservation & regulations

NOAA / SAFMC / GMFMC

Stable. Federally managed in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Federal bag and size limits apply in EEZ; verify state-water rules separately.

Stock assessment source →

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.

Sources

SST threshold data is summarized from agency and research sources. Year-to-year ocean conditions vary; verify current SST imagery before each trip.

See live SST for your offshore zone.

Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery on your chartplotter view, highlights the temperature breaks that match mahi-mahi thresholds, and alerts you when your home zone hits the 75–80°F window.

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