Dorado Fishing West Palm Beach: Mahi Trips Off Palm Beach Inlet

Dorado is another name for mahi mahi. When people search for dorado fishing West Palm Beach, that is the fish they mean, and it is one we target offshore. Blue water is ten minutes out. Palm Beach is one of the few places on the Atlantic where the bottom falls away almost at the jetty. You clear Palm Beach Inlet, the rods go out, and you are fishing, not still running. We set live baits and a trolling spread over the ledges and current edges just outside the inlet. Mahi share that water with sailfish, blackfin tuna, wahoo and amberjack, so you never quite know what is going to bite next. This suits anyone who wants to hold a rod and fight a fish on top. You work the rods. Neil and Tara work the fish.

People ask when the dorado show up off West Palm Beach. I am not going to guess on a web page. The season and the best months are something the captain confirms by phone, based on what the water is doing when you call. Tell us your dates and we will tell you straight whether mahi are around and which trip gives you the best shot at them. If they are not showing, the same water still holds sailfish, blackfin tuna, wahoo and kingfish, and the bottom below holds mutton snapper, yellowtail and grouper. You will not be sitting around with nothing to fish for.

Two trips put you in dorado water. Offshore, four hours, runs 4 hours at 8:00 AM or 1:00 PM and costs $650 for the boat, up to 5 guests. That is the classic Palm Beach run, live baits and a trolling spread for sailfish, blackfin tuna, wahoo, mahi and amberjack. Offshore, five hours, runs 5 hours at 8:00 AM and costs $750 for the boat, up to 5 guests. That one gives the best odds and a mixed bag. We troll the rips for kings and pelagics, then drop weighted rigs into the bottom relief for mutton snapper, grouper and yellowtail, whichever the day is giving up. The extra hour is the one that lets Neil change his mind. On every trip, rods, reels, terminal tackle, bait and your Florida licence are on the boat. Neil cleans and fillets your catch before you leave.

You fish aboard a 2024 24' Sea Pro center console. It is a private boat, so it is your group and nobody else. Your captains are Capt. Neil Linkmeyer and his daughter, Capt. Tara. A father and daughter, both captains. They run offshore and reef trips out of Palm Beach Inlet, and the boat works West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach, Singer Island, Jupiter and the rest of Palm Beach County. When a fish is on, one of them is right there with you on the rod and the other is handling the boat and the line.

We depart from 900 Blue Heron Blvd, West Palm Beach. From the dock it is a short run out through Palm Beach Inlet, and then the lines go in. The four hour offshore trip leaves at 8:00 AM or 1:00 PM. The five hour trip leaves at 8:00 AM. How early to get to the dock and where to park are good things to ask when you book, and the captain will walk you through it. Once you are aboard, there is not much waiting. Blue water is ten minutes out, so most of your time is spent fishing.

You do not need to bring any fishing gear. Rods, reels, terminal tackle and bait are on the boat, and so is your Florida licence. Neil fillets your catch at the end, so you can take your fish home ready to cook. If you book the Fish, then Peanut Island trip, masks are provided for the snorkelling. For the Golden hour cruise, bring your own drinks, no glass. For anything else you might want on the water, like food, drinks or clothing for the day, ask the captain when you call and he will tell you what makes sense for your trip.

Do I need a fishing license? No. Your Florida licence is included and is on the boat with the rods, reels and bait. You do not need to buy one before you come.

Can I keep the dorado I catch? Neil cleans and fillets your catch before you leave, so the fish you keep go home with you. The facts here do not cover size or bag limits, so ask the captain about the current rules when you book, and he will explain what you can keep on the day.

What if I am on my own, or bringing kids? A seat on the drift costs $200 per angler, up to 3 guests, 3 hours at 8:00 AM, with a minimum of two. It is priced per seat, not for the boat. Be aware it fishes controlled drifts over coastal ledges with cut bait down deep, not a dorado trolling trip. For families and mixed groups, Fish, then Peanut Island runs 5 hours at 8:00 AM for $750 for the boat, up to 5 guests. You fish the morning, then run to Peanut Island for snorkelling, swimming and lunch on the beach. Ask the captain which trip fits your group best.

To book dorado fishing West Palm Beach with Palm Beach Charters, call (610) 453-0945, or use Check dates on the website to see what is open. There are seven trips off the same dock, from the offshore runs to the reefs and the evening cruise. If you are not sure which one to pick, call and talk it through. Tell us how many are coming, your dates, and whether mahi are the main goal. We will tell you honestly what is biting and which trip gives you the best chance.