World Record ~  88 Lbs. Caught at Highbourne Cay, Bahamas on May 5, 1998 by angler Richard D. Evans.
Scientific name ~ Coryphaena Hippurus
Other names ~ Dolphinfish, Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Common Dolphin Fish, Common Dolphinfish, Dolphin Dish, Green Dolphin, Mahi Mahi, and Mahi-Mahi, Bull dolphin
Identification ~  The colors of the Dorado are quite dramatic with golden hues on the sides, patches of metallic blue and greens on the back and sides, and white and yellow on the underside. This fish is very colorful underwater, catching light and reflecting a wide range of brilliant colors. Freshly caught individuals change coloration very quickly, fading to a uniform silvery color. The two species of Dorado are easily distinguishable. Both exhibit the same elongate, fusiform body shape. The single dorsal fin extends the length of the body. The anal fin begins approximately in the middle of the body and ends at the same point as the dorsal fin. The pelvic fins are located under the pectoral fins and can be compressed into a shallow groove on the body. The tail fin is strongly forked. The head is very blunt on males (called Bulls) the forehead is more vertical and higher then the more tapered head of the female. The mouth contains many small teeth as well as a small and oval-shaped tooth patch on the tongue.
Size ~  Most angler caught Dorado are in the 5 to 15 pound range with occasional catches of up to 50 Lbs. The Dorado can reach a length of 6 feet, but more common are lengths of 3 feet . The record for Florida waters is 77 pounds, 12 ounces and the world record is 87 pounds. Dorado that school together range in size from 1-20 pounds while larger individuals live alone or in pairs.
Habitat ~ Generally a pelagic fish, the Dorado is found offshore under floating objects. It is sometimes known to follow large ships and to hangout under large floating mats of sargassum. Dorado are also found near the coast, ranging in depth from the surface to 280 feet. Small Dorado travel together in schools ranging from just a few fish to over 50 individuals. The Dorado is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. It is abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Current, and throughout the Caribbean.
Feeding Habits ~ Dorado are swift-moving, agile predators and are able to overcome most prey items. This fish often associates with Sargassum in the Florida Current and Gulf Stream, where they prey primarily upon the smaller fishes and invertebrates associated with these tide lines. They feed during the day on small oceanic fishes such as flyingfish, man-o-war fish, sargassum fish and triggerfish, juveniles of large pelagic fish including tunas, billfishes, jacks, mackerels, and dorado, and also squid and crabs.