Mahi Mahi Cooking Tips Mahi Mahi is a lean fairly firmed meat with a sweet and mild to moderate flavor, very similar to swordfish.
These fish are brilliantly colored in shades of blue, green, and gold. Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2020 WhaleFacts.org. They are also known for the brilliant neon blues, greens and yellows they display on their flanks and for providing a delicious reward. The average lifespan of these fish is 3 – 4 years with a few fish living to the age of 5. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. Get full nutrition facts and other common serving sizes of Mahi Mahi including 1 oz of boneless and 100 g. Unlike dolphins, which are mammals, dolphin fish are a type of ray-finned fish. These ray-finned fish vary in color from blue and green to yellow and brown with multiple shades running from the top of their body to the bottom.
Male dolphinfish have pronounced heads with an obtrusive forehead, while female dolphin fish have rounded heads. Male dolphinfish have pronounced heads with an obtrusive for…
There are 100 calories in 1 fillet of Mahi Mahi. One common theory as to why these fish are referred to as “dolphinfish” has to do with the fact that these fish are quite large in size (about the size of a small dolphin), however it has been quite difficult to pin-point the origin of this name. The common dolphin fish (also known as mahi-mahi or dorado) is C. hippurus. The species has high commercial value and is extensively harvested. Pectoral fins are iridescent blue, the back is green and blue, while flanks are silvery-gold. The mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide. They have a long dorsal fin which runs from the head to the lower back and a tall but narrow shaped body. Both species are important for commercial and sports fishing. It also has a melon-shaped head, much like that of a true dolphin. The mahimahi also has many aliases---calitos, dorado, lampuka, maverikos, rakingo---and the common name dolphin-fish. The dolphin fish is one of the fastest known growing fish reaching sexual maturity within the first 6 – 12 months of life. Young dolphinfish can often be seen traveling in groups of up to 50 or more fish in order to minimize their risk of being attacked. With a sail-like dorsal fin extending nearly its entire length, a mahimahi’s body is iridescent bluish-green and yellow. The fish fade in color to dull gray-green when they die. Also widely called dorado (not to be confused with Salminus brasiliensis, a fresh water fish) and dolphin, it is one of two members of the family Coryphaenidae, the other being the pompano dolphinfish. Mahi-mahi live up to 5 years, but rarely exceed 4 years. Mahi-mahi swim up to 50 knots (92.6 kph or 57.5 mph). In terms of size the dolphinfish can reach lengths of up to 4 ½ ft and weigh up to 40 lbs (15 – 30 lbs on average). However, the fish face threats from declining habitat quality. Recreational anglers prize mahimahi for the battle to bring them into the boat. Raw mahi fillets will be pinkish to a grayish white, the cooked meat will be off-white with large, moist flakes. Much of the mahimahi catch makes it to tables in North America, but restaurants in countries like Australia and even Oman, on the Arabian Peninsula, put mahimahi on the menu. The largest catch with a rod and reel on record is an 87-pound specimen caught off the coast of Costa Rica in 1975.
There are two species of dolphin fish. The dolphinfish (also known as the Mahi-mahi) is a large fish that can be found in warm tropical climates. Female dolphin fish can lay anywhere from 100,000 – 1,000,000 eggs at a time and can lay eggs 2 – 3 times per year! A typical mahi-mahi reaches a length of one meter and a weight of 7 to 13 kg (15 to 29 lb), but fish over 18 kg (40 lb) have been caught. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Lemon Shark Facts: Description, Behavior, Conservation, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. The dark portions you may find on a fillet can be trimmed away to produce a much milder flavor. Dolphin fish are carnivores that prey upon zooplankton, squid, crustaceans, and smaller fish. Dolphin fish grow and mature very quickly. The family contains only one other member, the pompano dolphinfish. The dolphin fish is not a dolphin. Pompano dolphin fish have a life span of up to 3 to 4 years, but most live less than 2 years. Some of the most popular areas known for hunting these fish include Costa Rica, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida & Hawaii among other ocean rich locations. Mahimahi and flipper are not siblings, let alone cousins. They are fish. The Mahi Mahi, also known as the dolphin fish or dorado, is a species of fish in the Coryphaenidae family. Mahimahi's Hawaiian name (also spelled mahi-mahi and mahi mahi) means "strong-strong" (extra strong). The fish is prey to other large oceanic predators, including billfish and sharks. Unlike “real dolphins” cetaceans these dolphinfish are not illegal to hunt. Griffin is a CPR/first-aid instructor trainer for the American Red Cross, owns a business and continues to write for publications. The common dolphin fish prefers coastal and open water from sea level to a depth of 85 meters in temperate, subtropical, and tropical oceans worldwide. Out of water, the fish appears golden (giving rise to the name dorado). The fish are generally considered safe to eat, but they are moderately contaminated with mercury and can serve as a vector for ciguatera poisoning. These surface dwelling fish can be found primarily in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The mahimahi also has many aliases---calitos, dorado, lampuka, maverikos, rakingo---and the common name dolphin-fish. A typical mahi-mahi reaches a length of one meter and a weight of 7 to 13 kg (15 to 29 lb), but fish over 18 kg (40 lb) have been caught. Add Mahi Mahi to the diet to promote the nutritional value. Some individuals sport red spots. Mature females are smaller than males. Some restaurants use the alternative names mahi-mahi and pompano to prevent confusion. Cooke meat is off-white, moist and flakey. Fish reach maturity between 4 and 5 months of age and start spawning when they reach a length of about 20 centimeters. In fact the species is quite plentiful and a source of food for some countries, however some scientists and researches believe there may be some toxins that could be passed on to humans through the consumption of these fish. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved.
Its anal fins curve inward. In terms of size the dolphinfish can reach lengths of up to 4 ½ ft and weigh up to 40 lbs (15 – 30 lbs on average).
These ray-finned fish vary in color from blue and green to yellow and brown with multiple shades running from the top of their body to the bottom. The flesh is less than 1 percent fat and adapts well to grilling and blackening. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Omega-3 has extensive health benefits such as cutting down inflammation and lowers the chances of heart problems. Upon death, color fades to yellowish-gray. The other species of dolphin fish is C. equiselis, which is also known as the pompano dolphin fish. With top speeds estimated at 50 nautical miles per hour, mahimahi move quickly under the water’s surface. Other than facing threats from humans that hunt these fish for sport and/or food dolphinfish face threats from a number of different predators such as yellow-fin tuna, a variety of marlin fish species, swordfish, sharks, seabirds and a number of marine mammals. Spawning occurs throughout the year when water currents are warm. A mature male (bull) has a prominent protruding forehead, while a female has a rounded head. These fish are most commonly found in the waters around the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii and Indian Ocean. Raw mahimahi fillet is whitish to pinkish colored. Their young mature among the seaweed. Pompano dolphin fish are bright blue-green with silver-gold sides. More properly, mahimahi's scientific name is Coryphaena hippurus, one of the two members of the Coryphaenidae family. She has also been published in "The Branson Insider" newspaper. Survival often depends on their ability to adjust to their surroundings quickly and find shelter in large groups of young dolphinfish. Male and female dolphinfish can be easily distinguished by the shape of their head. Mahi Mahi is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids which is a type of polyunsaturated fat. Although their average weight is five pounds, mahimahi can reach 50 pounds. The dolphin fish most likely got its confusing common name because it was previously classified in the genus Dolfyn. Mahimahi live in the tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Hawaiian Islands. The Mahi-mahi dolphinfish makes up one of two fish within the Coryphaenidae family; the other fish is the pompano dolphinfish. They spawn frequently throughout the year in warm ocean currents. They have a life span of about 5 years. The mahi-mahi is well known for putting up a good fight at the end of line, dancing and jumping as the angler works to get him to the back of the boat! The mahimahi makes long runs, leaping out of the water and showing their colors. Its population is stable. Once a mahimahi leaves the water, it loses its bright colors and appears silvery. They also inhabit the Indonesian and Japanese archipelagos, and you will find them off the coasts of Central and South America, in the Red Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. The closest relatives of these fish include the remora, cobia, jack, and more.Read on to learn about the Mahi Mahi. Fertility and laying eggs can occur at any time during the year as these fish do not have a primary mating season. Do not let that last misnomer alarm you. Females spawn two to three times each year, producing 80,000 to a million eggs each time. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. But now, they have become a target of some commercial and recreational anglers all over the world. These fish are brilliantly colored in shades of blue, green, and gold. Dolphinfish are known to eat a variety of prey such as crabs, crustaceans, small fish, squid and sargassum weed among other sea dwelling creatures and plant life. Pectoral fins are iridescent blue, the back is green and blue, while flanks are silvery-gold. Unlike marine mammals that give birth dolphinfish are born from eggs and are not given support or nurture from their mother or father. Facts about Mahi-mahi that you need to know Back in the day, mahi-mahi are caught by accident – they’re generally a by catch when when targeting tuna, marlin or swordfish.
Both species in the genus Coryphaena have a compressed head and single dorsal fin running the full length of the body. Like other vertebrae fish these fish swim in a horizontal snake-like fashion as compared to cetaceans that swim with a vertical movement by arching their backs and tails. Mahimahis grow quickly. Both the common dolphin fish and pompano dolphin fish are categorized as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List. Many countries have imposed bag limits and size limits to support sustainable fishing. In the modern classification system, the fish belongs to the genus Coryphaena.