Dorado
The Dorado is recognized all over the seven seas as one of the best big game fish. The colours of this hardy South African fish species is impossible to describe. You need to catch a live Dolphinfish to know what I mean, it is a spectacular sight. The first picture in the image series below is when the Dorado I caught was just landed and you can see the amazing spectrum of colours... It still doesn't tell the whole story of how beautiful the Dolphin fish actually is. Normally the Dorado is a metallic blue/green coloured with spots and blotches of various other unbelievable colours...
The Dorado is very closely related to the Marlin species of the world. The world record catch for a Dolphinfish is just over 40 kilograms and believe me it must of taking a long time to reel that fish into the offshore ocean going boat that the anglers were fishing from. Dorado do not normally exceed 100 centimeters but the occasional fish can attain well over 200 cm. This deep water game fish normally occurs in pairs and it is pelagic. In South Africa there are no specific catch restrictions for the Dorado. A Dolphinfishes diet includes mainly small fish (They do have a liking for the Trigger fish species) and planktonic organisms. Feeding takes place in the hours of sunlight, normally very close to the surface. This is why Dorado are caught with lures and baits trawling along the top of the ocean water.
Dorado is a very good eating fish and many hotels in South Africa serve this large game fish as a delicious main course! It is found all over South African coastal waters and occurs along way off shore. With this feisty fish length and wait can vary greatly as there is no 'fixed' growth pattern, although the Dolphin fish has a high growth rate.
In summer from Late November until May the following year Dorado can be found in large numbers, congregating around floating debris.
Mostly in the region between Halfway House and the Alphard banks. The 45's also produce Dorado.
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Neil Bezuidenhout
