Dolphinfish Research Program

Dolphinfish Research Program Dolphinfish Research Program

The Dolphinfish Research Program is the world's most extensive investigation of the spatial and temporal occurrence, movements, migrations, and life history of the common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus). The program began in 2006 when Don Hammond founded the Cooperative Science Services, LLC, a private fisheries research consulting company, to continue the research that began with the South Caro

lina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) in 2002. Now, the Dolphinfish Research Program is owned and operated by Beyond Our Shores, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded to conduct research on dolphinfish, associated species, and economies.

06/01/2026

Last Friday, we shared our May monthly eNewsletter which showcased a movement of a 45”cow we tracked from St. Croix to the tropical Atlantic this spring.

The cow made a movement previously unsuspected but continues to highlight the tropical Atlantic and southern portion of the Sargasso Sea as a main movement corridor and extensive habitat that can seasonally harbor dolphin. The animation included in this post displays the day of the week the cow was tracked after being released while fishing aboard Captain Cook Charters on April 8th, 2026.

To learn more about this movement as well as the movement of another bull recaptured in DR in May, visit beyondourshores.org/news.

To get involved in our tagging program request tags to participate in our tagging program at www.dolphintagging.com/tags

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: GIF: BOSF

While dolphinfish can move through the Florida Straits rapidly, our tagging data has shown drastic differences in northe...
05/26/2026

While dolphinfish can move through the Florida Straits rapidly, our tagging data has shown drastic differences in northerly movements depending on where fish are relative to the position of the Gulf Stream.

Utilizing the Naval Oceanographic Office data on the position of the westward wall of the Gulf Stream off the Keys, fish tagged, released, and recaptured in the Gulf Stream averaged moving 35 miles per day versus 14 miles per day for fish tagged, released, and recaptured outside the influence of the GS.

An analysis of surface drifters moving through the Straits support these dynamics with drifters outside the influence of the Gulf Stream getting held up in nearshore eddies along the Keys, near Cay Sal Bank, the Old Bahama Channel, and Northwest Providence Channel. Some fish tagged in the Lower Keys have been observed to meander west towards Key West or circulate within the Keys over periods extending up to 19 days after tagging.

Additionally, during fall, dolphinfish have been recorded moving back into Florida state waters after spending three to five months at sea, likely meandering through the Bahamas before their return. These recirculation patterns support the release of small fish that have not reached full sexual maturity to support a larger spawning biomass and stronger future fishery recruitment. Request tags to get involved in our tagging program at dolphintagging.com/tags.

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Photo and Figure: Beyond Our Shores Foundation

Thanks to Captain Jack Harper aboard RunaWade and angler Kendall Fleming (pictured here) for tagging and releasing 38 ma...
05/22/2026

Thanks to Captain Jack Harper aboard RunaWade and angler Kendall Fleming (pictured here) for tagging and releasing 38 mahi over their past two outings offshore Georgetown, SC, this past week along with several members of the Florence Blue Water Fishing Club.

Their team also landed 74 mahi and one wahoo between their two outings 🔥.

Incoming reports for fishing off South Carolina have been the best in years. How have your outings been?

To participate in our tagging program by releasing small mahi request tags at dolphintagging.com/tags

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Photos: RunaWade Fishing Team

What is a story learned from satellite tracking of a dolphinfish in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean?Through this tagg...
05/21/2026

What is a story learned from satellite tracking of a dolphinfish in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean?

Through this tagging program we have come to learn that dolphinfish have incredible migratory capabilities. One documented case involved a female dolphinfish (40” fork-length) that traveled approximately 5,268 miles over 158 days across multiple countries, including Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, showcasing its extensive travel and habitat use across different Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

This example remains our program’s longest female tracking record and longest pacific geolocation track. This tag was sponsored by and the fish was tagged and released off Tropic Star Lodge . The work to deploy the tag as well as the analysis, outreach, and education was supported through sponsors and supporters of the Beyond Our Shores Foundation.

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Photos: Jess Harvey

So far in 2026 we stand at 277 reported tag deployments from at least 30 named vessels. There was a flurry of tagging a...
05/18/2026

So far in 2026 we stand at 277 reported tag deployments from at least 30 named vessels. There was a flurry of tagging activity this past weekend off South Carolina which will push these numbers higher in the coming days.

To date, we have recorded 5 new recaptures and 4 satellite tag movements. The map actually does not reflect another PSAT movement for a 40”bull that carried the tag for 32 days from north of St. Croix to the SE corner of DR where the tag surfaced on 5/15. The map will reflect that new movement as well as several tag deployments in the SAB in the coming days. To monitor our tagging progress you can check out our online map at dolphintagging.com/map.

A huge thanks goes out to everyone who is participating in our tagging program this year!

Request a new kit or more tags by submitting a kit request at www.dolphintagging.com/tags

Happy Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: mahimahi Figure: BOSF

New Recapture: Vessel Southern Run just logged their 3rd recapture for tagging activity from this past winter (January ...
05/13/2026

New Recapture: Vessel Southern Run just logged their 3rd recapture for tagging activity from this past winter (January through mid-March). This past Monday the Vessel Good Ole Buoys recaptured a fish off West Palm Becah, FL, that Captain Daniel Kubiak and angler Corey Inman tagged and released in relatively the same area on March 18th. The recapture occurred when the fish hit a flat line with a live sardine close to shore in 150’ of water while Captain Pedro Ramos fished for kings. All three of Southern Run’s recoveries this season have been very close to shore and inshore of the Gulf Stream. These three recent Southern Run recoveries show the direct benefit of releasing small fish that can recirculate in the nearshore environment for several weeks or months before being recaptured as much larger fish. The fish recaptured this past week grew 7-8” in 54 days based on the estimated release and recapture sizes. Boom! 💪

To participate in our tagging program to compile more examples of conservation in action request tags at www.dolphintagging.com/tags

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Figure: BOSF

The dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is known by several names across different regions and contexts. Commonly called d...
05/08/2026

The dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is known by several names across different regions and contexts. Commonly called dolphinfish in scientific literature, it is also widely referred to as mahi-mahi, particularly in the culinary world and sport fishing, deriving from Hawaiian meaning “strong-strong.”

Another popular name is dorado, which is Spanish for “”golden,”” highlighting the fish’s bright, gold-tinted coloration. In some regions, it is known as dolphin. The Portuguese call it Dourado while in french it’s referred to as Coryphene. In other spanish speaking countries such as Colombia and Peru it is called Lampuga, and Perico, respectively.

Other English slang names include schoolies, flip-flops, slingers, chickens, slammers, gaffers, or bruisers. Whatever you call them our program has been dedicated to the research and conservation of the species since 2002! Get involved in our tagging program by requesting a free tagging kit at www.dolphintagging.com/tags.

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Photo: Wess Merten

Throwback to an incredible recapture last spring off Florida: Last spring, our tagging program documented the first retu...
05/07/2026

Throwback to an incredible recapture last spring off Florida:

Last spring, our tagging program documented the first return migrant for dolphinfish tagging activity based out of Rhode Island. This noteworthy instance was reported by our program in May. The particular fish, originally tagged and released near a lobster pot close to the shipping lanes off Rhode Island in September 2024, was recaptured 219 days later as a much larger fish off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 💪

This recapture highlighted how small dolphinfish released off Rhode Island in the late summer/early fall could travel substantial distances within a relatively short period of time, while doubling in size, and come back into the US east coast recreational fishery. Let ‘em go and watch ‘em grow!

Request tags to participate in our tagging program at www.dolphintagging.com/tags 🔥

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Figure: BOSF

05/06/2026

A huge thanks to everyone that came out last night for our seminar with the Piedmont Saltwater Fishing Club! We enjoyed meeting with club members and educating the club on key research results our tagging program has produced over the past 25 years! To get involved in our tagging program request tags at www.dolphintagging.com/tags

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Video and images: BOSF and Tom Cimino

Dolphinfish are highly attuned pelagic predators. Their streamlined, flat body shape is highly efficient for swimming i...
05/04/2026

Dolphinfish are highly attuned pelagic predators. Their streamlined, flat body shape is highly efficient for swimming in the pelagic, open-water habitat. Their morphology reduces drag, allowing them to swim rapidly and efficiently over long distances in search of food and presumably during reproduction. Their ability to move quickly is essential for capturing fast-moving prey such as flying fish, squid, and a wide variety of small fish, thereby supporting their high metabolic rates. While flyers are often seen during outings it is another thing to capture a decent shot of one! Stoked we got this one but will keep trying until we get a super crisp and clear shot of dolphins preferred prey!

Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners: Tagging Award Sponsors: Photo: W. Merten

Address

San Diego, CA

Telephone

+17874368300

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dolphinfish Research Program posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Dolphinfish Research Program:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category