Mahi Mahi, Taiwan
Mahi Mahi
is one of the most prolific fish in the ocean, being able to reproduce
at 14 months of age and grow to 60 lbs in less than 4 years.
Mahi-mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and
commercial purposes. Sport fishermen seek mahi-mahi due to their beauty,
size, food quality, and healthy population. Mahi-mahi are popular in
many restaurants.
Mahi-mahi, until recently, was frequently called a
dolphin fish even though they are not related to dolphins and are not
mammals. Since many people have negative associations with dolphin
deaths associated with fishing, the name mahi-mahi is now more
frequently used in stores and restaurants.
Mahi-mahi is an exceptional tasting fish, with a
firm white flesh and a sweet flavor. It is less “fishy” tasting that
many other fish, and is prized most by people in the US, Japan and in
the Caribbean. The fish has been gaining in popularity because a single
fish can yield quite a few pounds of meat. The typical mahi-mahi weighs
about 20 pounds (9.07 kg). Some can be quite a bit larger, especially
males. A few people have caught mahi-mahi that weigh over 50 pounds
(22.68 kg).
The average life expectancy of the mahi-mahi is
three to four years, and most grow quickly, reaching full size in the
first year of life. The fish are carnivores, enjoying a diet of other
small fish, squid and crustaceans. They’re often at the near top of the
food chain, but certainly make a tasty dish for sharks. They may elude
the amateur fisherman and occasionally the shark, with their incredibly
quick and powerful swim.
