what kind of fish is mahi-mahi
Mahi-mahi is a fast-swimming oceanic fish called the common dolphinfish, not a dolphin or tuna.
Quick Scoop
- Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus (common dolphinfish).
- Type of fish: Surface-dwelling, ray-finned, pelagic saltwater fish.
- Habitat: Warm tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, often offshore near floating seaweed like Sargassum.
- Other names: Dolphinfish, dorado (Spanish for “golden”), mahimahi or mahi-mahi.
- Appearance: Bright golden sides with blue-green back and iridescent fins; colors fade quickly after it’s caught.
- Relation to dolphins: No relation at all—“dolphinfish” is just a traditional name based on its body shape, but it is a true fish.
As food
- Flesh: Firm, lean, mild and slightly sweet; usually white or grey-white when raw, turning white when cooked.
- Common uses: Grilled, seared, baked, or used in tacos and sandwiches because it holds together well.
In short: mahi-mahi is a brightly colored pelagic dolphinfish, a ray-finned saltwater species popular both with sport fishers and in seafood dishes.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.