Mahi Mahi Fishing Charters in Malta

Lampuki, Malta's autumn fish

Ask anyone in Malta about lampuki and you will hear about autumn, fish markets and lampuki pie. The fish is the same dolphinfish, dorado or mahi mahi caught in warm seas around the world, and around the Maltese islands it arrives in numbers at the end of summer. Lampuki gather under anything that floats, which is why Maltese fishermen have long set out kannizzati, floating rafts that draw them in, and why a charter crew spends much of the day looking for floating cover, weed and birds.

Most lampuki on a charter are caught trolling: the boat runs lures behind it at speed and the crew hands you the rod when a fish takes. A hooked lampuka jumps, runs and changes colour from blue and green to gold, and where there is one there are often more, so a good patch can mean several fish in a short time. That makes them one of the best family fish in Malta, and a fine first offshore trip for anyone who has only fished from the shore.

The rules, in short

The commercial lampuki season using kannizzati is closed from 1 January to 14 August, so it opens on 15 August and runs to 31 December. A recreational boat needs its own authorisation from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to target lampuki, the same way it does for tuna. That authorisation belongs to the boat, not to you, so ask the skipper whether they hold it if lampuki are the reason you are booking. Our guide on whether you can keep your fish on a Malta charter covers the rest.

Which boat for lampuki

• Fishingmalta in Ta' Xbiex fishes from a 33 foot Targa with skippers Chris and Daryl. They say dorado and albacore usually mean a run of 10 to 20 miles offshore, though some days the fish come much closer, and trips mix trolling with bottom fishing. Gear, bait, permits and drinks are included, and the boat has a toilet.
• Adele II, an Axopar 37 from Floriana, is fast enough to reach the offshore grounds quickly and is licensed to fish out to 12 nautical miles. Captains Björn and Louisa run 12 hour trips with air conditioning, a toilet and a shower on board, pickup and drop off included, and guests keep their catch.
• Aquaholic in St. Paul's Bay is Captain Paul's Laguna II. He is a commercial fisherman who asks for your bucket list species and gives honest expectations for the day. Children are welcome, and the crew cleans and fillets the catch.

See all boats in Malta for trips that mix lampuki with bottom fishing or amberjack jigging.

When to come

Lampuki can be caught from mid August, and for anglers the best of it is usually late August to November, when the water is still warm and the fish are spread offshore. Autumn is also when the sea is calmer than in winter and the summer crowds have gone. A September or October day can combine trolling for lampuki on the surface with jigging for amberjack and dentex on the reefs. The month by month picture for every species, with the legal dates, is in our Malta fishing seasons guide.

What to ask before you book

• Does the boat hold the lampuki authorisation? It is needed to target them, and the skipper will know straight away.
• How far out do you go? Lampuki can mean a longer run offshore, so a longer trip gives the crew more time to find them.
• Do we keep any fish? Some boats let guests keep the catch and fillet it for you. Agree it before the trip if you want lampuki for dinner.
• First time at sea? Our guide to a Malta fishing trip for beginners covers what to bring and what the day is like.