Best Trolling Lures for Dorado in South Africa

Dorado are one of the most exciting fish a ski boat can find. They're fast, they jump, they light up in green, gold and blue next to the boat, and they're very good to eat. The good news is that dorado are aggressive feeders, and a well-swimming diving minnow in the right colour will get bit.

When and where to find dorado

Dorado like warm, blue water. In South Africa they mostly show up on the KwaZulu-Natal coast during the warmer months, roughly from late spring through summer into early autumn, and they're around for longer further north towards Sodwana and Mozambique. A warm current pushing close to the coast is often what brings them in.

The number one rule with dorado is: look for anything floating. Dorado gather under floating debris, logs, weed lines, plastic and FADs (fish aggregating devices), because baitfish hide under them. When you find something floating in blue water, troll past it at a distance before you head off.

Other signs worth chasing:

• Birds working over the water, especially terns diving
• A clear colour change or temperature line where warm blue water meets greener water
• Flying fish breaking the surface ahead of the boat

Best lure colours for dorado

Dorado respond strongly to bright colours. These are the patterns that work best for us:

• Greens and yellows. Chartreuse lures like the Fire Tiger and Electra stand out in blue water and look like the small dorado and flying fish they feed on.
• Pinks. Pink is a classic dorado colour. The Reverse Electra (pink body, chartreuse head) and the Candy Glo are good choices, and the glow finish helps early in the morning.
• Pearl with stripes. The Pearl Tiger caught the dorado in the photo above. A pearl body flashes in the sun and the stripes give the fish something to target.

A good trolling spread for dorado usually has one bright green or yellow lure, one pink, and one natural or pearl pattern, so the fish can tell you what they want that day. When one colour keeps getting hit, swap another rod to the same colour.

Trolling speed and spread

Most diving minnows swim best at around 5 to 8 knots. Before you set the spread, drop each lure in next to the boat and watch it swim. It should wobble tightly and track straight. If it rolls over or skips out of the water, slow down.

Run your lures at different distances behind the boat so they don't tangle and so they cover more water. Run one or two close in the white water of the wake, where dorado often strike, and others further back.

Tips for landing more dorado

• Keep the first fish in the water. Dorado travel in schools. If you keep a hooked fish in the water near the boat, the rest of the school often follows it in, and you can catch more with a casting lure or another trolled line.
• Go back to the same floating object. If you got a strike near a log or weed line, do another pass or two. Where there's one dorado there are usually more.
• Ease off the drag a little. Dorado jump and shake their heads, and a soft mouth can tear. Steady pressure lands more fish than horsing them in.
• Check your hooks. Dorado have rough mouths. Sharp, strong trebles make a big difference to how many fish stay connected.

Quick dorado checklist

• Warm, blue water and anything floating
• Bright greens, yellows and pinks, plus one pearl or natural pattern
• Troll at around 5 to 8 knots and check each lure swims straight
• Keep the first fish in the water to hold the school

If you're heading out early or late, also read our guide on when to use glow lures. And for help choosing colours on the day, see lure colours for clear vs dirty water.