Small dolphin can usually be boated by swinging them aboard with the leader. Big ones need to be gaffed. Avoid the temptation to load up on smalldolphin. If you find a school of small fish, there is probably a school of larger ones nearby. There is a recreational limit of 10 per person per day in Florida.
Dolphin tend to be a spring and summer fish.
The summer months in particular yield the best fishing. The Gulf Stream consistently has the most dolphin, with good catches reported from the Florida Keys to the Stuart area. Farther north, the Gulf Stream veers offshore and the fish are harder to reach. The panhandle area of northwest Florida also produces good catches of dolphin. Dolphin are where you find them, which varies from day to day.