Marlin - Blue
name: Marlin - Blue
other names: Atlantic blue marlin, Pacific blue marlin
Blue marlin is one of the foremost big game species worldwide.The blue marlin has exceptional size and strength, and is a powerful, aggressive fighter. It runs hard and long, sounds deep, and leaps high into the air in a seemingly inexhaustible display of strength. With these characteristics, and being more widespread than the other marlins, it is arguably the most popular and sought-after by anglers. The pectoral fins of blue marlin are never rigid, even after death, and can be folded completely flat against the sides. The dorsal fin is high and pointed anteriorly and its greatest height is less than the greatest body depth. The anal fin is relatively large and also pointed. Juveniles may not share all of these characteristics, but the peculiar lateral line system is usually visible in small specimens. In adults it is rarely visible unless the scales or skin are removed. The lateral line of a Pacific blue marlin is a series of large loops, like a chain, along the flanks. The lateral line of all Atlantic blue marlin is a reticulated network that is more complex than the simple loops of the Pacific specimens. The vent is just in front of the anal fin, as it is in all billfish except the spearfish, and the upper jaw is elongated in the form of a spear. The back is cobalt blue and the flanks and belly are silvery white. There may be light blue or lavender vertical stripes on the sides, but these usually fade away soon after death, and they are never as obvious as those of the striped marlin. There are no spots on the fins. The blue marlin is similar to the white marlin in smaller sizes, but the blue has a more pointed dorsal fin at the anterior end, more pointed tip on the pectoral and anal fins, and lacks dorsal fin spots.
This pelagic and migratory species occurs in tropical and warm temperate oceanic waters. Like the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico Blue Marlin are normally found roaming deep waters and congregating near batfish-producing bottom structures such as continental shelves, canyons and reefs.
Blue marlin feed on squid and pelagic fishes, including assorted tunas and mackerels, as well as dolphin. They feed on almost anything they can catch, in fact, and feeding is more an issue of availability than selectivity. Since they require large quantities of food, they are scarce when and where prey is limited.
The blue marlin is the largest marlin appearing in the Atlantic Ocean, and elsewhere is capable of growing to sizes that equal or exceed the black marlin. It apparently grows larger on average in the Pacific, where decades ago one commercially caught specimen reportedly weighed 2,200 pounds. The all-tackle world record for Atlantic blues is a 1,402-pounder caught in 1992 at Victoria, Brazil; the all-tackle world record for Pacific blues is a 1,376-pounder caught in 1982 at Kona, Hawaii. The giants are all females, as male blue marlin rarely exceed 300 pounds. Most blue marlin encountered by anglers range between 150 and 400 pounds. Blue marlin are believe to live for more than 15 years, although fish over 10 years of age are uncommon.
Fishing methods for blue marlin include trolling large whole baits such as bonito, dolphin, mullet, mackerel, bonefish, ballyhoo, flying fish, and squid, as well as various types of artificial lures and sometimes strip baits.
