BLUE MARLIN
Makaira mazara & Makaira nigricans
Spanish: Marlin Azul
A tropical billfish species and is common in equatorial waters. Many scientists do not view Makaira Mazara (Indio Pacific) and Makaira Nigricans (Atlantic) as distinct species, and that the latter species has been considered a single pantropical occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Color cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; dorsal fin pointed at front end; pectoral fin and anal fin pointed; lateral line reticulated (interwoven like a net), difficult to see in large specimens; no dark spots on dorsal fin; body covered with embedded scales ending in one or two sharp points.
Not usually seen close to land masses or islands, unless there is a deep drop-off of the shelf. Remain mostly within the upper 37 m. Believed to form small-scale schools of at most 10 individuals. Larger fish tend to swim solitarily but smaller ones form schools of about 10 individuals.
Larger specimens are all females; males do not exceed 300 pounds. Are known to make trans-oceanic migrations.
Feeds on squids, tuna-like fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.
Usually caught trolling with plastic lures, live bait or dead bait.
Although highly edible it is considered unsportsmanlike and are generally "catch & release".
World Record -
Pacific 1376Lbs Caught at Kaaiwi Point, Kona, HI on May 31, 1982.
Atlantic -1402 Lbs 2 oz. Caught at Vitoria, Brazil Feb. 29, 1992.