Marlin

Marlin

(Illustration © Diane Rome Peebles)

Identification & Features
Upper cobalt blue on top shading to a silvery white below. Upper jaw elongated in form of a spear. The dorsal, pectoral and anal fins are all pointed. No dark spots on the dorsal fin

Habitat
A deep-sea fish that makes major trans-Atlantic migrations.

Behavior
Unlike swordfish, blue marlin feed mostly during the day. They hunt alone and have been reported to use their long, sharp bill to slice or stun prey.

Food
Blue runners, pinfish, mullet, scads, ballyhoo and squid attract cruising Marlin. Marlin are known for their fast runs, acrobatic jumps and head-shaking attempts to throw a hook. They tire easily and should be revived after a long fight to ensure their survival. Most anglers release these fish.

Size
Average sizes tend to be in the range of 11 feet (3.4 meters) and 200 to 400 pounds (91 to 181 kilograms).

Angling Tips
This may be the ultimate of the big game fish - the one Hemingway so often wrote about. Serious anglers rig heavy and expect to fight a marlin for 4-6 hours

Recommended Products

EAGLE CLAW::
Hook Styles: 190, 254, 25SS, 6331

LAZER SHARP:
Rigs:L992, L9500, L998, ARB
Hook Styles: L197, L2004, L2004EL, L2005, L2007B, L2011S, L2020, L2022, L2013BM, L2045, L7228BP, L8197

LINE:
Eagle Claw Clear Blue