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Outside of the occasional Black marlin, Blue marlin would be the largest of the billfish in the eastern Pacific. 200-250 pounders are common in season, with 500-600 pounders being large ones. All really large Blue marlin are females with males rarely exceeding 300 pounds.

Description: The basic appearance of the Blue marlin is similar to the other marlin species. This fish however, has the most potential of the billfishes for bulking up in weight and will be much broader bodied and much stouter than say a Striped marlin of the same length. The back of this fish is a very deep blue with its flanks and belly being silvery to off-white in color. The sides of the fish will have about 15 vertical rows of round blotches and/or spots collectively appearing as narrow bars or stripes. Although these stripes are now as prominent as those of a Striped marlin, the Blue will most definitely "light-up" just like a Striper, when fighting the fish, particularly the smaller specimens. Unlike the Black marlin, the pectoral fins aren't ever completely rigid and can be folded completely flat against the sides of its body, even after death.

Fishing Techniques: Fishing with lures: Most anglers targeting Blue marlin, certainly in the eastern Pacific, will use trolling lures, usually utilizing four lines at a time, sometimes five. Blue marlin lures are usually no smaller than 12" in length, with preference to larger ones, being between 14" and 16". A slightly offset diamond pattern can be used as a basic lure placement set-up, making adjustments as you see fit. I like to place the largest lure, usually a large swimming head, very close to the transom on either side, approximately 25 feet back. The next lure would probably be at about 45 feet back and should be a straight runner or pusher either with a flat head or conical face, depending on water conditions. This lure should be run off of an outrigger. The third lure back should be approximately 75 feet out, off the stern, and could be just about any style of head. To complete your diamond pattern set-up, place the fourth lure on the other outrigger about 90 feet back. This is a good location to experiment with lure colors and head shapes, as the amount of line out usually has the lure, regardless of head type, moving in and out of the bubble or smoke trail that your boat will make, with its engines and prop wash. Popular Blue marlin lure colors would be green/black, dorado, flying fish and petrolero. Run a fifth line from high up on the bridge right up the middle past all the other lures, if space permits. This long line should be the smallest of your lures as that line usually gets tagged by smaller fish in the 150-200 pound range. Hard baits, such as "Marauders" and "Rapalas" are not used for Blue marlin fishing. Fishing with bait: Bonito, skip jack or Yellowfin tuna make the best bait for Blue marlin. Live bait should be used when trolling or drifting back around banks or pinnacles or amongst feeding porpoises or tuna. One would think that live bait, as opposed to a rigged dead bait, would always be the preferred choice when bait fishing, but its quite often not, especially while blind trolling in open water. A slow-troll dead tuna family bait splashing along the surface can be deadly, especially when the water is glassier and calmer. The dead bait is a threat in itself, as a bait, and also as somewhat of a teaser or an attractant, raising Blue marlin to investigate. Once a fish is raised this would be a good time to drop a live bait back if you have one. If you don't have a live bait you may have to release the line from the outrigger and tease the marlin. Dead baits must have the gills removed with the gill covers and mouth sewn shut. Without closing those opening, the bait is pretty much useless as it will flutter and splash about uncontrollably for a very short time before breaking off, or fowling up, due to the pressure of water being forced through the open mouth and gills. Generally speaking no more than two live or dead baits are trolled at one time, unless you are using a downrigger for a third line. Fly Fishing: It is certainly possible to get a Blue marlin on a fly rod. However, since they are seldom spotted on the surface like the Striped marlin, you will pretty much have to troll your flies or troll hook-less lures/baits as a teaser to get the fish up on the surface and excited, at which point you would cast at it, or drop your fly back to it. Use the biggest streamer-type flies you have in mackerel, dorado, and flying fish patterns. When trolling a fly, slip on a popper head, otherwise you will attract nothing but dorado and perhaps the odd sailfish or small Striper. For casting, use the longest leader possible that you can cast.

Edibility & Cleaning: Some people will argue that Blue marlin is good eating. Although they are the most palatable of the marlins and sailfish I personally wouldn't consider them "good eating" by any stretch of the imagination, certainly when compared to other species caught in the same waters, such as Dorado, tuna and Wahoo. When fresh, its flesh is somewhat edible but is usually tough. They also do not freeze well. All marlin are best to be released upon capture, when possible.

 * The abbreviated text on this page is taken from the upcoming book "Fishing - Mexican Style" by Jeff Klassen, is copyrighted and may not be used for purposes other than personal use without the written permission from the publisher.

If you want to go catch your own Blue Marlin in Barra De Navidad, Melaque or anywhere in the Costalegre Mexico area please check out our Fishing Rates and Packages