Black & Blue Marlin

Jeff Klassen Reel1in Sport Surf Shore kayak Fishing Lure lures fishing fish Mexico Florida saltwater freshwater offshore inshore tackle spinning casting marlin striped black blue

Jeff Klassen Reel1in Sport Surf Shore kayak Fishing Lure lures fishing fish Mexico Florida saltwater freshwater offshore inshore tackle trolling spinning casting marlin striped black blue

Black and Blue Marlin are the largest of the Billfish with 150 to 250 pound Blue Marlin and 200 to 400 pound Black Marlin common in season. 500 to 600 pounders are considered large ones. All really large Black & Blue Marlin are females with males rarely exceeding 300 pounds. A few times a season (in Mexico) someone will get one over 800 pounds, but one that size is pretty rare around, with even larger fish more common in other parts of the world, such as Kona, Hawaii, Australia and other South Pacific areas. Having said that, I personally believe that there are many more granders in Western Mexico than history or experience has shown us. My belief is that the main reason why monsters aren’t more frequently caught is that sport fishermen and charter boats in Mexico give up on the Black and Blue Marlin by late November, too soon in their season. At that time they’ll target the Striped Marlin and Sailfish instead, utilized smaller lures and baits. I believe that I have personally had three fish on that were "grander" (1000 pound) status. All three of them were hooked up in the month of January. I lost all three of those fish, ultimately by having been under-equipped for them, or fishing by myself, unable to handle the boat and fish of that size.

Black Marlin are the rarest of the Marlins and because of that, plus the fact that they are meaner and more aggressive than a Blue Marlin of the same size, they are probably the most prestigious of the Marlins. They will quite often literally fight to the death, sometimes resulting in either a lost fish or strenuous time-consuming hand lining to the boat. Anglers lose many of them hooked up on undersized tackle, as quite often a Black will surface and go after a fisherman’s hooked Tuna or Dorado, then plunge to the depths, up to 500 feet or more, where more often than not, the Black Marlin will usually win the battle.

The basic appearance of the Blue Marlin is similar to the other Marlin species. However, the fish, along with the Black Marlin has the potential for bulking up in weight and can appear to be broader bodied and much stouter than the slender Striped Marlin. The back of the Blue Marlin is a very deep blue with the flanks and belly being silver to off-white in color. The sides of the fish will have about 15 vertical blue-colored rows of round blotches and/or spots collectively appearing as narrow bars or stripes. Although these stripes are not as prominent as that of the Striped Marlin, the Blue Marlin will most definitely light up just like a Striper when fighting the fish, particularly smaller specimens. The stripes fade away almost immediately upon death.

Black Marlin appear almost identical to Blues in body structure. The back of the fish, however, is so much darker blue than a Blue Marlin that it is considered to be black. At most times, certainly in death, the Black Marlin lacks the blotches, patches, or stripes that are prominent in the other Marlins and Sailfish. At other times, though, faint stripes can be seen on an excited one, especially while breaking the surface. Its first dorsal fin is proportionately the lowest of any Billfish. The easiest way to tell a Black from other Marlin species is by checking its pectoral fins. The pectorals of the Black Marlin cannot be folded tight against its body, even after death.

There are basically two types of fishing for Black and Blue Marlin, one utilizing live or dead larger bait (football-sized tuna species, jacks, ladyfish, even smaller Dorado/Mahi, the other method using artificial lures. Although in many parts of the world the use of trolled or drifted live or dead bait is more common, most of the charter boats in Mexico, along with visiting anglers to Mexican waters will use lures.

Some people will argue that Blue Marlin is good eating. Although they are the most palatable of theMarlins and Sailfish, I wouldn't consider them good eating by any stretch of the imagination. When fresh, its flesh is indeed edible, but is usually tough. They also do not freeze well. Black Marlin taste like … well, you know. All marlin are best to be released upon capture.

For more info on the Black & Blue Marlin and other fish species, order my book "Fishing ... Mexican Style".