Where Black Marlin Are Located
Found living exclusively in the deeps of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the black marlin is one of the most sought after fish on the planet. Having been immortalized by famous authors Ernest Hemmingway and Zane Grey, the black marlin holds the reputation of being a powerful, sleek, elusive creature. A very highly migratory fish, the black marlin almost never dives any deeper than a hundred feet beneath the ocean’s surface. This species, along with the blue marlin, also tends to live near underwater structures like reefs and continental shelves.
Black Marlins vs. Blue Marlins
Black and blue marlins are commonly mistaken for one another. Usually this happens when a fish is caught weighing less than 100 pounds. There are a few noticeable differences between blue and black marlins, however, that can be easily detected. One of the main differing characteristics of black and blue marlins is that a black marlin has a pectoral fin that, when pressed on, will not fold over. Another character trait difference is that the bill of a black marlin tends to be much shorter and heavier than a blue marlin. The black marlin is also the only marlin that has non-retractable fins on its body.
Appearance
The black marlin has a back that is slate blue and transitions into a silver underbelly. It may also have display light blue stripes when it becomes excited. Slight variations in color can cause some specimens to possess a silvery haze over their body. In Hawaii this has led to the name “silver marlin”, which was once thought to be a separate species. Female black marlins can grow up to 15 feet long and weigh in excess of 1000 pounds. Male black marlins are, in general, much smaller and rarely exceed 300 pounds. Black marlins feed on dolphin, squid, cuttlefish, octopuses, mackerels, swordfish, and large decapod crustaceans, but prefer small tuna when abundant. Research and stomach analysis show that these fish use their long, sharp bills to slash their prey.
Trolling for Black Marlin
As anyone who has ever caught a black marlin will attest, once you have hooked a black marlin on your line, you are in for a serious battle. Once on the line, black marlins have been known to picturesquely jump from the ocean before diving deep back down. They will fight even an experienced angler for hours on end. In order to get a black marlin on your hook, however, you must employ one of the tried and true methods fishermen have carefully mastered. A very common way to get a black marlin is to troll boldly colored lures as well as rigged baitfish behind boats. As with many big-game fish, live bait has also been proven to produce good results.
Demand for Black Marlin
Commercial fishing of the black marlin and Blue Marlin fishing has put an enormous strain on numerous fisheries worldwide. Resulting from the depleted stocks, many fishermen are now required by law to tag and release their catches. Black Marlin fishing have not yet been evaluated as to whether they are a threatened or endangered species. Their flesh is marketed refrigerated or frozen in the United States. The black marlin’s firm, white meat is also highly prized in Japan’s sushi market, however banned in some other countries, such as Australia, for its high selenium and mercury content.
