Where Black Marlin Are Seen
In terms of fishing folklore, few species have a reputation as large as the black marlin. Having been used as characters by both authors Hemmingway and Grey, this species enjoys the profound respect of fishermen worldwide. Black marlins are almost always found living in the deep seas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is a highly migratory species that while living in vastly deep waters, rarely dive deeper than a hundred feet. They also tend to migrate towards such underwater structures as continental shelves and reefs. Due to its incredible size and strength, the black marlin, as well as the blue marlin, is a sought after prize by fishermen worldwide.
Comparing Black and Blue Marlins
Black marlins are frequently confused with blue marlin, especially when the fish are less than 100 pounds in weight. However the pectoral fin on a black marlin does not fold back when pushed by hand whereas the blues does. The bill on a large black also tends to be shorter and heavier than that of a blue marlin. Along with the distinguishing trait of their dorsal fin being proportionately the lowest of any billfish (it stands just 50 percent of the fish’s body height), the black marlin is the only marlin with non-retractable fins.
Physical Traits
In terms of color, the black marlin possesses a slate hue that turns into a silver belly. When excited, the black marlin has been known to show off light blue stripes as well. Some researchers have noted that a few black marlins obtain a silvery haze over their bodies. This caused some in the pacific to mistakenly label them “silver marlins”. An enormous fish when mature, black marlins can reach lengths of up to 15 feet and weigh in at well over 1000 pounds. Most prize-winning black marlin that are caught a female, however, as it is extremely rare for a male black marlin to weigh more than 300 pounds. A black marlin’s diet consists of dolphin, squid, octopuses, swordfish, and tuna. It has been proven through stomach analysis that these fish use their long, sharp bills to conquer and eat their prey.
Fishing 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.
