BLUE MARLIN - Makaira nigricans.

Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES

Description: color cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw elongated in form of a spear; dorsal fin pointed at front end; pectoral fin and anal fin pointed; lateral line reticulated (interwoven like a net), difficult to see in large specimens; no dark spots on dorsal fin; body covered with imbedded scales ending in one or two sharp points.

Similar fish: white marlin, T albidus (white has rounded dorsal at front end, rounded tip of pectoral and anal fins, and spots on the dorsal fin).

Where found: OFFSHORE, a bluewater fish.

Size: largest of the Atlantic marlins, common to 11 feet, known to exceed 2,000 pounds.

Remarks: all of trophy size are females; males do not exceed 300 pounds; make trans-Atlantic migrations; spawning procedures unknown; feeds on squid and pelagic fishes, including blackfin tuna and frigate mackerel.

Florida record: 980 lbs., 8 ozs.

Amberjack | Black Drum | Bluefish | Bonito | Cobia | Dolphin | Flounder | Grouper | King Mackerel | Marlin | Pompano | Redfish | Red Snapper | Sailfish | Sheepshead | Spanish Mackerel | Spotted Sea Trout | Tarpon | Triggerfish | Tuna | Vermilion Snapper | Wahoo | Weakfish |