Black marlin have a place in Black Marlin fishing folklore all of their own, as do blue marlin, and they have both been immortalized by writers like Ernest Hemmingway and Zane Grey. Almost exclusively existing in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the black marlin is a highly migratory, pelagic species of fish that are most commonly found in deep waters, though they rarely swim deeper than a hundred feet, near bottom structures such as continental shelves and reefs. The black marlin's immense size and strength make it a favored target among many big-game fishermen.
In Comparison with Blue Marlins
When a black marlin weighing under a hundred pounds is captured it is very commonly confused with its cousin, the blue marlin. One distinguishing characteristic the black marlin possesses independent of the blue marlin is that its pectoral fin will not fold over when pushed. Also, the bill on a large black also tends to be much shorter and heavier than that of a blue marlin. Finally, in conjunction with having a dorsal fin that is proportionately the lowest of any billfish in existence, the black marlin is the only marlin with non-retractable fins.
Physical Traits
The black marlin has a distinguishing slate color that gradually transforms into a silver underbelly. When excited, it may also display light blue stripes on its sides. Some black marlin specimen have also shown a glossy, silver sheen all over their body, leading some in Hawaii to dub this species the "silver marlin". Black marlins can mature up to 15 feet in length and have been recorded weighing in at an astonishing 1000 pounds. However, male black marlins are in general almost always smaller than their female counterparts. For example, it is extremely rare that a male black marlin exceeds 300 pounds. To eat, research shows that black marlin use their long, sharp bills to devour 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. It's fun to go Black Marlin fishing.
In Comparison with Blue Marlins
When a black marlin weighing under a hundred pounds is captured it is very commonly confused with its cousin, the blue marlin. One distinguishing characteristic the black marlin possesses independent of the blue marlin is that its pectoral fin will not fold over when pushed. Also, the bill on a large black also tends to be much shorter and heavier than that of a blue marlin. Finally, in conjunction with having a dorsal fin that is proportionately the lowest of any billfish in existence, the black marlin is the only marlin with non-retractable fins.
Physical Traits
The black marlin has a distinguishing slate color that gradually transforms into a silver underbelly. When excited, it may also display light blue stripes on its sides. Some black marlin specimen have also shown a glossy, silver sheen all over their body, leading some in Hawaii to dub this species the "silver marlin". Black marlins can mature up to 15 feet in length and have been recorded weighing in at an astonishing 1000 pounds. However, male black marlins are in general almost always smaller than their female counterparts. For example, it is extremely rare that a male black marlin exceeds 300 pounds. To eat, research shows that black marlin use their long, sharp bills to devour 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. It's fun to go Black Marlin fishing.
About the Author:
Commercial fishing of the black marlin and Blue Marlin fishing has put an enormous strain on numerous fisheries worldwide. Black Marlin fishing have not yet been evaluated as to whether they are a threatened or endangered species.
No comments:
Post a Comment