Sunday, January 8, 2012

The Blue Marlin Fishing Venture

By Ben Pate


Few if any other kind of sport fishing beats blue marlin fishing. It is a moment of great pride and joy to emerge with the trophy of this actively sought species. It is exhilarating to triumph over against their splendid form, massive proportions and the feisty fight they put up.

Location

This fish is found in all the tropical ocean waters worldwide. To ensure their population does not go down, spawning is done. This is done in locations like Mauritius, the Caribbean islands on the western side of the Atlantic, Hawaii and the Guinean Gulf on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

Genetics

There are two species of this fish; the Atlantic and the Pacific blue marlin. Research has verified that both species are genetically alike. This has been put down to a lot of the p-phenotype being in both oceans. This is in contrast to the a-phenotype which has not been found in either ocean.

Gender

There are significant gender differences. An adult male ranges at 300 pounds in weight, rarely exceeding this. Females are usually much larger, reaching up to 1,000 pounds. This is however still contested by scientists and anglers. Records have the largest species captured as a Pacific breed at 1,805 pounds that was captured in Hawaii. In the Atlantic, the largest haul was a 1,402 pound fish that was caught in Brazil.

Methods

Various techniques and apparatus are used. Method selection is based on the size of the catch being targeted as well as sea conditions. Methods have also been influenced by local marlin fishing charters and practices. Artificial lures, live bait or rigged natural baits are the three methods used.

Lures

The use of artificial lure is quite popular as blue marlins wage quite a war. This method has its origins in Hawaii. Locals first made lures using lures carved out of wood and shelled in drinking glasses. Others were made with chrome pipes that had vinyl upholstery or rubber attached on them. Today they are made in a number of sizes, shapes and shades.

Bait

Others prefer rigged natural bait. They have been used since the previous century and are still popular today. They are widely used in the American eastern seaboard as well as in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Here, horse ballyhoo and Spanish mackerel are used to lure the Atlantic breed of marlin. These can be used in combination with artificial lures. With live bait fishing, smaller species of tuna and skipjack are thought to be the best lure. Its limitation is that the bait cannot be trolled fast so that it remains alive. This method can only be used in fairly small fishing areas. It is the method used in the fishery in Kona,Hawaii.




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