It is closely related to, and usually considered conspecific with, the Indo-Pacific blue marlin, then simply called blue marlin. 668 191. [16] Its second dorsal fin has six or seven rays. They often release over seven million eggs at once, each about 1 mm (0.039 in) in diameter. The Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) is a species of marlin native to the Atlantic Ocean. [18] It has the appearance of a net. [14] The largest blue marlin caught by IGFA angling rules is from Vitoria, Brazil, which weighed 1,402 lb (636 kg). Scientists and fishermen have long debated the extent to which blue marlin and other billfish use their elongated upper jaw in feeding. In adolescents, the first dorsal fin is large and concave, gradually reducing in proportion to body size with continued growth. They can weigh A bluewater fish that spends the majority of its life in the open sea far from land,[2] the blue marlin preys on a wide variety of marine organisms, mostly near the surface, often using its bill to stun or injure its prey. Their meat is considered a delicacy, particularly in Japan, where it is served raw as sashimi. It is capable of attaining speeds of more than 110 km/h. [11] A separate study by V. P. Buonaccorsi, J. R. Mcdowell, and Graves indicated that both Indo-Pacific and Atlantic show "striking phylogeographic partitioning" of mitochondrial and microsatellite loci.[12]. They are a popular fish during the spring and summer seasons, specifically in the waters of the United States and Bahamas. This streamlines the fish and thereby reduces drag. Marlin can swim with a speed of 80 Km per hour. The Atlantic Blue Marlin is known as one of the most highly respected game fish in the warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, the blue marlin is famous for its beautiful cobalt blue colour with a whitish underbelly – and of course its long and lethal spear. Females may spawn as many as four times in one season. It has about 15 rows of pale, cobalt-colored stripes, each of which has round dots and/or thin bars, located on both sides of the fish. [28], Sport fishermen have been at the forefront of efforts to conserve blue marlin populations. I can already feel that long spear going nicely through the seal's blubber lol. Since then, blue marlin have been renowned as one of the world's greatest game fishes. Marlin has commercial value throughout the world, with landings totalling 3,064 metric tons in 2000. Photo by Charlie Levine. A marlin is a beloved sporting fish and is often classified into two categories: Pacific and Atlantic marlin. The blue marlin is part of the billfish family Istiophoridae and is in the perch-like order Perciformes. After 60 years, Bay of Pigs disaster still haunts veterans who fought, Archaeologists discover mysterious monument hidden in plain sight, Rare chunks of Earth’s mantle found exposed in Maryland. This award is presented annually for the most number of fish tagged and released. The marlin has two dorsal fins and two anal fins. [13] The longest females can reach a length of 5 m (16 ft) with the bill, from eye to tip, constituting about 20% of the total body length. Some authorities still consider both species distinct. [5], The blue marlin is placed in the genus Makaira. Both oceans have specific breeds of marlins — striped, black and Pacific blue marlins inhabit the Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic blue and white marlins occupy the Atlantic Ocean. In the eastern Atlantic, blue marlin sport fisheries exist from the Algarve coast of Portugal in the north to Angola in the south and include the islands of the Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde, Madeira, and Ascension Island. 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