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Black Marlin
Makaira indica (Cuvier, 1832)
A Black Marlin leaping from the water.
The Black Marlin is a well known commercial and recreational fishing species. In areas of north-eastern Australia, Peru and Ecuador, sportfishing for Black Marlin by trolling is an important industry.
This species has an elongate body with a stout bill, that in cross section is rounded. It has two dorsal fins, two anal fins, a lunate caudal fin and two strong keels on the side of the caudal peduncle. The pelvic fins can be depressed into a groove. The pectoral fins stick out from the side of the body and cannot be depressed. The pectoral fins of the Blue Marlin can be depressed.
The Black Marlin is dark blue above, silvery below and usually lacks any markings. It is known to grow to over 4.48 m in length and over 700 kg.
Like all the other fishes in the family Istiophoridae, the Black Marlin is a very fast swimmer. Its food consists largely of other large fast swimming fishes such as tunas, mackerels, trevallies, and swordfish. Less important foods include other fishes, squids, and large crustaceans. Analysis of stomach contents indicate that the Black Marlin uses its bill to slash prey before it is swallowed.
The Black Marlin is most commonly seen in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Individuals are occasionally found in the Atlantic Ocean. These are presumed to have migrated around the Cape of Good Hope. This species is sometimes also found in temperate waters. It has a distribution which encompasses all Australian marine waters.
Further reading
- Nakamura, I. 1985. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 5. Billfishes of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of marlins, sailfishes, spearfishes and swordfishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. No. 125 (5): i-iv, 1-65.
- View the Billfish skeleton page.
- View the Marlin dorsal fin spine enquiry.
- View the World's first Black Marlin caught on Rod and Reel page.
