Find a Fish
Blue Marlin
Makaira nigricans (Jordan & Snyder, 1901)
A 2.35 m long Blue Marlin caught east of Kiama (water depth 180 m) , New South Wales, February 2007. Photo © G. Ashton. View larger image.
Above and below: A Blue Marlin caught by S. Lindsay, off Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, February 2002. Photo © K. Brookins. View larger image.
Photo © K. Brookins.
The Blue Marlin has an elongate body with a long stout bill that is rounded in cross section. It has two dorsal fins. The height of the first dorsal fin is less than the depth of the body. There are two anal fins, a lunate caudal fin and two strong keels on the side of the caudal peduncle.
The blade-shaped pectoral fins can be depressed against the side of the body. The curved pectoral fins of the Black Marlin cannot be depressed. Those of the Striped Marlin (Tetrapturus audax) are more leaf-shaped.
The Blue Marlin is blue-black above and silvery below.
It grows to over 4.47 m in length and over 900 kg.
Like all the other fishes in the family Istiophoridae, the Blue Marlin is a very fast swimmer. Its food consists of tunas and other fishes. Less important food items include squids and large crustaceans. Analysis of stomach contents indicate that the Blue Marlin uses its bill to slash prey before it is swallowed.
The Blue Marlin is found throughout tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.
In Australia Blue Marlin are recorded from most tropical and subtropical marine waters.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Black Marlin fact sheet
- Indo-Pacific Sailfish fact sheet
- Swordfish fact sheet
- View the Family Istiophoridae list
- View the Billfishes list
Further reading
- Graves, J.E. & J.R. McDowell. 2003. Stock structure of the world's istiophorid billfishes: a genetic perspective. Marine and Freshwater Research. 54:287-298.
- 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.
