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Photo: NOAA, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Makaira nigricans
How to catch Blue marlin
Blue marlin feed in 74–88°F water and bite best at 78–84°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 14 waters.
300 pts · trophy at 100"Feeds 74–88°FBest 78–84°FOut of season nowLedge / hard bottom
About
The biggest game fish there is — a thousand pounds of blue water — on the deep Gulf rigs and the Stream in summer. Released; a photo alongside and a measurement on the boat is the record.
How to fish it
Troll big lures on the edge and the rigs at 8 knots in summer; or bridle a live blackfin. Heavy tackle, and a crew that knows the drill.
What it eats
big skirted luresrigged bonito and mackerellive tuna
Live bait for it
Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.Opelu (mackerel scad)Bridled live and slow-trolled or drifted down for ahi, ono and marlin; cut for bottom fishing.
What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
Hook4/0–8/0
Braid50–100 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereFederal HMS permit required; minimum size well over 8 feet; one per vessel — confirm at NOAA HMS.
The current rule →Where it is, month by month
PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving
Gulf of Mexico
Mid & North Atlantic
Alaska & Hawaii