Reel In An Enormous Catch With Blue Marlin Fishing   by Ben Pate

in Sports / Other Sports    (submitted 2012-01-03)

Blue marlin fishing is one of the most exciting pastimes. It is quite enthralling to hit the waters and come up with one of the most sought after species of marlin. Their superb form, the great fight they put up and their huge sizes makes blue marlin fishing a catch to be proud of.

Location

All the tropical oceans in the world are home to this fish. To sustain their numbers, spawning is undertaken. Locations where this is done include Hawaii,Caribbean islands, Mauritius and the Guinea Gulf east of the Atlantic.

Genetics

There are two species which include the Pacific and the Atlantic blue marlin. Scientific research has found that most of the species found in the Atlantic are genetically similar to that found in the Pacific. This is attributed to the prevalence of the p-phenotype in both oceans compared to the a-phenotype that has not been found in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Size

The male and female differ substantially. Fully grown males reach 300 pounds at the most. The female species on the other hand can grow to reach 1,000 pounds and even more. This is a fact that researchers and anglers still differ about. The largest catch ever made was in Hawaii. It was a Pacific blue marlin that weighed in at 1,805 pounds. The largest Atlantic species catch was in Brazil and it was found to weigh 1, 402 pounds.

Techniques

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.

Natural 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.

About the Author

As blue marlin fishing has developed, the leading fishing spots have been identified. Some of them are the Bahamas, which is home to the highly competitive Bahamas Billfish tournament, the Atlantic, Vitoria City in Brazil where the International Fish Game Association is held, and Bermuda. Other top spots are Hawaii, New Zealand, Wales, the coast of Kenya in East Africa, Venezuela, Portugal, Cape Verde Islands, Mexico, the Spanish Canary Islands,Ecuador, the high seas of Japan and the west and east coasts of Australia are other top hunting spots. Call up a marlin fishing charters.