Blue Marlin
Makaira nigricans
AKA: Marlin, Blue Martian, Makaira, Stickman
Description: The body is cobalt blue on top shading to a silvery white on the belly. The upper jaw is elongated in the form of a spear called a bill. There are approximately 15 blue vertical bars on the sides. The dorsal and anal fins are pointed, as opposed to the white marlin, which has rounded dorsal and anal fins.
Size: Blue Marlin is a large game billfish. It is common up to 11 feet but has been known to be as long as 14 feet and weigh more than 2,000 pounds.
Sometimes confused with: White Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish
Habitat: Blue Marlin are found in blue oceanic waters throughout the western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. They migrate seasonally to stay in warm waters near the surface.