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Indo-Pacific Blue Marlin
Makaira mazara
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Common names:
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Pacific Blue Marlin, Blue Marlin
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Maximum weight:
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2,600 lbs
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I.G.F.A. record:
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1,400 lb lbs on 130 lb test
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Pectoral Fins:
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Fins fold flat along body.
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Identifying features:
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Back is a dark blue with light blue stripes. These stripes
consist of small dots and bars. Belly is a silver white.
Lateral line generally does not show in adults.
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Temperature range:
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70°F to 82°F
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Typical location:
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Blue Marlin are considered to be amongst the apex predators, living at the
top of the open ocean food chain. They travel the length and breadth
of the oceans of the world. They are the world’s least studied pelagic fishes.
In Hawaii the fish remained in water that ranged on average from 78°F to 82°F,
preferring the warmer temperatures.
They forage near the surface in warm mixed layers of temperate and tropical seas.
They feed on an assortment of epipelagic organisms. Acoustic telemetry indicates
Blue Marlin prefer the surface lens of the water column and remain above the thermo
cline most of the time.
Blue Marlin are often caught along the continental shelf drop off, ocean mountains and
canyons, current and weed lines. Gatherings of bait schools such as tuna, mahi-mahi
and squid are likely Pacific Blue Marlin haunts.
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Fighting characteristics:
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Very strong and exceptionally fast fish which can test not only the angler and tackle but
the entire crew. The capture of a large Blue is definitely a team effort.
Usually fights deeper than a Black or Striped Marlin. Large Blues will often
spool large reels in a very short amount of time. Will continually reverse
direction which makes capturing Blues more difficult for the boat driver than
other billfish.
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Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus Albacures
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Common names:
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Ahi (Hawaii), fin
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Maximum weight:
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420 lbs
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I.G.F.A. record:
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387 lbs on 80 lb test
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Pectoral Fins:
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Fins fold flat along body and reaches the start of the
second dorsal fin.
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Identifying features:
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Upper body is black and lower body is silver
white. In the mid-section the yellowfin has a destictive yellow stripe which
begin at the gill case and continues to the caudal fin. Above this line the
color is a purple-blue when the yellowfin is alive but fades in death. The
second dorsal and anal fin are the longest of any tuna. These fins increase in
length with age. Yellowfin have between 26-35 gill rakers on the first gill
arch.
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Temperature range:
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62°F to 86°F
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Breeding:
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Yellowfin sexually mature at appoxaimatly
40 lbs. They are appoximatly 40" by this stage of their life cycle.
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Typical location:
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Open ocean along the continental shelf and current lines, ocean mountains and
canyons. Around schools of bait such as ballyhoo, pilchards and squid. They are
found between 45°N and 40°S. They cover enormous distances around the
globe, and all stocks mingle. It is a big fish, which can swim at very high
speed, which may be one of the reasons why in some areas, dolphins and large
full-grown yellowfin swim together. Will come close to shore if warm currents
and bait are present.
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Fighting characteristics:
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Very tough fighting fish with a fast
recovery rate (faster than the anglers). Mixes deep dives with long fast runs
that test angler and tackle.
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Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
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Common names:
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Ono (Hawaii), Jack Mackerel, Peto, Pacific Kingfish
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Maximum weight:
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200 lbs
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I.G.F.A. record:
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158 lbs
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Identifying features:
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Dorsal spines (total): 23-27; Dorsal softrays (total): 12-16; Anal spines: 0-0;
Anal soft-rays: 12-14; Vertebrae: 62-64. Mouth large with strong, triangular,
compressed and finely serrate teeth. Snout about as long as the rest of head.
Posterior part of maxilla completely concealed under preorbital bone. Gill
rakers absent. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Swimbladder present. Body
covered with small scales. No anterior corselet developed. The back is
iridescent bluish green; the sides silvery with 24 to 30 cobalt blue vertical
bars which extend to below the lateral line.
The back is electric blue while belly is silver white.
The flanks are covered in wavy lines. Unlike other gamefish,
the upper jaw moves and has 45-64 teeth. Lower jaw has 32-50
teeth.
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Temperature range:
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70°F to 86°F
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Typical location:
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An oceanic, epipelagic species frequently solitary or forming small
loose aggregations rather than compact schools. Feeds on fishes and squids.
Generally found along current lines and temperature changes
in the open ocean. Floating debris and bait schools are also
likely to be hot spots for the species.
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Fighting characteristics:
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Possibly the quickest fish in the ocean that will test tackle to the utmost. Reel drags
should be silky smooth due to the speed of the fish. Sometimes jumps but
generally this species will make quick surface runs.
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Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena Hippurus - Coryphaena Equiselis
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Common names:
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Mahimahi (Hawaii), Dolphin fish, Dorado, pompano
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Maximum weight:
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100 lbs
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I.G.F.A. record:
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88 lbs
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Identifying features:
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One of the most stunningly beautiful fish in the ocean. The long dorsal fin is
generally black/bright blue with lavender/cobalt blue/green spots. Upper body
is the brightest green with streaks of cobalt blue and lavender. Sides can be
green or bright yellow. Lower body can be silver white or yellow. The color
variations are endless.
Every Mahimahi (C. Hippurus) you catch you will find some color
variation in some way. These colors fade in death. The male of the species
has a large blunt head (the graphic above is a male) while the females head
is rounder.
The Pampano (C. Equisetis) has a tongue which is covered
in what could be called teeth. The Mahi-Mahi is void of this
characteristic. The Pampano also has fewer dorsal rays; 48 - 55 where
the Mahi-Mahi has 55 - 65.
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Temperature range:
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68°F to 86°F
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Breeding:
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One of the quickest growing species in the ocean and lives for no more than 5 years.
Sexual maturity is reached in 4-5 months. Spawns in the open sea and probably approximate to the coast when water
temperature rises.
This makes it an ideal species for farming. The Japanese have had great success with
this.
Aqua culture carried out at the Honolulu Aquarium in Hawaii has also been extremely
successful.
Mahi-Mahi are highly efficient feeders and convert approximately 90%
of what they eat into body growth. They can grow from matchstick size to over 6 lbs
which is about 28" in under 6 months! This growth rate may not be reflected in the
natural world as the fish have to hunt and capture their food.
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Typical location:
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Highly migratory species. An offshore species that rarely comes close to shore.
Found in open waters but also near the coast Mahimahi form schools.
They feed on almost all forms of fish and zooplankton. Mahi-Mahi also takes
crustaceans and squid.
Is typically found on the continental shelf and well beyond. This species has a great
affection for current lines that contain seaweed, flotsam and logs. Any garbage
found floating may hold a school of varying size fish under it and is always
worth a few passes using light tackle.
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Fighting characteristics:
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A very fast surface runner that mixes high acrobatic jumps with rapid
changes in direction.
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Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus Pelamis
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Common names:
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Aku (Hawaii), Striped tuna, stripey
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Maximum weight:
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80 lbs
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Identifying features:
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Upper body black with cobalt blue/purple and/or
lavender stripes and spots. Short pectrol fin. Lower body silver white with 4 to
6 black stripes along belly.
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Temperature range:
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59°F to 86°F
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Typical location:
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Open ocean along the continental shelf and current lines, ocean mountains and
canyons. It prefers to swim in the upper mixed layers of the ocean water, and
mostly found between 45°N and 40°S. Around schools of bait such as
ballyhoo, pilchards and squid. Will come close to shore if warm currents and
bait are present.
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Fighting characteristics:
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Fantasic fighter on light line. Will
out-fight all of the other more rescepted members of the tuna family. If these
fish grew to the size of a Northern Bluefin tuna NONE would ever be caught! Due
to it's strength and soft mouth a lot of anglers pull the hooks on these fish.
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