White Marlin 351 



Distribution: Occurs in the warm waters of the western 

 Atlantic. It is most common off Cuba and the Bahamas. 

 While it is found frequently in the Middle Atlantic region, 

 it is not as common as the white marlin. 

 Size: The Blue Marlin is said to reach a length of 26 feet. 

 Fish of 1,000 pounds have reportedly been harpooned. 

 General Information: This species is never very abundant. 

 Usually only a single fish or a pair of fish are seen in a 

 locality. 



Economic Importance: The Blue Marlin is of limited com- 

 mercial value but it is an important game fish in southern 

 waters. 



White Marlin 

 Makaira albida (Poey) 



Color: Back and upper sides dark blue; lower sides and 

 belly white. Vertical, hazy, violet-blue bands on the sides 

 of the body. 



Distribution: Occurs in the western Atlantic. It is common 

 off Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas and is found regularly 

 to southern Massachusetts in summer. 

 Size: Fish up to 9 feet in length and over 160 pounds have 

 been reported. 



General Information: The White Marlin feeds on fish and 

 squid. Single fish, pairs, or sometimes small schools are 

 encountered offshore. 



Economic Importance: This species is of little value com- 

 mercially although it is sometimes eaten. It is an important 

 game fish. 



