Billf ishes of the Central Pacific Ocean 



DONALD W. STRASBURG 



Fishery Biologist 

 Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 

 Biological Laboratory 

 Honolulu, Hawaii 96812 



1/ 



INTRODUCTION 



The word billfish is a collective term embracing 

 the various kinds of marlin, spearfish, sailfish, and 

 the broadbill swordfish. These large fishes, some 

 exceeding 1,000 pounds, are found in all warm seas. 

 Despite their size, game qualities, and commercial 

 potential, they are poorly known biologically. 



The data used in compiling this report were ob- 

 tained from the records of HIBT (Hawaiian Inter- 

 national Billfish Tournament), the Hawaii State Divi- 

 sion of Fish and Game, and the scientific literature. 

 It is a pleasure to acknowledge the aid of those HIBT 

 anglers who provided data and permitted me to ex- 

 amine their fish. 



Species 



Both the scientific and common names of the bill- 

 fishes have been changed repeatedly, but in the last 

 few years scientists have agreed on the terminology 

 for the marlins and spearfishes at least. The cur- 

 rently accepted names of the billfishes found in cen- 

 tral Pacific waters are as follows: 



Common name 



Blue m arlin 

 Black marlin 

 Striped marlin 

 Shortbill spearfish 

 Pacific sailfish 

 Broadbill swordfish 



Scientific name 



Makaira nigricans 

 Makaira indica 

 Tetrapturus audax 

 Tetrapturus angustirostris 

 Istiophorus orientalis 

 Xiphias gladius 



— This report is adapted from a longer scientific 

 paper on the same subject. The author's present ad- 

 dress is Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics 

 Corporation, Groton, Conn. 06340. 



