Blue Marlin Fishing - The Fight Of A Lifetime

Author: Abhishek Agarwal
Marlin are popular salt water big game fish that weigh from 100-500 pounds with bodies that can reach 10-13 feet in length. They're found in all major oceans, the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic. Blue marlin are well-known fighters and, therefore, a favorite for deep sea sports fishers. To catch them, you must know their habits and character.





Also called blue-water fish, marlin spend most of their lives far out at sea following warm ocean currents for thousands of miles. Blue marlin are the most tropical marlin out there. Cobalt blue on top and silvery white on bottom, they have a lethal spear-like upper jaw.



Preferring surface water depths, they're one of the fastest fish in the ocean, clocking up to 56 miles per hour. Becoming more rare all the time, they're not yet considered an endangered species. Their meat is a delicacy, especially in Japan, and they're something of a Holy Grail for sports fishermen. However, most sports fisherman catch and release these days.



Although they're believed to live as long as 15 years, it's hard to find one over 10. And the trophy fish are always female, as males don't often exceed 300 pounds.



In their natural habitat, the elegantly beautiful blue marlin feeds on many smaller species that fishermen can use as bait: tuna, cero, mullet, flying fish, dolphin, whole ballyhoo, skipjacks, bonito, Spanish mackerel, and squid. Any of these species, or a combination will give a fishing party plenty of good bait. Fishermen are also successful with brightly-colored lures and teasers.



One simple technique that fishermen use in marlin fishing is the lure of the bonito bait. Placing the hook through the tops of their eye sockets keeps the bonito alive for hours, so practice patience. You'll need half of the line on your reel to fight this stubborn prey. They'll try to tire you out, and it'll be easy given their size and strength.



When your blue marlin takes the bait, you must reel the line in smoothly and at a steady rate. If the line gets too tight, loosen the slack to give your catch a bit more room. This also gives you a short break to catch your breath and prepare for the next struggle. Loosening the line also helps avoid having the line break, a common way anglers lose their catch.



Another way to catch blue marlin is based on their hunting behavior. Marlin tend to follow schools of fish, where they're more vulnerable to trolling. If you see a marlin doing this, don't drop your bait into the school of fish. They'll scatter, and your marlin will be startled and flee. And if the sun's in front of him, though, he won't be able to see the bait at all.



The best way to locate blue marlin is to apply modern technology to your hunt. While they're expensive, ultrasound sensors are an effective tool for spotting marlin. If you decide to invest in one, be sure you're getting the right thing because many fishing gear companies make products designed specifically for one species of game fish or a specific fishing location. It's a sizeable investment, so be sure you're getting an ultrasound sensor that will pick up and signal on blue marlin.



One important thing to remember about blue marlin is their strong will to survive. Your struggle could last hours on end, far beyond your endurance. If you find yourself becoming exhausted when your catch still has a lot of fight, it's best to cut the line rather than putting yourself at risk. But if you do land a blue marlin, you'll have a real achievement to talk about for years.



Deep sea fishing for blue marlin is a fantastic adventure that requires forethought and intelligence. When fishing for blue marlin, you should be prepared for a worthy opponent and a real challenge. But if you get good enough, you can win a trophy and make good money. Getting good enough to land a blue marlin requires strength of will that matches the fight of this noble deep sea fish.
About the Author:
Abhishek is an avid Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fishing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 116 Pages Ebook, "Fishing Mastery!" from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/772/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
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