Author: Lacepède, 1802
FBname: Blue marlin
Comments: An oceanic species.  Water color affects its occurrence, at least in the northern Gulf of Mexico, where the fish show preference for blue water.  Rarely gathers in schools and usually found as scattered single individuals.  Feeds mainly on fishes but also preys on octopods and squids.  Marketed fresh or frozen (Ref. 43).  Feeding takes place during daytime.  Maturity reached at about 80 cm in males and 50 cm in females (Ref. 36731).  Females grow larger (Ref. 4770). Recent study indicates maximum age close to 20 years using a series of deductions in the ¹⁴C dating method (Ref. 120707).