White Marlin

A species of billfish with a long sword-like bill, the white marlin lives in warm ocean waters around the world. They are a highly migratory species, moving between different regions in search of food and favorable conditions.

White marlins are important predators in the ocean and are considered key species in the marine ecosystem. They are also widely recognized game fish and are part of recreational fishing.

5 Incredible White Marlin Facts

• White marlins often exhibit the “tailing” technique. This is when a fish swims so that only their dorsal fin is visible above the water’s surface.
• In August 1980, a fisherman caught a white marlin in Poor Man’s Canyon that weighed 135 pounds. This set a Maryland state record for the species.
• The most active fishing for this species occurs in the summer in North Carolina, Cape Cod, Cape Hatteras, and Massachusetts. This is where you’ll find the highest numbers of the species.
• Marlins communicate through a combination of body language and movements to convey messages to one another.
• The white marlin is also called the marlin, skilligalee, and Atlantic white marlin.

Classification and Scientific Name

The white marlin is also known by its scientific name, Kajikia albida. Another scientific name commonly used is Tetrapturus albidus. It belongs to the family Istiophoridae, also known as the billfishes, and the genus Tetrapturus. While marlins share a lot of similarities with swordfish, they are distantly related, belonging to separate families within the same order (Istiophoriformes).

Appearance

White marlins are mid-size members of the billfish group. Their unique body structure allows them to swim quickly and efficiently. They have a distinctively round bill, a forked tail, and a sleek, streamlined body.

These fish are sexually dimorphic, with females generally being larger. They can grow up to 9 feet long and weigh over 150 pounds. Countershading refers to their coloration. This coloration serves as camouflage, with a dirty white ventral side and a dark blue dorsal side.

The white marlin has an impressive dorsal fin, which runs the length of its body. Also, 28 to 46 rays compose the fin. This dorsal fin is especially striking and is distinguishable by its tall and curved shape that tapers as it reaches the back of the fish. It is an iconic feature of this species and one that is often used to identify white marlins and differentiate them from other similar species.

Evolution and History

The original scientific name for the white marlin is Tetrapturus albidus, a classification first used by the scientist Felipe Poey in 1860. This scientific name groups the white marlin with other fish of the same genus, such as the Mediterranean spearfish, shortbill spearfish, longbill spearfish, and roundscale spearfish. The billfish species that have a range of morphological and biological characteristics characterize the genus Tetrapturus.

The white marlin’s evolutionary history has been traced back to the Langhian Age, around 15 million years ago, through the discovery of fossils from their ancestors. Furthermore, it has been revealed that extinct species of the genus Palaeorhynchus were present 56 million years ago.

In recent years, scientists proposed a new classification system for Indo-Pacific striped and white marlin. They suggested that they should be re-categorized as Kajikia. This re-classification was presented as a result of genetic testing that showed that Kajikia audax and Kajikia albida are significantly different from the species found within the genus Tetrapturus.

Behavior

White marlins, like blue marlins, are typically solitary creatures, spending most of their time alone in the open ocean. However, they also swim in pairs, possibly for mating or hunting purposes. The behavior of gathering in large groups is very rare among white marlins, and it usually only happens when there is a lot of food in one area.

Habitat

White marlins are open ocean dwellers that inhabit deep waters, typically deeper than 325 feet (100 meters). However, while deep waters are common for them, white marlins often prefer to stay near the surface. They live in temperate and tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean, swimming in regions with water temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

These predatory fish are pelagic, meaning they live in the middle of the ocean, not too close to the surface or the bottom. However, with that said, as they do like warm temperatures, they can often be seen close to the water’s surface. White marlins tend to change their locations depending on the seasons and may even swim close to coastal areas during some times of the year.

Migration

White marlins have a distinct seasonal migration pattern. Their migration path is well established, heading north during summer and early fall, then moving eastward offshore, and finally southward to their wintering grounds.

Although they migrate over long distances, there are no known records of white marlins crossing the Atlantic or the equator. The northern migration of white marlins appears to be linked to water temperature, as they move to higher latitudes as the water gets warmer.

Diet

White marlins are carnivorous predatory fish known for their large size; they primarily eat other fish. These fish have been observed using their bill to kill or stun their prey by piercing or cutting it.

What Do White Marlins Eat?

Squid is a crucial food source for white marlins, but these fish also consume a wide variety of other prey, including bony fish such as blue runners, tuna, flying fish, bonito, mackerels, and even dolphins. In addition, round herring, often found in large numbers along the central Atlantic coast, is a regular food source for white marlins in that region.

Predators And Threats

Like their blue marlin counterparts, white marlins fall prey to various predators, including pilot whales, swordfish, and great white sharks.

However, one of the biggest threats they face is human activity, particularly overfishing, which significantly reduces their population. White marlin deaths caused by recreational sport fishing are a small fraction of the total deaths. Instead, industrial-scale commercial fishing and trawling for swordfish and tuna using non-selective gear is the leading cause of deaths of white marlins. These practices, which don’t discriminate between target and non-target species, lead to many white marlins and other species being caught and killed as bycatch.

What Eats White Marlins?

White marlins may be large fish, but they are not immune to predation. They have a few natural predators, including swordfish, great white sharks, and humans, who often target them for sport and commercial fishing. 

Besides the above, the cookie-cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) has been known to attack marlins and take chunks of flesh from these fish.

Reproduction

White marlin females can release a large number of eggs, which can range from 190,000 to 600,000 at once. In order to reproduce, these fish migrate to subtropical waters during the spawning season, which peaks in early summer, occurring in deep open ocean habitats.

White marlins breed mainly in several specific regions, such as the Mona Passage, Southwest Bermuda, and the Gulf of Mexico. They have a fast growth rate, and males reach sexual maturity earlier than females.

White Marlin Babies

The offspring of white marlins are known as juvenile white marlins or small billfish. Juvenile marlins have a dorsal fin that rises steeply at the third spine and then increases gradually before reaching a sloping point at the eleventh spine.

Lifespan

White marlins have a long lifespan, typically living for a period of 25 to 30 years.

They are prone to some parasites throughout their lives. For example, research has shown that the copepod species Pennella filosa often infects white marlin. Additionally, the capsalid monogenean Tristomella laevis is frequently found in blue and white marlin as a parasite.

Population

In recent years, the population of Atlantic white marlins in the Atlantic Ocean has decreased considerably, currently comprising less than a tenth of its historical numbers. Since the initiation of monitoring in the mid-1980s, there has been a consistent yearly decrease of 3 percent in the population of this species.

However, currently, the conservation status of white marlins is Least Concern, showing that this species is not in danger of extinction yet.

White Marlin in Cooking

The white marlin is a popular fish for cooking, and cooks often use it in a variety of dishes. It is commonly consumed in the United States and countries along the Mediterranean and Caribbean regions.

The fish is lean, with a firm texture and a delicate flavor. You can prepare it using several methods, such as grilling, baking, and sautéing. White marlin meat is particularly good for sushi, sashimi, ceviche, and other raw preparations.

White marlin is a delicacy to many seafood lovers, and you can find it in some of the finest seafood restaurants.