Discover The Largest Blue Marlin Ever Caught in Louisiana

Written by Luke Stevens
Published: May 30, 2023
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Introduction

Louisiana was the 18th state founded in the United States. It is often referred to as the “Pelican State” due to a large presence of brown pelicans. The state is a hotspot of unique culture and traditions, including the annual Mardi Gras celebration. In addition to this festival, the state is home to a large Cajun population. Cajuns are descendants of French Canadians and bring fascinating cuisines and interesting traditions to the state. The Cajuns are responsible for Mardi Gras as well as large Lent and holy week celebrations throughout Louisiana.

New Basin Canal Lighthouse 2013 - New Orleans, Louisiana

Lousiana is located along the Gulf of Mexico, meaning there is no shortage of marine life along its shores.

©Spatms / CC BY-SA 3.0 – License

The state encompasses marshes, swamps, forests, and coastlines, allowing for an abundance of wildlife. Lousiana is located along the Gulf of Mexico, meaning there is no shortage of marine life along its shores. One deep sea fish, the blue marlin, is a common find by fishermen off Louisiana’s coast. Keep reading to learn more about the largest blue marlin ever caught in Louisiana.

Overview: Blue Marlin

Out of the marlin family, the blue marlin is the largest and the most recognizable.

Out of the marlin family, the blue marlin is the largest and the most recognizable.

©Hayk_Shalunts/Shutterstock.com

Most commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean, the blue marlin lives in deep water off the coasts of states such as Louisiana. Out of the marlin family, the blue marlin is the largest and the most recognizable. Because these fish are a prized target for fishermen, they are readily sought after and caught. American Oceans recently labeled the blue marlin as vulnerable to extinction. Before we learn about the largest blue marlin caught in Louisiana, here is an overview of what makes the fish special.

Size and Appearance

Blue marlins are extremely large fish. These creatures can range in length anywhere from seven to 11 feet on average! Females, which are typically much larger than males, can reach lengths of 14 feet. While male blue marlins typically weigh between 200 and 400 pounds, females are also much heavier. Female blue marlins are massive, reaching weights of almost 2,000 pounds! That is almost as heavy as a midsized vehicle! For reference, the largest blue marlin caught in Louisiana was only half of this weight.

The blue marlin fish is definitely the most recognizable type of marlin. These fish have a deep cobalt blue coloring on the top of their bodies. The undersides of blue marlin contrast the top, radiating a luminescent silvery-white. The blue marlin has a pronounced dorsal fin that protrudes from the middle of its back. Another distinguishable trait of the blue marlin is its jaw. These fish have a long, spear-shaped jaw that juts away from the rest of their body. This jaw extends far beyond the fish’s lower lip and is used to spear and catch prey.

Habitat

Atlantic Ocean

Blue marlins gravitate toward the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

©Susann Guenther/Shutterstock.com

Blue marlins gravitate toward the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists often refer to the water these fish swim in as bluewater. This refers to the open, deep expanse of the ocean preferred by creatures like the blue marlin. Although blue marlins prefer deep, open waters, they have no designated home. These fish often migrate annually, moving towards the equator during the winter in order to stay warm. Fishermen prefer to attempt to catch them during the months when they are closest to the equator due to their proximity to civilization.

Diet

Among the fastest fish in the ocean, blue marlins are amazing predators. These fish utilize their spear-like jaws to zip through the ocean, skewering prey along the way. They then return to collect their recently killed prey and feast on their winnings. The blue marlin mainly feasts on other sea creatures, but its diet changes depending on its location. When they are closer to the surface in warmer waters, blue marlins feed on fish like tuna and mackerel. When the blue marlin is navigating deeper waters, it hunts dolphinfish as well as cephalopods such as squid. Blue marlins hunt predominately during the daytime due to a heavy reliance on their eyesight.

Behavior

Although they sometimes hunt in groups, blue marlins are solitary creatures. These fish prefer to navigate the ocean alone, hunting for prey and defending themselves simultaneously. Blue marlins are diurnal, meaning that they are most active during the daytime. While they are not overly aggressive, these fish are also not highly intelligent. This causes them to see anything smaller than them as a food source, skewering anything and everything in their path. 

Lifespan

While female blue marlins are typically much larger than males, they often tend to live longer. Male blue marlins have an average lifespan of around 18 years, while females can live up to 27 years. These fish grow extremely rapidly during the early stages of their life. During the first year or two of growth, blue marlins can measure around six feet in length. Male blue marlins reach maturity around the age of two, while females don’t mature until ages three to four.

Reproduction

Reproduction season for blue marlins occurs between the months of May and September. These fish are broadcast spawners. This means that both males and females release their sperm and egg cells respectively into the open ocean. After this, fertilization occurs in the water without the presence of a uterus. One to two days after fertilization, when eggs reach half an inch in diameter, baby fish spawn.

Because these eggs develop in the open ocean, thousands are consumed by predators during the process. In order to maintain the population, many eggs are released each year during the reproduction season. Female blue marlins release between 30 million and 100 million eggs each year to be fertilized. At the beginning of the season, female blue marlins have six batches of eggs in their ovaries. They release these batches throughout the season as they reach maturity. Similarly, male blue marlins can produce upwards of 200 billion sperm cells during the reproductive cycle. Males also release sperm stored in their ducts throughout the season.

The size discrepancy between male and female blue marlins is due to to their differing reproductive requirements. Because males have a lower cost of reproduction, their body does not require a large size. However, the process of releasing eggs in females is much more complex. This requires that females have much larger bodies in order to sustain their reproductive requirements.

The Largest Blue Marlin Ever Caught in Louisiana

According to the Louisiana State Fish Records, the largest blue marlin caught in Louisiana was captured in July of 1977. The fish was caught by Linda Koerner and weighed a whopping 1,018 pounds. That is heavier than a standard concert grand piano! While the fish was weighed and recorded, no exact location for its location has been reported. One interesting thing to note is that this blue marlin weighed only about half of what females can reach. This means that there are much larger blue marlins swimming near Louisiana, waiting to be discovered!

The Largest Blue Marlin Ever Caught in the World

Ni'ihau Island, Hawaii

Jay de Beaubien was fishing in Hawaii when he caught this monster of a fish.

©iStock.com/Marcin_P_Jank

After learning about the largest blue marlin caught in Louisiana, it is important to compare it to the largest blue marlin ever caught. According to American Oceans, the largest blue marlin ever caught was in May of 1982. Jay de Beaubien was fishing in Hawaii when he caught this monster of a fish. He reportedly reeled the blue marlin in for almost 40 minutes before getting a good look at it.

Little did he know, this painstaking labor was about to get him a world record! The fish weighed in at 1,376 pounds and measured 193 inches (16 feet) in length. That is almost three times the height of an average human and roughly the same length as a canoe! This fish is very similar in weight to the largest blue marlin caught in Louisiana. That means that Louisiana is home to some of the largest blue marlins in the world!

The Largest Blue Marlin Caught in Louisiana: Final Thoughts

Many large blue marlins have been caught in Louisiana and beyond. The largest blue marlin caught in Louisiana is a prime example of how powerful these creatures are. Their sheer size and strength are impressive, and they are vital components of the ocean’s ecosystem. While these fish are magnificent, their population is decreasing, making it extremely important to protect them and continue learning.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © kelldallfall/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

My name is Luke, and I currently a student at the University of Southern California. I love the outdoors, learning, and writing. I am also involved in several groups focusing on the entertainment industry and business administration. My favorite animals are dogs, koala bears, and dolphins.

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