Watch This 600 LB Marlin Launch Itself Onto A Boat And Nearly Impale A Man

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When you are ocean fishing you kind of expect to be the one that decides when the fish gets onto the boat! That is not what happened on this fishing expedition. As the following video shows, marlin fish can take matters into their own hands with potentially dangerous consequences!

Where Do Black Marlins Live?

Black marlins (Istiompax Indica) are distinctive and spirited fish. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters including parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean. This particular footage was captured off the coast of Cairns, Australia.

Because they like warmer waters, they tend to be found more often near land and in coral reefs. For the same reason, you are most likely to find them above 100 feet where the water is warmer even though they can dive to nearly 3,000 feet.

Having said that, it is important to be aware that they are migratory fish and will therefore travel thousands of miles. Their journeys can take them through colder water – including waters near the South Pole. However, they do not stay there long! They are simply passing through.

Why Do Marlins Have Swords?

The most noticeable feature of the black marlin, and the most alarming if you are the man in this clip, is the sword-like upper jaw. It has sharp edges too! This is also called a bill and is seen in other billfish in the ocean such as swordfish and sailfish. The lower jaw is also actually pointed but not by so much.

Researchers can now confirm that these bills are used by sailfish for hunting. Black marlin are therefore likely to use them in the same way. They eat smaller fish, squid, and octopods. They brandish their sword like a scythe – slashing it back and forth with the aim of knocking the prey senseless. Then, they can eat it!

Why Catch a Black Marlin?

Marlins tend to be caught as trophies. Experts have not yet evaluated if they are threatened or endangered. Their flesh can be eaten and marketed in some countries. In others, however, it has been banned as its high selenium and mercury content is thought to present a risk to human health. This particular marlin presented a risk to health in a different way!

How Large Do Marlins Get?

Black marlins are incredibly long and heavy creatures. Females typically weigh more than males, but either sex would make quite a formidable catch. Black marlins can grow to a maximum length of over 15 feet–the longest recorded one was 15’ 3” long. 

Part of a black marlin’s overall weight can be attributed to its rigid pectoral fin which can weigh 150 lbs alone, as well as its dorsal rays that number from 39 to 50. Overall, a black marlin has a maximum weight of around 1,650 lbs, though it’s possible that individuals could reach 2,000 lbs.