Because these impressive fish are at the top of the food chain, they can also be loaded with toxins. “Marlin often contains unhealthy levels of mercury and other toxins that may be harmful to humans,” says Appel. Avoid all striped marlin and most blue marlin, with the one exception being blue marlin caught in Hawaii.
A Pacific blue weighing 1,805 pounds (819 kg) caught in 1970 by a party of anglers fishing out of Oahu, Hawaii, aboard the charter boat Coreene C skippered by Capt. Cornelius Choy (this fish often referred to as 'Choy's Monster') still stands as the largest marlin caught on rod and reel.
Types of MarlinIn fact, Marlin come in four different shapes and sizes: Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Striped Marlin and White Marlin. Each of the sub-species has quirks of its own. Blue Marlin are the largest, Black Marlin are the fastest, White Marlin are agile and elegant, and Striped Marlin are plain cool.
Based on growth age data, Pacific blue marlin males appear to have a longevity of at least 18 years, and females appear to live until at least 26 years of age. The largest female sampled (1,649 pounds) was one of the oldest at 26 years.
Belonging to the same billfish family as marlin, the swordfish shares the same habitat (tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean) and migratory patterns as well. The snout of a typical swordfish is flat, whereas that of a marlin is round.
Young
Atlantic blue marlin are preyed upon by other large pelagic predators. Adults are hunted by large
sharks such as the white
shark and
shortfin mako shark.
Atlantic blue marlin prey on squid and epipelaic fishes such as:
- Mackerel.
- Tuna.
- Dolphinfishes.
Blue marlin uses its spear-shaped jaw to catch food. It feeds on crustaceans, fish (mackerel, tuna), dolphins and squids. During the hunt, blue marlin will pass through a dense school of fish and inflict injuries with its spear. Dead or injured fish will float around and blue marlin will easily scoop them afterwards.
With features similar to the Swordfish, which is popular for eating, the Blue Marlin is actually not a popular choice for eating. While the fish can be eaten, preferably smoked, most say that they taste “gamey” and resemble tastes similar to food that is used for cats.
Although there are no reports of unprovoked attacks on humans, swordfish can be very dangerous when provoked and they can jump and use their swords to pierce their target.
Yes, they're quite edible. Marlin steaks are very tasty, and quite prized. BUT (and this is a big but), many species of sailfish are protected species in various countries. Most of the time it's tag and release in these countries, or they are banned from sale, so must be donated or eaten yourself.
The sailfish and swordfish were reported to reach their maximum speeds of around 110 km/h [1]–[2], and 90 km/h [3], respectively. Therefore, it has been conjectured that the drag-reducing adaptations in both fishes might have evolved to reach such fast speeds and further to reduce the energy costs in usual swimming.
So which one is faster? The answer is the sailfish! While the cheetah is capable of reaching speeds up to 62 miles per hour, the amazing sailfish has been clocked at up to 68 miles per hour.
Reproduction. Sailfish begin spawning in April, but most of this activity goes on during summer months. Most spawning occurs close to land, the females swimming there slowly with their dorsal fins sticking up above the surface of the water, and one or more males following.
Billfish include sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophoridae, and swordfish, sole member of the family Xiphiidae. They are apex predators which feed on a wide variety of smaller fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Billfish are pelagic and highly migratory.
The sailfish can reach speeds up to 110km per hour. And to defend themselves from bigger predators, a school of sailfish use their sharp, pointed bill to pierce and slash enemies – if luck is on their side, that bigger fish would end up being their next meal.
The Indo-Pacific Sailfish normally weighs 120 to 220 lbs (54.4 to 100 kg) and grows to about 5.7 to 11 ft (1.7 to 3.4 m).
Swordfish are known to attack sharks, with the first documented incident dating back to 1960, but since 2016 - when a blue shark was found washed up and dying on a beach in Valencia, Spain, with a swordfish sword embedded in its head - there have been at least six more cases of death by swordfish recorded in sharks
Swordfish provides an excellent source of selenium, a micronutrient that offers important cancer-fighting and heart health benefits. It is protein-rich and loaded with niacin, vitamin B12, zinc and Omega-3. Best of all, it's low in fat and calories. Swordfish is also a guilt-free choice.
Swordfish are ectothermic animals; however, along with some species of sharks, they have special organs next to their eyes to heat their eyes and brains. These include the swordfish, marlin, tuna, and some sharks.
Reputation: Swordfish, sailfish, tuna and other large marine fish are capable of breathtaking top speeds, zipping through the water at 68mph (110km/h). They stab their prey with their long, sword-like bills. They do not use their bills for stabbing.
List Price: $ 24.99 Our Price: $ 18.99 per LB.
Proud, energetic and eccentric, those born under the sign of the Swordfish can't help but walk their own path in life. Filled with big dreams and big ideas, members of this sign are as organized and precise as they are intelligent and adventurous. If nothing else, Swordfish are self-assured and confident.
1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury. Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna.
This method allows the predatory fish to injure their prey and also slow it down so it's easier to catch. Swordfish do not swim in schools and can often be found traveling alone. Sometimes you can see these creatures basking at the surface or even breaching the water in a powerful jump.
The strikingly beautiful blue marlin is the largest of the Atlantic marlins and one of the biggest fish in the world. Females, which are significantly larger than males, can reach 14 feet in length and weigh more than 1,985 pounds.
Billfish like marlin and swordfish are known for their characteristic protruding upper jawbone (also called a rostral bone), which they use to help stun and catch their prey. For the bone to remain strong, it needs to not only withstand a large amount of force, but also be repaired when it is damaged.
Marlin can be dangerous even without using their bills. Ask Australian skipper, deckhand, photographer and writer Dean Butler. Years ago, when he was working aboard Capt. Bill Bilson's Viking II for a client after light-line marlin records when an estimated 225-pounder (on 6-pound tippet) came to the wire.
If you look at that taxonomy and then at the scientific classification of tuna and swordfish, you'll see that they are actually completely different families of animals (a family is a larger category than both a genus and a species).
