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Blue marlin Facts

Blue marlin Facts
Blue marlin is a fish that can be easily recognized. This majestic creature lives in temperate and tropical waters of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Blue marlin is able to swim close to the surface of the water, or to dive to the great depths while it searches for food. Major threats for the survival of blue marlins are: increased boat traffic (which leads to accidental collisions), over-fishing and accidental caught (bycatch with other fish species, especially tuna). Blue marlins are not on the list of endangered species, but they may become endangered in the near future due to uncontrolled fishing and pollution of the ocean.
Interesting Blue marlin Facts:
Blue marlin is very large fish. Females are 3 to 4 times larger than males. Larger specimens can reach 14 feet in length and weight of almost 2000 pounds. On average, blue marlin usually reaches 11 feet in length and between 200 and 400 pounds in weight.
Dorsal (back) side of blue marlin is dark blue while the belly is silver white in color.
Blue marlin has elongated body, long tail, pronounced dorsal fin and sharp, spear-shaped upper jaw.
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.
Blue marlin relies on the eye sight to find food. It hunts during the day (diurnal animal).
Blue marlin has 24 vertebrae which allow fast movement through the water. It reaches the speed of 60 miles per hour.
Because of their large size and sharp spear-shaped jaw, blue marlins have only couple of predators: white sharks, mako sharks and humans.
Blue marlins are very active and strong animals. They like to leap out of the water. Also, they will show powerful and acrobatic movements while trying to release of the hook.
Blue marlins are solitary creatures. Sometimes they swim in pairs. Rarely, they will gather in larger groups (schools).
Blue marlins are migratory species. They will move from one location to another to escape low water temperatures (they prefer life in warm waters).
Mating season of blue marlins takes place late in the summer or early in the autumn.
Females become sexually mature when they gain the weight of 265 pounds. Males reach sexual maturity at the age of three years.
Females are able to spawn 4 times per single mating season, releasing up to 7 million eggs. Only small percent of released eggs (less than 1%) will survive until the adulthood. Majority of eggs will be eaten by other marine creatures.
Average lifespan of female blue marlin is 27 years in the wild. Males live much shorter - only 18 years.


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