BLACK vs BLUE

BEFORE WE EVEN EXPLORE THE PHYSICAL AND SITUATIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A BLUE AND BLACK MARLIN, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH WE ENGAGE THESE CREATURES CAN BE FAR DIFFERENT FROM THE SPECIES THEMSELVES. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS SEA CONDITIONS, GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND/OR THE PRESENCE OF PREDATORS CAN HAVE A HUGE INFLUENCE ON MARLIN BEHAVIOR, AS WELL AS HOW WE DRIVE ON THEM ONCE HOOKED. ¶ TACKLE SIZE, HOOK TYPE, AND THE INTENTION TO BOAT OR RELEASE THE FISH WILL ALSO AFFECT FISH BEHAVIOR ON THE WIRE, AND HOW WE REACT TO THAT BEHAVIOR WITH THE BOAT. WITH THAT SAID, THESE TWO AWESOME BEASTS DO INDEED EXHIBIT SOME CONSISTENT BEHAVIORAL TRAITS THAT ALSO DIFFER QUITE CONSIDERABLY FROM ONE ANOTHER.

THE NEED FOR SPEED

If I had only one word to separate blue marlin from black marlin, that word would be speed. A big blue’s first run can test tackle to the limits and drastically reduce the odds of the fish either successfully being boated or released in good health.

“THIS DOESN’T MEAN BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION THAT BLACK MARLIN ARE PUSHOVERS, BUT IT MIGHT SUGGEST THAT A BLUE MARLIN’S SPEED IS SUPERIOR TO THE BLACK’S.”

The belly created by allowing hundreds of yards of line to disappear off the reel during the initial run can create a situation similar to starting on your own 1-yard line with your heels on the goal line. Sometimes this scenario is unavoidable, but there are a