BLUE MARLIN (Makaira nigricans)
◎The largest Atlantic billfish, with an elongated body colored dark blue or cobalt blue on top fading to a silvery white belly; may have some golden hues when the fish is alive, especially where the bluish back fades to silvery, and several pale vertical bars may be present down the sides; first part of dorsal fin and the anal fin are pointed.
◎Similar Fish: closTely related and similar in appearance to White Marlin; distinguishable by pointed dorsal and anal fins (white marlin have rounded dorsal and anal fins) and size (white marlin in excess of 130 pounds are extremely rare)
◎Size: up to 1500 pounds; average size ranges from 200 ~ 500 pounds.
LONGBILL SPEARFISH (Tetrapturus pfluegeri)
◎A relatively small fish, whose elongated body features an elongated dorsal fin; coloration is dark blue or cobalt blue on top fading to silvery white belly.
◎Size: up to 75 pounds; average size ranges from 20 ~ 35 pounds.
SAILFISH (Istiophorus platypterus)
◎Elongated body features a greatly enlarged dorsal fin, like a sail, from which the fish derives its name; coloration is dark blue or cobalt blue on top fading to silvery white belly; the large dorsal fin features numerous small, dark spots.
◎Similar Fish: White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Longbill Spearfish.
◎Size: up to 125 pounds; average size ranges from 30 ~ 60 pounds.
WHITE MARLIN (Tetrapturus albidus)
◎Elongated body colored dark blue or cobalt blue on top fading to silvery white belly; first part of dorsal fin is rounded and features small black or dark spots; anal fin is rounded.
◎Similar Fish: closely related and similar in appearance to Blue Marlin; distinguishable by rounded first part of dorsal fin (which also features spots) and rounded anal fin (dorsal and anal fins of blue marlin are pointed).
◎Size: up to 180 pounds; average size ranges from 40 ~ 70 pounds.