|
FIELD GUIDE - BAIT FISH
Bill Fish
The Bill Fish |
Swordfish
Blue Marlin
White Marlin
Hatchet
Marlin
Longbill
Spearfish
Sailfish
|
From a sportfishing
standpoint, Billfishes are the true kings of the open sea. They are not
only among the fastest of all fishes, but also the most spectacular in the
battles they wage against the latest in sophisticated boats and tackle,
handled by the most experienced of anglers and crews. Moreover, two of our
Billfishes - Blue Marlin and Swordfish - also rank among the largest fish in
the sea, being surpassed only certain sharks and matched only by the Giant
Bluefin Tuna. White Marlin, Sailfish and Spearfish are lightweights by
comparison, but are even more acrobatic than their larger cousins and are
equally esteemed - if matched to suitable tackle. Sailfish from the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans are actually the same species, though sails in
the Pacific oceans are actually the same species, though sails in the
Pacific grow a good bit larger. One Billfish covered here - the Hatchet
Marlin - is not yet accepted by science as a separate species, although
several catches have been authenticated from the Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic. Opinion is divided as to whether the Hatchet Marlin is a new type
or simply a variation of the White Marlin. |
Back To The Fish Species Directory Index
Fish
Species brought to you in association with Wickstrom Publishers Inc.
Excerpts from the book Sport Fish of Florida a must for every tackle box
and boat in and around Florida waters!!! Get your copy now!! Other great
titles include Baits, Rigs & Tackle! |
TheOutdoorLodge.Com is happy to partner with the leading fishing forum online, BigFishTackle.Com. To find out answers to all your "grouper fishing" questions please drop by the fishing forums at bigfishtackle.com (http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/). With over 100,000 members their fishing forum can answer just about any fishing question you may have. Friendly, helpful and informative anglers really make you feel like part of their online fishing community!

Swordfish
(Xiphias gladius) |

OTHER NAMES:
Broadbill, Swordfish, Pez
Espada
RANGE: All
deep ocean waters of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
HABITAT: The
deep sea.
DESCRIPTION: A
chunky and powerfully built fish with a high, crescent-shaped dorsal fin and
broadly forked tail. The pectoral fins are also large and lunate. The
distinguishing feature, however, is the huge bill or sword - much longer and
wider than the bills of Marlins and Sailfish. The eye is also very large. Color
is mostly dark brown to purple, with whitish undersides.
SIZE:
Historically, from 100 to more than 1,000 pounds; however, relentless and
virtually unregulated commercial longline fishing has lowered the average to
well under 50 pounds. World record 1,182 pounds; Florida record 612 pounds, 4
ounces.
FOOD VALUE:
Among the very best, which is helping skid the species toward oblivion.
GAME QUALITIES:
Not as wild or acrobatic as the
Blue Marlin, but an equally powerful and rugged fighter that can get off some
spectacular jumps on occasion.
TACKLE AND
BAITS:
Although big
fish are now rare, Swordfish are hooked so seldom that anyone who fishes for
them is advised to use at least 50-pound line, matched to good ocean tackle. The
best Swordfish bait always has been a large, rigged natural squid, but rigged baitfishes can work. During the 1970s, many Swordfish topping 400 pounds were
caught by sportsmen, who fished by choice on calm nights, mostly during the
summer, but also during good weather in fall and winter, and generally deployed
two or more baits at different depths. The majority of strikes came at 100 feet
or deeper.
FISHING SYSTEMS:
Drifting.
|
Blue
Marlin
(Makaira nigricans) |

OTHER NAMES:
Aguja Azul
RANGE: All
deep blue offshore waters of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
HABITAT: A
free-roamer that is best fished where bait is most plentiful ญญ- along weed
lines; around schools of small tuna and other pelagic baitfishes; in areas where
seamounts or other sub-surface structure creates up wellings and current; sharp
bottom contours; temperature changes.
DESCRIPTION:
Coloration varies a great deal. Most common phase is dark blue, almost black on
the dorsal surface, shading to whitish. Usually, several vertical stripes are
noticeable. Early in the 20th century, these variations led anglers to believe
several species were involved. Science eventually determined that the Black and
Striped Marlins are strictly Pacific species and that a Silver Marlin is
non-existent. The Blue, however, is found in both hemispheres. The feature that
distinguishes the Blue from others is the pointed dorsal fin that curves sharply
downward. The anal fin and pectoral fins also are pointed.
SIZE: From
about 150 pounds to 500; not rare over 500. World record 1,402 pounds; Florida
record 980 pounds.
FOOD VALUE:
Good, but normally released by sportsmen; protected from sale in North Atlantic.
GAME QUALITIES:
Best of all for speed, power
and jumping ability.
TACKLE AND
BAITS:
While many
Blues have been caught on lighter outfits, the standard is a good balanced ocean
trolling outfit in the 5-pound or even 80-pound line class. Marlin baits fall
into three categories: 1. Artificial trolling lures; 2. Live, fairly large
baitfish, such as school Dolphin or Bonito; and 3. Rigged natural baits, such as
Mullet, Mackerel, Bonito, Barracuda, extra-large Ballyhoo ("Horse Ballyhoo").
Lures are used most often, because they allow more ocean to be covered. In
somewhat limited areas, such as along weedlines or around seamounts and other
well-established grounds, live bait is usually preferred.
FISHING SYSTEMS:
Trolling; sometimes Drifting.
|
White
Marlin
(Tetrapturus albidus) |

OTHER NAMES:
Spikefish, Aguja Blanco
RANGE: Blue
ocean water off all Florida coasts and throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
HABITAT: Like
the Blue Marlin, a roamer of the open sea, and sought by anglers wherever
feeding conditions or temperatures are most favorable.
DESCRIPTION:
Similar in color to the Blue Marlin but proportionately lighter in body; Whites
can be distinguished from small Blues by the rounded tips of dorsal, anal and
pectoral fins.
SIZE: Averages
40-70 pounds; 100-pounders not too uncommon; maximum less than 200. World record
181 pounds, 14 ounces; Florida record 161 pounds.
FOOD VALUE:
Good but commercially protected and seldom eaten by sportsmen.
GAME QUALITIES:
Probably the most aerial-minded
of our Billfishes, but with plenty of stamina as well.
TACKLE AND
BAITS: Light ocean
trolling or heavy spinning outfits with lines up to 30-pound test; 12- and
20-pound lines are tops for sport. Anglers targeting White Marlin usually choose
rigged trolling baits, such as Ballyhoo, strips or squid. They will, of course,
eagerly strike live Blue Runners, Goggle-eyes and similar baitfish caught are
considered standard Sailfish baits. Artificial trolling lures also take many
Whites.
FISHING SYSTEMS:
Trolling; sometimes Drifting.
|
Hatchette
Marlin
(Tetrapturus sp.) |

RANGE: Rare
everywhere. The few examples have come mostly from the Gulf of Mexico, but at
least one suspected Hatchet Marlin was caught off Dade County and others have
been reported in past years from Cuba. If it is truly a species, it probably
occurs wherever Atlantic Marlins are found.
HABITAT: The
open seas.
DESCRIPTION:
The Hatchet Marlin may simply be a variant of the White Marlin, but a difference
in the scales lends credence to the belief that it might be a distinct species.
The scales are round, whereas those of the other Marlins are pointed. Coloration
is similar to the other Marlins, but closer to the White than to the Blue in
body proportions. The name comes from the dorsal fin, which does not dip in the
manner of the Blue and White, but tapers gradually to the rear, outlining a fin
that's intermediate in size between those of the other Marlins and the Sailfish.
SIZE:
Uncertain; possibly to 200 pounds or more.
FOOD VALUE: If
you catch one, save it for science!
GAME QUALITIES:
Probably same as the White.
TACKLE AND
BAITS: See White
Marlin or Sailfish.
FISHING SYSTEMS:
Trolling.
|
Longbill
Spearfish (Tetrapturus pfluegeri) |

OTHER NAMES:
Atlantic Spearfish
RANGE: Deep
waters off all Florida coasts, plus the Bahamas and Caribbean. not common
anywhere.
HABITAT: The
open seas.
DESCRIPTION:
The name "Longbill" relates only to other Spearfishes occurring in different
areas. Actually, the bill is quite short when compared to that of the Sailfish
or White Marlin. Color usually is navy blue above; silvery on the sides and
underparts. The dorsal fin is pointed at the front but dips only slightly and
remains high for its full length - although not nearly high enough to mistake
this species for a Sailfish.
SIZE: Usually
20-40 pounds; may reach 75 or more. World record 94 pounds, 12 ounces; Florida
record 61 pounds, 8 ounces.
FOOD VALUE:
Probably good but should be released.
GAME QUALITIES:
Similar to Sailfish.
TACKLE AND
BAITS: See Sailfish
and White Marlin. Spearfish cannot be targeted and most catches are incidental
to those fisheries.
FISHING SYSTEMS:
Trolling.
|
Sailfish
(Istiophorus platypterus) |

OTHER NAMES:
Atlantic Sailfish, Spindlebeak, Pez Vela
RANGE: All
Florida coasts; Bahamas; Caribbean Islands. Most plentiful along Florida's
Atlantic side from roughly Fort Pierce through the Keys.
HABITAT: Like
the other Billfishes, the Sailfish is considered an ocean species, but generally
can be found closer to land than the rest, seeming to prefer areas where coral
reefs and/or freshwater runoffs mingle with ocean water. At times, particularly
in Southeast Florida, the Sailfish comes right into the surf and quite a few
have been caught over the years from beaches and piers.
DESCRIPTION:
Upper surfaces usually dark blue to black; silvery below; vertical stripes often
visible on sides.
SIZE: Averages
30-60 pounds, but many under 30 pounds and a few up to 100 pounds are also
taken. Potential maximum is less than 150 pounds in the Atlantic Ocean. World
record 221 pounds; Florida record 116 pounds.
FOOD VALUE:
Very good broiled or smoked, and should be kept if inadvertently killed.
Protected commercially.
GAME QUALITIES:
Unsurpassed in its size range for combined strength and spectacle.
TACKLE AND
BAITS: Light ocean
trolling or heavy spinning outfits with lines up to 30-pound test; 12- and
20-pound lines are adequate in experienced hands and provide great sport. In
Southeast Florida, live-baiting - either by kite fishing or flatline drifting -
has become perhaps the most popular approach to sailfishing, with Blue Runners,
Goggle-eyes, Pilchards or Pinfish being the common offerings. Historically, most
Sailfishing has been done with rigged trolling baits, mainly Ballyhoo and strips
of Bonito or other small fish. Many Sailfish have been caught on jigs and on
drifted Ballyhoo/jig combinations. Fly casters have also taken them on occasion,
but Atlantic sails do not decoy as readily as their Pacific counterparts and so
fly fishing for them has not become very popular - despite the fact that science
has proclaimed the Sailfish of both oceans to be the same species.
FISHING SYSTEMS:
Occasionally Casting; Drifting; Trolling.
|
|
|
|
Featured Fishing Ads |
 |
 |
|
More Featured Fishing Sites |
 |
 |
|
|