The Amazing Blue Marlin

The Blue Marlin is one of the biggest fish in the world. They can grow to be more than 12 feet long, and some have been recorded at a whopping 2,000 pounds. The largest recorded catch in Florida was for a catch of 1,046 pounds in Panama City! They also have a long lifespan, with female Blue Marlins living up to 20 years, while males live up to ten years. 

These fish are very agile and very fast, using their upper jaws to catch other fish. Their bill differs from other marlin fish since it is round and pointed versus flat and blunt.They can reach speeds of up to 68 miles per hour in the ocean! 

Blue Marlins have a diet of other fish and squid and hunt their prey solo during the day.

The best method to catch this stunning species is trolling, but catching one can be a challenge. While they are some of the largest fish around, the ones off the coast of Miami are typically 500 pounds or less. Could you imagine hauling one into a boat?

Blue Marlins live off the coast in the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They are in season from March to October, and the best time to catch them is in April and May. Just in time for your next deep sea fishing adventure!

Interested in Miami deep sea fishing? Come aboard the THERAPY-IV! We set sail daily and have plenty of opportunities for marlin fishing in Miami Beach. Call us at 305.945.1578 or visit us online to book an appointment. 

Everything You Need to Know About Bait Fish

Baitfish - we wouldn’t be anywhere without them. They’re the small fish we catch and use to bait larger predatory fish (game fish). They’re a great tool for deep-sea fishing because they are common and abundant in supply. While they have a short lifespan, their population can increase rapidly and can recover quickly from depletion. 

Common types of baitfish in the ocean are anchovies, gudgeon, half breaks (ballyhoo and scad). Bigger fish like menhaden, flying fish, and ladyfish are sometimes considered bait fish depending on the size of the game fish you are fishing for. 

Freshwater baitfish include minnows, and those in the carp, sucker, killifish, shad, and sunfish families, but not black bass or crappies. 

Baitfish can also be referred to as forage fish, but they don’t mean the same thing. This term is used at fisheries and refers to small fish that are preyed on by much larger predators (such as large fish, seabirds, and marine animals). Baitfish referees only to the small fish that are caught to use as bait for other fish. 

Baitfish can also be confused with feeder fish. Feeder fish is a term used by aquariums, and while it implies the same concept, these small fish are eaten by larger fish, but only referring to the aquarium setting. 

Who knew such a tiny fish had so much impact? Next time you’re on your Miami fishing trip, you can show off your knowledge of these small but very important part of the deep sea fishing experience. 

Visit us online for more information on Miami Deep Sea Fishing.