Locations

Bodies of Water

• Blue marlin, prized for their immense size, speed, and acrobatic displays, inhabit the offshore waters along the Northeast coast of the United States. These apex predators are highly migratory and roam the open ocean in search of prey.

• While not as common as in warmer tropical waters, blue marlin can still be found in certain areas of the Northeast, providing anglers with exhilarating opportunities for big game fishing.

  
  

Structure/Habitat:

• Blue marlin prefer deep waters and are often found around natural structures such as underwater canyons, seamounts, and shipwrecks.

• They are also known to congregate around man-made structures such as oil rigs, buoys, and floating debris. Blue marlin are typically found in deeper waters, often more than 100 feet deep, but they can also be found in shallower waters depending on the season.

PATTERNS

SPRING

• Blue marlin may start to appear in the North East of the US waters as the waters start to warm up.

• This can be a good time to catch them as they migrate northwards from their wintering grounds in the south.

• They can be caught by trolling with artificial lures or by live baiting.

SUMMER

• Blue marlin are typically considered the prime season for catching them in the North East of the US as the waters are at their warmest and the fish are abundant.

• They can be caught by trolling with artificial lures or by live baiting, and also by casting topwater lures or jigs

FALL

• Blue marlin can still be caught in the North East of the US waters as they migrate southwards.

• As the waters start to cool down, Blue marlin may be found in deeper waters.

• They can be caught by trolling with artificial lures or by live baiting.

WINTER

• Blue marlin are typically not as abundant in the North East of the US, but they can still be caught in the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Bait

• Bait fish

Techniques

Trolling

• How: Troll offshore with baits or lures at speeds of 6-10 knots. Look for temperature breaks, weed lines, or current edges to find Blue Marlin.

• Gear: Rods: Heavy-duty stand-up trolling rods, with a 50-130 lb class rating. Reels: Large offshore trolling reels with a high line capacity. Lures/Baits: Large trolling lures, rigged ballyhoo, mullet or squid.

Live Baiting

• How: Locate Blue Marlin using binoculars, look for bird activity, floating debris, or other signs of life. Anchor or drift, and chum the water with live baitfish like small tuna, bonito, or mackerel. Keep the baitfish in a pen or live well until needed. Baits: Live baitfish.

• Gear: Stand-up heavy-duty rods with a 50-80 lb class rating, matched with large conventional reels with high line capacity.

Chunking

• How: Find deep structure or drop-offs, and anchor or drift. Chum the water with cut bait, like bonito or mackerel, and fish larger chunks of bait on the bottom. Baits: Cut baitfish like bonito, mackerel, or squid.

• Gear: Heavy-duty conventional rods, with a 50-130 lb class rating. Large conventional reels with a high line capacity.

Jigging/Casting

• How: Locate Blue Marlin near drop-offs or structure, and cast or vertical jig lures to mimic baitfish movement. Fish in depths of 100-200 feet.

• Gear: Heavy-duty spinning or conventional rods with a 50-100 lb class rating. Large conventional reels or spinning reels with a high line capacity. Leaders: 100-200 lb test fluorocarbon. Lures: Large metal jigs, butterfly jigs, or poppers.

Fly Fishing

• How: Locate Blue Marlin in open water, and cast a variety of large flies into the feeding zone. Use a fast retrieve to mimic fleeing baitfish.

• Gear: 12-14 weight fly rods. Large capacity fly reels with a strong drag system. Line: Intermediate or sinking fly line depending on the depth of the water. Leaders: 12-16 ft 80-100 lb test fluorocarbon leaders. Flies: Large, brightly colored flies that mimic baitfish.