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ATLANTIC SAILFISH
MARLIN
The Atlantic Sailfish belongs to the Billfish group. Among others in this group are the Blue
and the White Marlin.
The largest is the Indo-Pacific Marlin which can reach a length of more than 4.4 m and a mass of over 900 kg.
These fish all share a distinctive jaw structure which is shaped like a beak or a bill.
They are commonly found in warm temperate to tropical waters. Colouring is usually blue-black on the back with a whitish underside.
The prey of the Marlin is stunned and slashed by rapid strokes of its bill, Spectacular colour changes occur during feeding with gills, fins and flanks turning a bright blue.
Billfish are much sought after as fighting quarry in blue-water sport fishing and are usually caught by long lining.
Tagged studies show that the Atlantic Marlin covers amazing distances during
trans-Atlantic migrations.
