Blue Marlin

Availability & Seasonality

The heaviest landings of kajiki are during the summer and fall (June - October), the period when schooling tunas, the favorite prey of kajiki, are often abundant in the waters off Hawaii. This fish is commonly released by sportsmen. NOTE: California Residents | Local regulations prohibit us from shipping Kajiki (Pacific Blue Marlin) to any city in California. Even though our system will let you purchase marlin, we are sorry but we will be unable to process your order.

Product Forms & Yields

Kajiki is marketed in many forms. Kajiki with high fat content may be served as sashimi. Other good quality fresh fish may be filleted or loined for restaurants to serve as “catch of the day” or for sale in fish markets. Dressed, chunked, or loined marlin may be exported (although not to California which prohibits the sale of marlins, except black marlin, from any source). Up to 65% of whole fish weight can be recovered as fillet (see Table 5). Large fish that are less suitable for the fresh market, but yield a high percentage of usable flesh, may be smoked or processed into other forms such as fish burgers.

Shelf Life & Quality Control

Although some longline boats which catch kajiki are at sea for up to 10-12 days, the quality of the fish is often better than one- or two-day old fish from sportfishing tournaments in which the sales value of the catch is secondary to the recreational value and the fish are not immediately iced (see Table 3). Kajiki (Pacific Blue Marlin) Poorly-handled fish may have cracked (separated) or turbid (burnt) flesh that is opaque with a dull, beige color. The texture is mushy, and the flesh falls apart easily. In kajiki of over 150 pounds, there is considerable connective tissue between layers of muscle. This tissue is tough and stringy, and its presence is one of the reasons why fish dealers and consumers prefer smaller kajiki.

Average sizes 90 - 400 lbs in round weight, but can grow upwards of 1800lbs. One of the most sought after gamefish in the ocean.

Aguja Azul, Kajiki, Spikefish, A`u (Hawaiian for all Marlin), Kurokajiki (Japanese), Makaire Bleu (French), Blauer Marlin (German), Marlin Azzurro (Itali

The Blue marlin is found primarily in the temperate and tropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean. Based on commercial fishing observations, the Blue marlin occurs from about 44° N to 30°S. Occurring offshore in Blue oceanic waters, the Blue marlin prefers to stay in the warm waters near the surface, above the thermocline. They follow the seasonal water temperature changes, being closely tied to these warm waters. They are found in ocean waters great distances from the continents as well as coastal regions near deep waters, such as near the Mississippi River in the Gulf of Mexico. Oceanic species. Water color affects its occurrence, at least in the northern Gulf of Mexico, where the fish show preference for blue water. Rarely gathers in schools and usually found as scattered single individuals. Feeds mainly on fishes but also preys on octopods and squids. Marketed fresh or frozen (Ref. 43). Feeding takes place during daytime. Maturity reached at about 80 cm in males and 50 cm in females (Ref. 36731). Females grow larger

The Blue marlin is the largest billfish. Blue marlin, or Kajiki in Japanese, is distinguished by its large size, heavy bill and rougher, darker skin compared to its more slender cousin the striped marlin. Marlins are a highly migratory fish living at the top of the food chain in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world’s oceans. The blue marlin is found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic. It is a member of a larger family known as billfish, which get their name from their upper jaw that extends to form a spear. Because of its immense size, weighing up to 1,600 pounds, marlin is prized as a sports fish. The upper jaw forms a large bill. The body is cylindrical from anal fin forward. Two dorsal fins are present; the first dorsal fin is high and slopes steeply posteriorly, while the second is small. The caudal peduncle has keels. The lateral line forms a large net-like pattern of hexagons canvasing the sides of the fish. The pelvic fins are slender. The lateral keels on the caudal peduncle assist in making this fish a powerful swimmer of great speed and stamina. Grooves for the pelvic fins improve hydrodynamics. Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 45-50; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 19 - 23. Body blue-black above and silvery white below, with about 15 rows of pale cobalt-colored stripes; 1st dorsal fin plain blackish or dark blue, other fins brown black with a tinge of dark blue in some specimens; anal fin bases with a tinge of silvery white. Lateral line a network of interconnecting canals

Subripe ova are opaque, white to yellow, and 0.3 to 0.5 mm in diameter. Transparent spherical eggs flowing out of a ripe ovary measured 1 mm in diameter.

Summary of Distribution: Atlantic Ocean: in tropical and temperate waters. We follow Nakamura 1985 (Ref. 43) in recognizing Makaira mazara and Makaira nigricans as two distinct species chiefly because of differences in the pattern of the lateral line system. Many scientists, however, do not recognize this character as specifically diagnostic and consider the latter species as a single pantropical species occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Trolling A trolling boat has multiple outriggers, poles and lines attached that use lures dragged across the ocean surface at speeds of 4 – 10 knots. Large beefy hooks are used with special durable lures allowing the fisherman to easily unhook the gamefish that has been caught and quickly get their lines back into the water. The larger the lures, the larger the potential fish, the larger the hooks. A tuna boat will usually make slow wide circles when trolling. A billfish boat will usually work ledges, fathom lines, zig zag area coordinates or make trolling circles if bait or a porpoise school is located and/or if they are fishing a FAD..

	Pelagic Longline This fishery uses a longline to catch a variety of pelagic fish on the high seas such as tuna and swordfish. A deep-set longline is used to primarily target tuna and a shallow-set longline is used to target swordfish or mixed species including bigeye, Albacore and yellowfin tuna. Baited hooks are attached to a line that floats in the ocean using buoys and flagpoles.

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.

Available Sizes: 24 in. - 185 in. Details: Fired-Enamel Glass Eye Optinal Coating: UV Inhibitive Polyurethane Outdoor Coating