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Blue Marlin
Ok, keeping it real, this is the most awesome fish that swims the waters we fish off of Hatteras. A blue marlin is a big bully. He gets what he wants. I've seen them crash big dolphin, yellowfin tunas, whatever, if they are hungry, and a meal is close by, it's on. They often have the same approach when attracted to a trolling spread. Sometimes, when unidentified, we describe the strike as "big hole, bent pole", as they leave the impression in the water as if a car had been dropped there. Normally, as with the other billfish, we see the fish coming before he arrives.
Blue marlin vary quite a bit in size. I have caught and released a couple over 800, and lost one fish that I feel like was 1000. I have also caught blues under 100 pounds, so you never know. I would have to say that the most common size that we see is 250-400 pounds.
There are several techniques that we may use in pursuit of a blue marlin, but for me it's usually trolling, and either lures or bait. Lure fishing is effective, and if I were trolling nothing but a stand of plastics, I would ride around at nine to ten knots, where the lures are most effective, giving off lots of smoke and action. The other method for me is trolling with bait, which is much like we fish for anything else, just with heavier gear. It's 80s for blue marlin, unless a "rat" shows up in the baits, in which case we would treat him like a white marlin, and try him on a 20. We would use bigger baits, and heavier leader, 400 pound mono, or 15-19 piano wire. We use horse ballyhoo, often behind a bigger lure, spanish mackerel, and maybe a big natural squid for bait. Bait speed is 6.5 to 7 knots. Sometimes a blue marlin enters the spread "lit up", but just as often, or maybe more, he looks like a big black spot, down and behind the bait. After he rises to the surface, he is often identified by his pointed dorsal as it breaks the plane of the surface. Blue marlin battles are exciting. Usually a lot of wild jumps, a lot of screaming (from the drag and from everyone on board), backing the boat down after the fish, and a sweaty angler. I have caught blue marlins in a minute or less, and I have spent hours fighting them. They are all different, and you just never know what to expect. Sometimes they lay on the surface, giving me a chance to back right up to them, and sometimes they head to the bottom, and there's not much I can do to help the angler. Either way, the end result, hopefully, is the accomplishment of catching, snapping a few pictures, and releasing a magnificent creature that has all of my respect.
We usually start seeing a sign of blues in May, and I have caught several in April, while tuna fishing, but June through August is our peak season. The thing is, you have a chance of hooking one, even when you are not targeting them, so you've got to be ready. My suggestion would be, hit the gym, take an adventure pill, and lets go get a shot at Mr. Blue. He's out there challenging you!
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