Hatchet Marlin

Uncertain; possibly to 200 pounds or more.

The open seas. Rare everywhere. The few examples have come mostly from the Gulf of Mexico, but at least one suspected Hatchet Marlin was caught off Dade County and others have been reported in past years from Cuba. If it is truly a species, it probably occurs wherever Atlantic Marlins are found. Blue ocean water off all Florida coasts and throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

The Hatchet Marlin may simply be a variant of the White Marlin, but a difference in the scales lends credence to the belief that it might be a distinct species. The scales are round, whereas those of the other Marlins are pointed. Coloration is similar to the other Marlins, but closer to the White than to the Blue in body proportions. The name comes from the dorsal fin, which does not dip in the manner of the Blue and White, but tapers gradually to the rear, outlining a fin that's intermediate in size between those of the other Marlins and the Sailfish.

Gill nets Gill-nets are the dominant gear in the Indian Ocean. Gill-nets are used in artisanal and semi-industrial fisheries, contributing to 30-40% of the total catch. The net design is comprised of continuous panels of uniform mesh size, aimed to trap fish behind the gills. The International Sustainable Seafood Foundation (ISSF) notes that rates of sharks and turtle by-catch in Indian Ocean gill-net fisheries are high..

Light ocean trolling or heavy spinning outfits with lines up to 30-pound test; 12- and 20-pound lines are tops for sport. Anglers targeting White or the lucky Hatchette Marlin usually choose rigged trolling baits, such as Ballyhoo, strips or squid. They will, of course, eagerly strike live Blue Runners, Goggle-eyes and similar baitfish caught are considered standard Sailfish baits. Artificial trolling lures also take many Whites.