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Fish profile · Istiophoridae
Atlantic blue marlin
Makaira nigricans
This profile covers the Atlantic blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, a large ocean predator with a spear-like bill. Taxonomic treatments differ: WoRMS separates Indo-Pacific blue marlin as Makaira mazara, while NOAA uses Makaira nigricans across oceans. A Malaysian blue-marlin sighting should therefore not be assigned to this Atlantic profile without checking the identification.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026 · 6 sources
- Max length
- 427 cm
- Max weight
- 907 kg
- IUCN
- VU
- Vulnerable
- Family
- Istiophoridae
- order Perciformes
Category from the IUCN Red List, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0); it may lag the latest Red List assessment.
How big?
Linear scale · person 170 cm
Up to 427 cm and 907 kg.
How to identify
- Long, spear-shaped upper jaw
- Prominent dorsal fin
- Cobalt-blue upper body and silvery-white underside
Habitat
Warm surface water and the upper ocean water column.
- Diet
- Tuna and other open-water fish.
- Native range
- Atlantic tropical and subtropical waters under the taxonomic treatment separating Makaira mazara.
Catching it
- Methods
- Trolling
More photos
Sources
Last reviewed 26 October 2026