Differences in Marlins and information on Marlin Lures

The Blue Marlin is reportedly the largest billfish in the world. The upper section of the jaw forms a large "sword like" bill. The body is shaped similar to a torpedo and the large pectoral fins of the Blue Marlin are hinged so they can fold back on the body. This is a unique characteristic that will distinguish them from the Black Marlin. This fish is definitely built for speed, it's streamline shape and large size makes it a very fast predator best suited for short bursts of extreme speed, which is why most Blue Marlin Lures are trolled at high speeds.

The body color of the Blue Marlin's back varies slightly from a dark shade of blue to an almost black appearance while the underside of the fish is almost a silvery white. The Blue Marlin has a varying stripped design along each side of the body. A small Blue Marlin can occasionally be mistaken for a large Stripped Marlin.

The Blue Marlin has been know to reach lengths of 14 feet and can weigh close to 2,000lbs. The females of the species are typically much larger than the males. The IGFA has separate class records for the Pacific Blue Marlin and the Atlantic Blue Marlin. Currently the all tackle record for the largest Pacific Blue is 1,376 lbs. and the record for the Atlantic Blue is 1,402 lbs.

The largest populations of Blue Marlin are offshore near very deep water. They keep to the warm surface waters and tend to migrate when the water temperature begins to change, following the seasonal warm waters. Along the coast of the American continents a Marlin fishing trip can take you several miles offshore to find deep enough water. In Hawaii however, you can start fishing when you clear the mouth of the harbor due to the extreme drop offs just off the coast. You can see depths of 500 - 1,000 fathoms or more within a mile of the shoreline. This is a very unique and highly sought after feature of Hawaiian Big Game Fishing. You can imagine why all the best Marlin Lures are made and tested in the waters off the Hawaii coast. Also check out our Shimano Reels and Tiagra Reels.

We were fishing just off the Kona coast on one of the most beautiful days of the year, Saturday. We were running two Widerange Mold craft fishing lures, a large Copa Tado teaser, a Marlin Magic Ruckus, and a Marlin Magic Baby Blue chasing a yellow Playaction bird on the stinger. The fresh beer in my hand was doing wonders for me as I sat in the mid afternoon sun. We had just released our 3rd Blue Marlin of the day and I was beginning to get a little tired. There were just two of us on board that day, my dad and I. He was the captain and I was the crew. It worked out pretty good for us. So there I was, leaned back in the chair, my hat blocked just enough of the sun from my eyes, a cold beer at my side, and the gentle rolling swells were rocking me to sleep. Life couldn't have been better.

After about an hour of heading due south my dad saw some activity off the port bow about 1,000 yards out and made a wide turn in that direction. As we passed the area within a few yards we realized that there was, in fact, something very hungry in the water just below the surface. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I jumped out of the chair and started reeling in the lines as fast as I could. There was no way we could have fought that thing even if we wanted to. I was reeling in the last lure when it happened. It sounded like a shotgun exploded in my face. My entire body tensed up in horror and in the blink of an eye the rod and reel disappeared and I was left holding nothing but the handle. My dad yelled back in a panic to find out what had happened and all I could say was, "We lost one of the Mold craft Fishing Lures". I was in complete shock, I had no idea what just happened. It was something that would only happen in a dream. Even to this day, I just don't know.