Marlin is one of the most impressive and sought-after catches in the fishing world and is an incredibly powerful and majestic fish known for its huge size and spear-like bill which extends out in a similar manner to a swordfish.
In terms of sport fishing, there are few fish larger or more prestigious to battle.
But there are several subspecies of Marlin with various key differences between them.
There are Black Marlins, Pacific Blue Marlins, Atlantic Blue Marlin, Sailfish, White Marlin, Striped marlin, and several other species of note, with various differences between them.
However one of the largest of all the Marlin species is the Blue Marlin, and among these fish, the largest recorded catch was a Pacific Blue Marlin which was caught on the 31st of May 1982 by angler Jay de Beaubien.
The fish was weighed at 1376lbs and set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species, and this record stands to this day.
De Beaubien trawled with a Kita lure around Kaaiwi Point in Hawaii and battled the enormous fish for 40 minutes — which is a testament to both the talent of the angler and the sheer size and strength of the Marlin.
What is the Biggest Species of Marlin?
While many Marlin species are huge, such as the Pacific Blue mentioned above, there are actually even bigger species of this amazing fish, such as the Black marlin, which is the largest of all the species to ever be caught using a rod and reel.
The record-breaking fish was caught in Cabo Blanco off Peru, aboard the ship Petrel which was skippered by Stirling Stuart.
The angler, Alfred Glassel Jr, caught the 1560lbs Black Marlin by trawling a cero mackerel as bait and battled the fish for nearly 2 hours before finally landing it.
The size of the fish was incredible, measuring 14 feet 6 inches in length and a girth of 6 feet 9 inches, making it the record holder for the whole of the Marlin species to this day.
The rod Glassel used was a Tycoon rod with a size of 12/0 with a Fin-Nor reel and a 39 thread Ashaway line.
The catch cemented both this species of Marlin as one of the most sought-after sport fishes in the world and the catch itself as one of the most impressive in the history of sport fishing.
Is Marlin Hard to Catch?
Quite simply, yes, it’s very hard to catch a marlin.
Marlin fishing is considered by most competitive fishers to be the pinnacle of all sport fishing, due to the sheer size of the fish, their relative rarity, the power of the fish, and the fight they can put up.
It’s no surprise that Marlin fishing caught the imagination of well-known authors such as Ernest Hemingway, who was an avid fisherman himself, and who understood well the struggle and thrill of bill fishing.
Catching any Marlin requires huge strength and patience, however, the larger species such as the Blue Marlin and Black Marlin require near superhuman feats of endurance and strength compared to most fish, even other difficult species that are considered hard to catch.
This is mostly due to the sheer size and power of these enormous fish, and as you may have guessed by their weight and the length of some of the record-breaking battles and catches we’ve already mentioned, it’s easy to understand why these battles are so sought after, as they present one of the biggest and most thrilling challenges to an angler’s skill and determination.
It’s also a massive test of patience and perseverance, making billfishing a test not only of physical prowess and dexterity but also mental toughness and grit, a true rite of passage for any sport fisher or serious angler who wants to face the biggest challenges possible.
World Record Blue Marlin Catch
There have been many large marlin catches in recent history, but the largest marlin ever caught came in at 1,376 pounds and 193 inches long.
The catch was made by Jay de Beaubien in May of 1982 in Hawaii. It is reported that he reeled in the record catch in about 40 minutes!
Final Thoughts
The Blue Marlin is a massive species, some of the largest fish in the ocean! Their size and speed can make them difficult to catch, but when one is caught, it can be a huge accomplishment.
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