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Blue Marlin Fishing Charters
Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Gustavia
"Old Man And The Sea" Handlining
Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Key West
Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck And Sunset
Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key West
Legendary Fishing In Key West
Everything to Know About Booking a blue marlin fishing charter
What are the best blue marlin fishing charters?
The best blue marlin fishing charters are:
Why should I book a blue marlin fishing charter with Captain Experiences?
Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 221 blue marlin trips, and the most popular trips are Cabo VIP Fishing - 32’ Luhrs guided by Jim, Offshore Blue Marlin FADs trip guided by Edgar, and Riviera Beach Luxury Half Day guided by Peter.
Our guides are rated a 4.7 out of 5 based on 3898 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.
All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.
Looking for kid friendly blue marlin guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly blue marlin guides.
What types of blue marlin fishing charters are common?
Deep Sea fishing is the most popular type of fishing for blue marlin as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.
The most common fishing techniques are trolling, heavy tackle fishing, and bottom fishing but light tackle fishing and artificial lure fishing are popular as well.
How much do blue marlin fishing charters cost?
Prices for blue marlin can range anywhere from about $1,000 to $5,424, but the average price for a half day trip for blue marlin is $1,548. The average price for a full day trip for blue marlin is $3,603.
Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?
Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.
Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.
Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.
Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.
What month is best for blue marlin fishing?
The most popular season for blue marlin fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 23 days in advance.
Do I need a fishing license for blue marlin and what are the bag limits for blue marlin?
See here for more information on blue marlin fishing licenses, blue marlin bag limits, and fishing season regulations for blue marlin. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right blue marlin rules and regulations.
What is a Blue Marlin?
The blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) is a deep sea game fish, recognized by it’s large bill that’s used to stun, injure, or kill it’s prey. Although they are the national fish of Commonwealth of the Bahamas, they are spread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Considered the king of all fish, they are powerful and acrobatic on the line, making them a high prize for anglers. They are highly migratory, one study even following a tagged marlin for 9,254 miles. They are the largest of the billfish, and have excellent eyesight, stamina, cold water temperature tolerance and hunting skills.
Like other billfish, they can quickly change color thanks to their pigment-containing iridophores and light-reflecting skin cells. However, they typically are blue on top with a silver belly, and around 15 rows of pale, cobalt stripes. Small, file-like teeth fill their jaws, and above that is a long, stout bill.
How big do Blue Marlin get?
For blue marlin, the females can actually grow up to four times the size of the males. Males will rarely grow larger than 350 pounds, whereas females can grow well over 1,000 pounds. These ladies that reach above and beyond that poundage are called “granders” and are highly targeted by anglers. Length wise, females on average are 11 feet long, with about 20% of that being their bill.
What's the biggest Blue Marlin ever caught?
In 1970, a group of anglers out of Oahu, Hawaii boarded Captain Conelius Choy’s charter boat, the Coreene C. They reeled in a 1,805 pound marlin, the largest ever caught on a rod and reel. They even found a yellow fin tuna weighing over 155 pounds had been the “Choy’s Monster’s” last meal.
Commercial fisherman in the Tsukiji market in Tokyo claim to have boated even larger blue marlin, weighing up to 2,438 pounds.
Where is the best place to catch Blue Marlin?
Blue Marlin are highly migrational and can be found in tropical oceanic waters around the world, above the thermocline, following seasonal water temperature changes. In the Gulf of Mexico, there are many great areas to target, however the Florida Keys remain one of the top rated.
Outside of the continental United States, there are many more great places to head towards to hook your trophy. One of the best spots in the world is Kona, Hawaii, known for hosting blue marlin well over 750 pounds. Another popular hotspot is San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the world’s longest running billfish tournament takes place. Finally, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is where there are more marlin caught per hour than anywhere else in the world!
When should I catch Blue Marlin?
Due to the large range that they travel in their migration, the best time to catch a blue marlin depends on the area. Generally, they move to temperate waters of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres during warmer months, and back towards the Equator in the cooler months.
In areas like the western Atlantic, the loop current helps to push Marlin around the Gulf of Mexico and up north of Florida, and depending on the area along it, is best spring through fall. This is a great time to head to places like the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Hawaii. If you’d like to fish in the winter months, you can find blue marlin in areas near Brazil and Australia.
How do you catch Blue Marlin?
The most common way that blue marlin are caught is via trolling with artificial lures or bait. When it comes to artificials, they respond best to bright colors and fast movements. For natural bait, options like mullet, mahi, and Spanish mackerel work best. Flyfishermen also enjoy targeting blue marlin. To do so, they use fly rods that are made specifically for billfish, that have more lifting power than the average.
Keep in mind that no matter what, these fish are known for their incredible fight. Using a fighting chair, bucket harness, shoulder harness, or fighting belt will help, and don’t forget to keep those lines tight!
Are Blue Marlin good to eat? What are the best Blue Marlin recipes?
In many areas around the world, conservation efforts either prohibit or strongly discourage keeping blue marlin, therefore most anglers catch and release. The meat is also tough, and has a high mercury content, making it not that favorable for eating.
Recent Reviews
Cities
- Atlantic Beach, NC
- Beaufort, NC
- Boothville, LA
- Boothville-Venice, LA
- Cabo San Lucas
- Caguas
- Cancún
- Cape May, NJ
- Carolina
- Carolina Beach, NC
- Charleston, SC
- Coral Gables, FL
- Dania Beach, FL
- Dauphin Island, AL
- Destin, FL
- Duck Key, FL
- Edisto Island, SC
- Eleele, HI
- Fort Pierce, FL
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Freeport, TX
- Galveston, TX
- Gautier, MS
- Golden Meadow, LA
- Gulf Breeze, FL
- Gulf Shores, AL
- Gustavia
- Hampton Bays, NY
- Hatteras, NC
- Hollywood, FL
- Honolulu, HI
- Islamorada, FL
- Iztapa
- Kailua-Kona, HI
- Kalaoa, HI
- Kapaʻa, HI
- Key Biscayne, FL
- Key Largo, FL
- Key West, FL
- La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
- Lahaina, HI
- Lihue, HI
- Loiza
- Loreto
- Malena
- Manteo, NC
- Marathon, FL
- Matemwe
- McQueen's Settlement
- Miami, FL
- Miami Beach, FL
- Montauk, NY
- Moorea-Maiao
- Morehead City, NC
- Mount Pleasant, SC
- Nassau
- Ocean City, MD
- Olhão
- Orleans, MA
- Panama City, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Playa Herradura
- Pole Ojea
- Pompano Beach, FL
- Port Aransas, TX
- Port Orange, FL
- Puerto Escondido, Oax.
- Puerto Jiménez
- Puerto Morelos
- Puerto Quetzal
- Punta Cana
- Quepos
- Rincon
- Riviera Beach, FL
- Salinas
- San Diego, CA
- San José del Cabo
- San Juan
- Santa Rosa Beach, FL
- Sardinal
- Sealevel, NC
- South Padre Island, TX
- Stock Island, FL
- Stuart, FL
- Tierra Verde, FL
- Tulum
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Wanchese, NC
Other Fishing Species
- African Pompano
- Albacore Tuna
- Almaco Jack
- Amberjack
- Atlantic Mackerel
- Barracuda
- Bigeye Tuna
- Black Drum
- Black Grouper
- Black Marlin
- Black Seabass
- Blackfin Tuna
- Blacktip Shark
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bonefish
- Bonito
- Bonnethead Shark
- Broomtail Grouper
- Bull Shark
- Cero Mackerel
- Cobia
- Cubera Snapper
- Dogtooth Tuna
- False Albacore
- Florida Pompano
- Gag Grouper
- Giant Trevally
- Goliath Grouper
- Great White Shark
- Grunt
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hogfish
- Horse-eye Jack
- Jack Crevalle
- Kingfish
- Lane Snapper
- Lemon Shark
- Mahi Mahi
- Mako Shark
- Mangrove Snapper
- Mullet Snapper
- Mutton Snapper
- Needlefish
- Permit
- Queen Snapper
- Rainbow Runner
- Red Grouper
- Red Snapper
- Redfish
- Roosterfish
- Sailfish
- Scamp Grouper
- Skipjack Tuna
- Snook
- Snowy Grouper
- Spadefish
- Spanish Mackerel
- Spearfish
- Speckled Trout
- Strawberry Grouper
- Striped Marlin
- Swordfish
- Tarpon
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Tilefish
- Triggerfish
- Tripletail
- Vermillion Snapper
- Wahoo
- Warsaw Grouper
- White Marlin
- White Seabass
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Yellowtail Amberjack
- Yellowtail Snapper
Featured Cities
- Fishing Charters Near Me
- Austin Fishing Guides
- Biloxi Fishing Charters
- Bradenton Fishing Charters
- Cabo San Lucas Fishing Charters
- Cancun Fishing Charters
- Cape Coral Fishing Charters
- Charleston Fishing Charters
- Clearwater Fishing Charters
- Corpus Christi Fishing Charters
- Dauphin Island Fishing Charters
- Daytona Beach Fishing Charters
- Destin Fishing Charters
- Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters
- Fort Myers Fishing Charters
- Fort Walton Beach Fishing Charters
- Galveston Fishing Charters
- Gulf Shores Fishing Charters
- Hatteras Fishing Charters
- Hilton Head Fishing Charters
- Islamorada Fishing Charters
- Jacksonville Fishing Charters
- Jupiter Fishing Charters
- Key Largo Fishing Charters
- Key West Fishing Charters
- Kona Fishing Charters
- Madeira Beach Fishing Charters
- Marathon Fishing Charters
- Marco Island Fishing Charters
- Miami Fishing Charters
- Montauk Fishing Charters
- Morehead City Fishing Charters
- Naples Fishing Charters
- New Orleans Fishing Charters
- New Smyrna Beach Fishing Charters
- Orange Beach Fishing Charters
- Panama City Beach Fishing Charters
- Pensacola Fishing Charters
- Pompano Beach Fishing Charters
- Port Aransas Fishing Charters
- Rockport Fishing Charters
- San Diego Fishing Charters
- San Juan Fishing Charters
- Sarasota Fishing Charters
- South Padre Island Fishing Charters
- St. Petersburg Fishing Charters
- Tampa Fishing Charters
- Tarpon Springs Fishing Charters
- Venice Fishing Charters
- Virginia Beach Fishing Charters
What's biting?
View Blue Marlin Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.
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