Marlin

 

common name for open-sea fish related to the sailfish and swordfish (family Istiophoridae) and prized by sportsmen. The best known is the blue marlin of the genus Makaira, found in the Gulf Stream as far north as Long Island. It may reach 1,000 lb (454 kg) in weight. The upper jaw of the marlin extends into a long spike with which it clubs the small fish on which it feeds. The striped marlin of the Pacific reaches a weight of 300 to 400 lb (135–180 kg); the paler white marlin of the Atlantic rarely exceeds 100 lb (45 kg). Marlins are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes, family Istiophoridae.

Marlins
Striped marlin, Tetrapturus audax
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Istiophoridae
Genera
Istiophorus Makaira Tetrapturus See text for species.

The marlin is a large game fish. It has an elongated body that in larger species can be in excess of 4 metres (13 ft) long, a snout like a spear, and a long rigid dorsal fin which extends forwards to form a crest. Marlin are fast swimmers, occurring in all oceans and hunting small and large fish.

The larger species include the Atlantic blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, which have been reliably recorded in excess of 2 metres (7 ft) in length and 120 kilograms (250 lb) in weight, and black marlin, Makaira indica, which have been reliably recorded in excess of 5 m in length and 670 kilograms (1,470 lb) in weight. It is a cousin to the Swordfish. Marlins are very fast and can swim 100 metres (330 ft) in about 4 seconds (Approximately 56 mph). They are popular sporting fish in certain tropical areas and are also commercially important as a food fish.

Marlin are rarely table fare. Most modern sport fishermen release marlin after unhooking. Some marlin that are top record setting fish are taken and weighed on shore. Those records are most often recorded in the IGFA World Record Game Fishes books.

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• The Miami Marlins were a minor league baseball team in the 1950s and 1960s, and were named after the fish.
• The name of the Florida Marlins major league baseball team was inspired by the predecessor minor league team. The Marlins' mascot is named Billy the Marlin, partly a reference to baseball player and manager Billy Martin.
• American Motors Corporation (AMC) produced a distinctive fastback "personal luxury car" named Marlin from 1965 to 1967.
• Marlin is the name of Nemo's father in the Pixar animated feature film Finding Nemo.
• A marlin is a primary character in Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.
• The Blue Marlin is a fishing video game by Hot-B for the Nintendo Entertainment System that revolves around a marlin fishing tournament.
• The Marlin is the mascot of Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Virginia.
• The Blue Marlin is a modern beach club at playa Jondal, Ibiza.
• The blue marlin is currently worshiped as a fad in Biloxi, Mississippi.

References

• "Istiophoridae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
• Clover, Charles. 2004. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Ebury Press, London. ISBN 0-09-189780-7

External links

• International Game Fish Association
• The Tuna Club - oldest sport fishing organization
• News article: Marlin spears fisherman as it leaps across boat
• 'Ghost Fish' Revelation May Alter Marlin's Status from National Public Radio

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