Side by Side

Marlin Makaira nigricans

Typical: 8–11 ft, 150–400 lb

Quickest tell: A pointed first dorsal fin shorter than the body is deep marks a marlin, versus the sailfish's towering full-length sail.

• Stout, round-sectioned bill (spear)
• Pointed, stiff first dorsal fin lower than body depth (blue marlin)
• Cobalt/blue-black back, silver-white belly
• Often pale blue vertical bars on the flanks
• Two keels on each side of the tail base
• High shoulder, heavy body

Full Marlin guide — season, gear and rules →

White Marlin Kajikia albida

Typical: 65–80 in, 40–70 lb

Quickest tell: The unmistakable ROUNDED (paddle-like) tips of the first dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins, plus a dorsal nearly as tall as the body is deep, separate white marlin from the sharply pointed-finned, lower-dorsaled blue marlin.

• rounded (paddle-like) tips on the first dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins
• lighter green-blue back, often with dark spots on the dorsal fin
• first dorsal nearly as tall as the body is deep
• more slender, lighter body than a blue marlin
• spots and lighter coloration overall

Full White Marlin guide — season, gear and rules →

When Each Is Running July — current month highlighted

Where Marlin and White Marlin Overlap

Both run in Mid-Atlantic — that is where telling them apart actually matters.

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