Lee County Fishing Guides in One Place! Find Them All Here!

**Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans)**
Description: color cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; dorsal fin and pointed at front end; pectoral fin and anal fin pointed; lateral line reticulated (interwoven like a net), difficult to see in large specimens; no dark spots on dorsal fin; body covered with embedded scales ending in one or two sharp points. Similar fish: white marlin, T. albidus (white has rounded dorsal at front end, rounded tip of pectoral and anal fins, and spots on dorsal fin).
Where found: OFFSHORE, a blue water fish. Size: largest of the Atlantic marlins, common to 11 feet, known to exceed 2,000 pounds.	Remarks: all of trophy size are females; males do not exceed 300 pounds; make trans-Atlantic migrations; spawning procedures unknown; feeds on squid and pelagic fishes, including blackfin tuna and frigate mackerel. Florida record 980 lbs., 8 ozs.

**Longbill Spearfish (Tetrapturus pfluegeri)**
Description: color of body dark blue, shading to silvery, white underneath; dorsal fin bluish, others brown-black; two dorsal fins, the first lengthy, its front forming a peak; two anal fins, the anus well in front of the first; upper jaw prolonged into spear, its cross section round. Similar fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus albidus.
Where found: OFFSHORE in deep water. Size: relatively small species.	Remarks: uncommon; available data indicate that the spearfish matures at 2 years of age, and rarely lives past 4 to 5 years; they are pelagic, and feed at or near the surface, mainly on fishes and squid; named for Al Pflueger, Sr., founder of Pflueger Taxidermy. Florida record 61 lbs., 8 ozs.

**Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)**
Description: color dark blue on top, brown-blue laterally, silvery white underbelly; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; first dorsal greatly enlarged in the form of a sail, with many black spots, its front squared off, highest at its midpoint; pelvic fins very narrow, reaching almost to the anus; body covered with imbedded scales, blunt at end; lateral line curved over pectoral, then straight to base of tail. Similar fish: white marlin, T. albidus; young blue marlin, M. nigricans (spectacular sail-like dorsal of sailfish is most notable difference).
Where found: OFFSHORE species, in south Florida associated with waters near the Gulf Stream; off the Panhandle near the 100-fathom line. Size: common to 7 feet.	Remarks: rapid growing species, reaching 4 to 5 feet in a single year; swims at speeds up to 50 knots; feeds on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic fishes and squid. Florida record 116 lbs.

**White Marlin (Tetrapterus albidus)**
Description: color of body dark blue to chocolate brown, shading to silvery white underbelly; noticeable spots on dorsal fin; upper jaw elongated in shape of spear; body covered with imbedded scales with a single sharp point; tips of first dorsal, pectoral, and fist anal fins rounded; lateral line curved above pectoral fin, then going in straight line to base of tail. Similar fish: blue marlin, M. nigricans.
Where found: OFFSHORE, a blue water fish. Size: common to 8 feet.	Remarks: uses its bill to stun fast-moving fishes, then turns to consume them; spawning procedures unknown; ranges throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean; feeds on squid and pelagic fishes. Florida record 161 lbs.