The White Marlin

The White Marlin belongs to the Istiophoridae family. White marlin is smaller than many other sword fish. The maximum length for white marlin is 280 cm and the maximum weight is about 82 kg. It has a lifespan of about 18 years. They spawn in summer. The best time to catch white marlin is from June to August.
This fish has a long, compressed, moderately fusiform body. The upper jaw forms a beak, with a round, long and thin cross-section compared to many other sword fish. Two dorsal fins and two anal fins are present. The first dorsal fin extends almost the entire length of the body, with a first lobe that shrinks abruptly towards the twelfth radius of the dorsal fin, then slowly. The maximum height of the large lobe is greater than the depth of the body. The second dorsal fin is inserted slightly behind the second anal fin. The first anal fin forms a strongly rounded lobe, while the second one approximately reflects the shape of the second dorsal fin above it. The pectoral fins are long and wide. The pelvic fins are inserted just below the origin of the pectoral fins. They are thin and equal to or slightly shorter than pectoral fins. The caudal peduncle contains a double keel. The body has a dense cover of bone scales. The lateral line is distinct and extends straight over the body, with only one curve on the origin of the dorsal fin. The body is dark blue above and silvery white below, with brown spots on the sides of the white part.