Special delivery: Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter. Subscribe to Marlin magazine and get a year of highly collectible, keepsake editions – plus access to the digital edition and archives.
Capt. Newt Cagle, Cracker, Mount Pleasant Carolina
When first asked this question, I needed some clarification. Are we talking about which species is more challenging to catch once hooked or which is more challenging to target? If just comparing the fight, I’d say a black marlin is an easier fish to catch. They seem to be more acrobatic and respond better to certain boat-driving techniques than blue marlin. As far as a fish to target, though, black marlin tend to be a more difficult species. They live near structure and sometimes not necessarily in clean water. Black marlin also don’t seem to respond to the bait-and-switch methods as well as blues are known to.
Bill Boyce, Fish Biologist, TV Host, Santa Clarita, California
In terms of distribution, blue marlin are far more accessible to the world’s anglers. Black marlin are found in more-isolated pockets that are often challenging to get to. Blue marlin are typically caught while trolling lures and covering ground, increasing the chances of encountering one. Most techniques for black marlin involve live-baiting. Crews must locate baits, rig them properly, and fish them without getting harassed by sharks or dolphins. So to me, black marlin are the tougher adversary, thanks to their relatively limited distribution and the fact that it is more difficult to target them with regularity.
Read More: The Differences Between Black and Blue Marlin.
Laura Russell, Hit ‘N Run, Palm Beach, Florida
Comparing the difficulty in catching blue versus black marlin largely depends on factors like how the fish is hooked, boat handling and their temperament, which I find can vary drastically even between the same species. Blue marlin often put up prolonged, endurance-based fights with deepwater runs, requiring sustained angling effort. Black marlin tend to have explosive, short bursts of strength but fight less consistently. While I’ve had quick releases and long, grinding fights with each, I’ve found that boat maneuvering and hook placement play a bigger role in determining difficulty than the species itself. Regardless, I love catching both, as every fish presents a unique challenge.
Capt. Shawn Wallace, Camargue, Canavieiras, Brazil
Black marlin have set pectoral fins and a big head, making for one tough son of a bitch! Blue marlin are more streamlined, so the two species fight differently. Black marlin in Australia typically head east when hooked, and it can take six hours to get a tough fish to the boat, even with 130s and 90 pounds of drag. We call blue marlin screaming blues since they often pull 500 to 800 meters on the first run. Brazil’s biggest blues will first run down-sea and then into the current. The fight usually takes 2 1/2 hours. So I’d say big blacks fight harder than big blues, and are therefore more challenging.
