Finest Areas For Black Marlin Charters

The prized game fish, Makaira Indica, or the Black Marlin, dwells in the Indo-Pacific Oceans in surface waters near the coast. It is one of the fastest-moving fish on earth (50 miles per hour) and comes from the Order, Perciformes. The average weight of M. Indica that are routinely caught on Black Marlin Charters is around three quarters of a metric ton (750 kilograms) or roughly 1700 pounds. Heftier specimens have been reported.

Makaira

As with other genera of Order Perciformes, Makaira appears on the Greenpeace seafood red list. This list documents species that have a high likelihood of being harvested from supplies that are unsustainable. This is why the modern sport fisherman will pause only to photograph their prize and then return it to the sea from whence it emerged. Other species in the same family, Istiophoridae, include the Japanese White Marlin as well as the Hawaiian Silver Marlin.

Old Salt

In the novel, ‘The Old Man and the Sea’, written by Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), old salt, Santiago, finally manages to break a 12-week dry spell by hooking a member of Makaira. The rest of the novel goes on to describe the hero’s legendary battle against the combined forces of the fierce, resolute beast and Mother Nature.

Color

Despite its descriptive name, M. Indica is not actually black but white and deep blue. It’s tail fins and inflexible pectoral fins, however, are black. Its cross section is more oval than round, unlike its blue cousin, and its ventral fins are rarely longer than 12 inches, no matter how big the fish itself is. It likes warm tropical and subtropical waters near coastland. Occasionally it makes an appearance as far south as Brazil and as far north as the Lesser Antilles.

Eastern Coast Of Australia

Some of the best charter fishing tours for M. Indica originate off the eastern coast of Australia. Nearly three quarters of all marlin of more than one ton in weight are caught over a 150 mile-long stretch of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns. This is roughly twice the amount caught around Brazil, Portugal and Hawaii combined.

Game Fish

The Gold Coast at Brisbane is a very popular gathering place for light tackle enthusiasts seeking Makaira and other game fish. Here they can trawl for Spanish Mackerel, Mia, Wahoo and others. Bottom fishers, otherwise known as ‘jiggers’, come here to find Kingfish, Cobia, Peal Perch and Snapper.

Port Stephens

Port Stephens is more than twice the size of Sydney Harbor. With its beautiful scenery, glassy clear waters and golden shoreline, it is a world-class focus for Black Marlin Fishing. Tours from this area depart during the month of January through April.