Catching White Marlin in Puerto Rico
White marlin grow to 9 feet and 165 pounds.
White marlin are found in the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Argentina, including the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. White marlin inhabit the upper 40 to 100 feet of the water column in waters warmer than 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
White marlin feed near the surface during the day on Tuna, mackerels, herrings, dolphin and flying fish, as well as squids and crabs.
Many of the Blue and White Marlin we catch are around schools of Blackfin and Skipjack Tuna.
White Marlin spawn in the summer in deep oceanic waters with high surface temperatures. Both sexes reach sexual maturity at about 51 inches. They are fast-growing and live at least 6 years
Much of our knowledge in fishing for White Marlin comes from the amazing migration that happens off the Outer Banks in September. If your looking to catch a lot of white Marlin go to Oregon Inlet, NC in late August into September.
White Marlins eyesight is exceptional! They have very good low-light vision and like swordfish, they have a heating system to keep their eyes and brain warmer than the surrounding water
Where to catch White Marlin in Puerto Rico
White Marlin are open water opportunistic predators. Much like Blue Marlin they tend to congregate on deep water humps and most importantly food sources. Usually 100 fathoms is a must. These marlin are usually caught above the thermocline however they often dive deep and feed on squid and cuddle fish. According to satellite tag data taken by John Graves and Guy Harvey the average dive is 28 fathoms with a duration of 40 minutes. Many dives will exceed 55 fathoms and some will go well over 100 fathoms. The average dive in the mid-Atlantic will be about 21 fathoms in depth. That said surface baits, such as naked ballyhoo, have always caught White Marlin, however if we are Sword fishing we may just put a live bait or squid around the 28 fathom range ! We typically chase these White Marlin off the west from Combate to Isabela to Mayaguez.
White Marlin Tactics in Puerto Rico
We often target White Marlin much like we do when we fish for Sailfish but with some slight changes. Dredges are a must ! A combination of ballyhoo, naked and skirted, is always a good start to raising a Marlin. Unlike Sailfish they will attack larger hard Marlin lures too. Its always a good idea to put a Pakula or a Marlin Magic lure in the spread. A combination of dredges and teasers is how we fish when targeting White Marlin. Once teased up we can then switch to 30 pound lever drag set ups and spoon feed them. This is a really exciting time for us and the clients. By making a slow turn to the inside of the fish it presents the bait just out of the prop wash.
