Marlin fishing
Believe it or not, that is me. I caught this fish on the Little G in route to Cabo on a nine day trip. I was the helmsman every night for a nine hour shift. I still had the strength to wrestle this monster on the boat to land my first Marlin. It was a very memorable trip and I can PERSONALLY recommend the Little G, Multi Day Trips, into Mexican Waters. These trips run way later than the Socal Fishing season, and the further south you go, the more Marlin you will find. Dorado too. They seem to like to run together. In this video you see the nicest fish I ever caught.
They are common in the waters off San Diego, but during the fall and early winter months we see them on the surface relatively often. If we do, we make a B-LINE at FLANK speed directly for it and throw out the marlin rigs or the biggest piece of live bait we have. Also, on the way out and the way home we are trolling a giant Marlin lure at 12 knots behind the boat, just in case we get lucky!
Hooking a Marlin while fishing off the coast of San Diego or Mexico would be one of the most memorable events in an anglers career. Marlin are incredibly fast swimmers, strong and with great stamina, and will probably be the biggest fish you have ever hooked. Swimming at up to 50 miles per hour, the Striped Marlin is among the top three fastest fish in the world. You would be very surprised out how fast you can run out of line with a Blue Marlin hookup... no matter what the test of the line, it has great speed, and weight and strength to back it up.
Once you get one on the line you will find out just how hard this fish can fight. Assuming you hold on long enough to get it to the surface you will witness airborne tactics designed to throw your hook, as the fish will angrily shake its head while in the air. It is the fight of your life.
There is a very real chance that you will hook up on a Marlin while you out there. They are common in the waters off San Diego, during the fall-winter months we see them on the surface relatively often. If we do, we make a B-LINE at FLANK speed directly for it and throw out the marlin rigs or the biggest piece of live bait we have. Also, on the way out and the way home we are trolling a giant Marlin lure at 12 knots behind the boat, just in case we get lucky!
Hooking a Marlin while fishing off the coast of San Diego or Mexico would be one of the most memorable events in an anglers career. Marlin are incredibly fast swimmers, strong and with great stamina, and will probably be the biggest fish you have ever hooked. Swimming at up to 50 miles per hour, the Striped Marlin is among the top three fastest fish in the world. You would be very surprised out how fast you can run out of line with a Blue Marlin hookup... no matter what the test of the line, it has great speed, and weight and strength to back it up.
Once you get one on the line you will find out just how hard this fish can fight. Assuming you hold on long enough to get it to the surface you will witness airborne tactics designed to throw your hook, as the fish will angrily shake its head while in the air. It is the fight of your life.
We make memories
that you can keep!
that you can keep!
On September 4th this giant blue Marlin was caught on the middle banks outside of San Diego, Ca. The fish was caught on the troll at 12 knots with a Marlin lure being towed behind the boat. It was a blind strike, no visual, no meter mark. The ensuing battle lasted more than 2 hours with the vessel Atun finally coming out on top.
Captain Clinton Dunn
Deckhand Mark Terry
36 Miles due west of Point Loma
How we Fish for Marlin
Fishing for Marlin With Artificial Lures
We often travel for many hours at a speed of about 12 knots. At that time we are running large, heavy, fast running Marlin lures. The sole reason we run these larger lures, is in the hopes that we will visually spot or sonar mark the fish and guide our lure to him. This tactic seems to be the most productive, although many would argue the point.
Fishing for Marlin with Live Bait
You should use live bait only when the fishing where fish congregate, such as underwater ridges, banks, and shelves. Live bait can be a good alternative to artificial lures if you’re within visual range and you have the confidence to cast accurately to land within visual range of the fish when it hits the water. If you hit your mark, you will be hooked up. The Marlin has excellent vision and even if you get close, the fish will make a strait line for your bait, and allow you to see his fin as he swims the final distance to his target.
Use the Best Quality Tackle
Our vessels provide ONLY the best quality, highly maintained, Marlin-ready gear. New line, new drag, correct rigging, proper lures, and the knowledge to use them effectively, to PUT YOUR MARLIN on the deck!
The Blue Marlin tends to dive deeper and tire quicker than other Marlin. However, it is a powerful and aggressive fighter that can run hard and long, leaping high in the air in amazing displays of acrobatics.
Females can weigh up to four times the amount of males, which rarely exceed 300 lb. Some experts consider Blue Marlin living in the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans to be two distinct species, although this point of view is contended. It does seem to be the case that Marlin in the Pacific ocean tend to be larger than those in the Atlantic, though.
How to Recognize Blue Marlin
The telltale signs of a Blue Marlin are as follows:
A pointed front dorsal fin that is never as high as the maximum body depth (read, the hairdo is never longer than the fish is fat).
Pectoral (side) fins aren’t rigid, but can be folded back against the body.
A cobalt blue back that fades to white. It made have pale blue stripes that always fade after death.
The overall body shape is cylindrical.
‘Stripes’ are found in the Pacific and Indian oceans, usually in colder waters than Black or Blue Marlin. They migrate by season, moving towards the equator in the winter and away from it in the warm season.
Famous for their fighting ability, Striped Marlin have a reputation of spending more time in the air than in the water once they’ve been hooked. They are known for long runs and tail walks, as well as ‘greyhounding’ across the surface in a series of leaps and bounds.
How to Recognize a Striped Marlin:
The signature traits of a Striped Marlin are as follows:
A pointed dorsal fin that can be taller than its body depth.
Visible pale blue stripes that remain even after death.
A thinner, more compressed body shape.
Flexible, pointed pectoral fins.
