The fisherman's dream: fish marlin

The name "marlin" is common to fish, which belongs to the family of sailfish and perch group. In general, there are eleven species, the main ones being Atlantic blue, blue, black, striped and white. Fish marlin (photos of it are located below) can reach speeds of up to 130 km / h and is an active, ruthless predator. Among its distinctive characteristics is an elongated streamlined body and a head with a spear-shaped process. In size, it is the largest among all bone fish. Cases were recorded when the length of some individuals reached five meters. Fish marlin, regardless of the variety, is considered an elite trophy in sport fishing. In most cases, it is photographed and released. Therefore, the dishes from it belong to the category of delicacies, which are found mainly in expensive restaurants.

The most valuable in the whole family is the black marlin fish . Her body covers a lot of oblong small scales that are completely hidden under the skin. The dorsal fin consists of two differently sized parts. The main, the first fin has a long base with spiny rays, and the second - short and is closer to the tail. The pectoral fins differ in that they do not adhere to the body. The tail of this fish has a crescent shape and is formed by thin, but extremely durable lobes. Jaw teeth are poorly developed. The weight of the marlin of the black variety is also large. One day a specimen was caught with a record weight of 708 kilograms.

These fish are found mainly in the waters of the Indian, Pacific Oceans, in the Coral Sea, and also near the coast of Central America and Mexico. The predator feeds mainly on tuna and squid, and rarely on other large fish. At great depths, he practically does not hunt. Marlin fish spawns mainly in the equatorial regions of the tropical strip. This process lasts throughout the year. At the same time, the representatives of the family do not create large clusters and do not carry out systematic migrations. An interesting feature of this fish species is breathing. The fact is that while under water, they swim with a half-open mouth. Water, which at this time passes through their gills, enriches the blood with oxygen and the whole body.

Fish marlin, regardless of subspecies, has a high-value and very tasty meat. It is mainly caught by the longline method (similarly mined by tuna), or by harpoon. In sport fishing, spinning is used. However, the struggle with the giant, who got hooked, is often long and difficult. Fish is constantly trying to go deep, and sometimes even high jumps into the air. Among the avid fans of this sport should be noted Ernest Hemingway, who knew the habits of marlins and the subtleties of the process of their catching helped write a story "The Old Man and the Sea." Now everyone has the opportunity to see a stuffed animal of this fish, visiting the Natural History Museum, which is located in the Washington Smithsonian Institution.