Black marlin
Istiompax indica
- Usual depth0–89 m
- Water temperature18–29 °C
- Best monthsNovember
- How commonCommon
Photo credit: (c) rcoliveira84, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
About this species
The black marlin is a species of marlin found in tropical and subtropical areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans approximately between 40 degrees North and 45 degrees South, while in some instances venturing into more temperate waters. Reaching lengths of over 4.5 m (15 ft), it is one of the largest marlins and also one of the largest bony fish. Marlins are among the fastest fish, but speeds are often exaggerated in popular media, such as reports of 129 km/h (80 mph). A 2016 study estimated maximum swimming speeds from muscle contraction times, which in turn limit the tail-beat frequency; the study suggested a theoretical upper limit for the black marlin's burst speed of 36 km/h (22 mph).
Text from the Wikipedia article “Black marlin”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 21 records
- February: 20 records
- March: 26 records
- April: 10 records
- May: 12 records
- June: 2 records
- July: 9 records
- August: 11 records
- September: 3 records
- October: 14 records
- November: 49 records
- December: 12 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 0–89 m · Deepest record: 89 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 18–29 °C
Photos
(c) Aiva Noringseth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Frank Dietze, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) James H, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
no rights reserved · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
Names and classification
- English
- Black marlin
Names in 3 more languages
- Spanish
- Aguja Negra, marlin negro, Picudo Negro
- French
- Makaire noir, Marlin Noir
- Japanese
- Kurokawa, Shirokajiki, シロカジキ
Other scientific names: Histiophorus brevirostris, Istiomax indicus, Istiompax australis, Istiompax brevirostris, Istiompax dombraini, Istiompax indicus, Istiompax marlina, Maikaira indica, Makaira australis, Makaira brevirostris, Makaira indica, Makaira indicus, Makaira malina, Makaira marhina, Makaira marlina, Makaira xantholineata, Malina malina, Marlina marlina, Tetrapterus australis, Tetrapturus australis, Tetrapturus brevirostris, Tetrapturus indicus
Similar species
Striped marlinKajikia audax
Atlantic blue marlinMakaira nigricans
Indo-Pacific sailfishIstiophorus platypterus
Atlantic white marlinKajikia albida
- Atlantic sailfish
Istiophorus albicans
- Indo-Pacific blue marlin
Makaira mazara
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 3,116 open-data records from 1880 to 2025.
- Species data updated November 3, 2026.
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