Atlantic blue marlin
Makaira nigricans
- Usual depth0–60 m
- Water temperature23–29 °C
- Best monthsOctober
- How commonCommon
Photo credit: (c) Michel Frisch, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michel Frisch · CC BY · iNaturalist
About this species
The Atlantic blue marlin is a species of marlin endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is closely related to, and usually considered conspecific with, the Indo-Pacific blue marlin, then simply called blue marlin. Some authorities consider both species distinct. Blue marlin are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a bluewater fish that spends the majority of its life in the open sea far from land.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Atlantic blue 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: 22 records
- February: 27 records
- March: 22 records
- April: 17 records
- May: 32 records
- June: 18 records
- July: 15 records
- August: 20 records
- September: 9 records
- October: 79 records
- November: 35 records
- December: 18 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 0–60 m · Deepest record: 60 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 23–29 °C
Photos
(c) Michel Frisch, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michel Frisch · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Robin Fokker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Michel Frisch, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) vinicius_s_domingues, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Brian Oakes Haiti Hunter, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
Names and classification
- English
- Atlantic blue marlin, Blue marlin, Atlantic Blue Marlin, Billfish, Black marlin, blue marlin, Blue Marlin, Cuban Black Marlin, Marlin, Ocean Gar, Ocean Guard, Squadron
Names in 4 more languages
- German
- Atlantischer Blauer Marlin, Blauer marlin
- Spanish
- Aguja azul, Aguja azul del Atlantico, castero, marlin azul, marlin-azul, Marlín Azul, Marlin Negro, Merlin Rayado, Pez Zuncho, Picudo Blanco, Picudo Rollizo
- French
- Empereur, Empereur Bleu, Makaire bleu, makaire bleu de l'Atlantique, Makaire bleu de l'Atlantique, Marlin Bleu
- Japanese
- Aburakajiki, Kurokajiki, Tsun, クロカジキ
Other scientific names: Histiophorus herschelii, Maikaira nigricans, Makaira ampla, Makaira bermudae, Makaira ensis, Makaira herschelii, Makaira perezi, Orthocraeros bermudae, Tetrapturus amplus, Tetrapturus herschelii, Xiphias ensis
Similar species
- Indo-Pacific blue marlin
Makaira mazara
Black marlinIstiompax indica
Striped marlinKajikia audax
Indo-Pacific sailfishIstiophorus platypterus
Atlantic white marlinKajikia albida
- Atlantic sailfish
Istiophorus albicans
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).
- 3,667 open-data records from 1973 to 2021.
- Species data updated November 4, 2026.
Log what you see on your next dive
The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.