Oct 2024
Blue Marlin
Marlin azul
Makaira nigricans · Istiophoridae
- Category
- Billfish
- Found in
- Pacific Baja, Sea of Cortez, Pacific Mainland, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean
- IUCN status
- Vulnerable
- Mexico fish counts
- 193 counted, 2 so far in 2026
About Blue Marlin in Mexico
How to recognize it
A mature blue marlin is a heavy, deep-bodied fish with a cobalt back, a pale belly and pale-blue vertical bars that show strongly when it is lit up. Its pectoral fins fold flat against the body, which separates it from the black marlin, and its first dorsal fin is lower and more swept-back than a striped marlin's. Females grow far larger than males, so any truly huge fish is almost always a female.
Where and when in Mexico
Known as marlin azul, it is the trophy species of the Los Cabos summer and fall, when warm blue water pushes up against the tip of the peninsula and the offshore banks. The fall tournament season at Cabo San Lucas is built largely around it. Mexico Fish Reports' counts show it as a steady but limited catch for Cabo San Lucas boats over two decades, far outnumbered there by striped marlin. On the mainland it shows up off Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and points south in the warm months, and on the Caribbean side off Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, mostly spring into summer.
How it's fished
Cabo cruisers usually troll a spread of large skirted lures at speed, then switch to live or dead bait when a fish is raised or when skipjack can be caught on the grounds. Tackle in the 50- to 130-pound range is normal.
Good to know
Like all billfish in Mexico, it is reserved for sportfishing. Release is the norm unless a tournament fish is being weighed.
Fishing rules in Mexico
- Reserved for sportfishing within 50 nautical miles of the coast
- 1 per angler per day (picudos)
Source: LGPAS Art. 68; NOM-017-PESC-1994 §4.9.1 (2013 mod.). Rules change; confirm current limits, seasons and permits with CONAPESCA before you fish.
Where Blue Marlin are caught in Mexico
- Cabo San Lucas 193 counted · last Jul 2026
Fish counts by year
| Year | Kept | Released | Trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 2024 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 | 9 | 8 |
| 2018 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 2013 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
| 2010 | 7 | 14 | 15 |
| 2009 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 2008 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
From fish counts posted by the Mexican landings on Mexico Fish Reports. Years with no posted counts are not shown.
Boats catching Blue Marlin (2025–2026)
- El Budster Cabo San Lucas 4 counted on 4 trips
- El Budster Pride Cabo San Lucas 4 counted on 4 trips
Blue Marlin photos from Mexico
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sportfishing
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sportfishing
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sportfishing
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sportfishing
Photo: Courtesy of El Budster Sportfishing
Photo: Courtesy of Master Baiter's
Recent Blue Marlin reports
Fishing on the EL BUDSTER PRIDE. The JUAN PAULO MORALES´S party, CAUGHT AND RELEASED ONE 200 LB. BLUE MARLIN. The fish was caught 14 to 16 miles from the coast…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER. Dan Sack and Darcy Jahn, CAUGHT AND RELEASED ONE 250LB. BLUE MARLIN. The fish was caught on the 11-50 Reef 14 to 16 miles from…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER PRIDE. The Rigo Rodriguez’s party, CAUGHT AND RELEASED ONE 200 LB. BLUE MARLIN. They also caught ONE 10 LB. DORADO and TWO YELLOWFIN TUNA. The…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER. Jeffrey Wallace and Eric Verhault, caught and released ONE 140LB. BLUE MARLIN. The fish was caught 14 to 16 miles from the coast of Cabo…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER PRIDE. William and Benjamin Soo, caught and released ONE 120LB.. STRIPED MARLIN and ONE 160LB BLUE MARLIN. They also caught TWO 25LB. DORADOS. The fish…
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Fishing on the EL BUDSTER PRIDE. Elizabeth and Allan Mccallum, from WARETOWN, NEW JERSEY, caught and released 190 LB. BLUE MARLIN. They also caught FOUR YELLOWFIN TUNAS and SEVEN DORADOS.…
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