The striped marlin is a small species of marlin found in tropical to temperate Indo-Pacific oceans not far from the surface. It is seasonally migratory, moving toward the equator during the cold season and away again during the warm season. It weighs in around 420 lb and a length of 13.8 ft. The striped marlin is a predator that hunts during the day in the top 100 metres or so of the water column, often near the surface. One of their chief prey is sardines.
It has an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long, rigid dorsal fin which extends forward to form a crest. This dorsal fin is the most distinguishing characteristic, which normally equals or exceeds the greatest body depth. Even in the largest specimens this fin is at least equal to 90 percent of the body depth. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike. Marlins are fast swimmers, reaching speeds of about 50 mph.
The Striped Marlin is highly predatory, feeding extensively on pilchards, anchovies, mackerel, sauries, flying fish, squid, and whatever is abundant. It is well known for its fighting ability and has the reputation of spending more time in the air than in the water after it is hooked. In addition to long runs and tail walks, it will “greyhound” across the surface, making up to a dozen or more long, graceful leaps. It can be caught fairly close to shore, and lacking the size and weight of the blue marlin or the black marlin, it is more acrobatically inclined. Fishing methods include trolling whole fish, strip baits, or lures; also live bait fishing
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