Hatchet marlin?

Roundscale spearfish like this one caught by the Fistfull out of Pirates Cove Marina in Manteo, are often mistaken for a white marlin.

Capt. Fin Gaddy of the Qualifier out of Oregon Inlet said nobody knows how many white marlin are really caught because many were possibly spearfish. The two species are almost identical, except for the greater distance between the vent and the bottom (anal) fin.

The hatchet marlin was a mystery for years; it has been identified as the roundscale spearfish, previously thought restricted to the Mediterranean. Despite their near identical appearance, genetics indicate they are only distantly related to white marlin. Unlike white marlin, roundscale spearfish may “light up” with dark bars on a neon body, but the pattern quickly disappears.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply