Saltwater · Summer best off the Mid-Atlantic canyons, June to September; present year-round in warm Atlantic water
White Marlin
Kajikia albida
A fast, acrobatic Atlantic billfish and the star of the White Marlin Open at Ocean City, Maryland, the world's largest billfish tournament. It is a release-oriented fishery — most fish are tagged and let go. Rounded dorsal and anal fins separate it from blue marlin, but the roundscale spearfish is mixed in with this catch and is nearly identical.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Rounded tips on the dorsal and anal fins — the key separator from blue marlin
- Long, round bill and a tall first dorsal fin with dark spots
- Faint light-blue vertical bars that flash during the fight and fade fast
- White belly and a streamlined, relatively slender body for a marlin
- Roundscale spearfish is nearly identical and mixed in with this catch; it differs only in scale texture and small fin details most anglers cannot check at sea
Habits
- Roams warm blue water along canyon edges hunting squid, mackerel and small tunas
- Often feeds near the surface and jumps repeatedly when hooked
- Migrates north to Mid-Atlantic canyons in summer and south in winter
- Usually solitary or in loose pairs, sometimes over bait schools
- Mostly released alive in the US fishery, which is release-oriented
Distribution
Where to find them
- Baltimore and Norfolk Canyons off Ocean City, Maryland and Virginia
- Canyon edges off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
- Gulf Stream edge off Florida's Atlantic coast
Where they live
How to catch them
Trolling rigged ballyhoo on light tackle Boat
Rig: 20-30 lb class trolling outfit, circle hook in a rigged ballyhoo, trolled at 6-8 knots over canyon edges with teasers and dredges
Bait/lure: Rigged ballyhoo
Key tip: Fish clean temperature breaks on the canyon edges and be ready for a fast drop-back — whites often swipe before they eat.
Live-baiting and kite fishing on the Stream edge Boat
Rig: Live pilchard or goggle-eye under a kite or on a flat line, 30 lb tackle, circle hook through the bait's back, on the edge of the Gulf Stream
Bait/lure: Live pilchards and small baitfish
Key tip: Keep the bait at the surface where whites hunt, and let the fish eat before coming tight on the circle hook.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: 20-30 lb class offshore trolling or stand-up rod
- Line: 20-30 lb mono or braid with a wind-on leader
- Terminal: Circle hooks, dredges and teasers, 80-130 lb fluorocarbon leader
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 50-90 lb (23-41 kg); large fish to about 180 lb (82 kg)
On the table
Fair at best and rarely kept — this is a release-oriented fishery, so let them go.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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