Marlin Fishing

The waters South of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket will be your Northern most shot at one of the World’s greatest game fish. Some say white marlin, which can reach a weight of close to 200 lbs. and more than 9 ft. in length, are the perfect game fish. Fast, powerful, and very acrobatic the white marlin will put on a show that will take your breath away.  These fish follow the warm waters that spill out of the canyons in search of bait. White marlin appear to be sight-oriented, daytime feeders.  They often can be found near fronts, the edges between water bodies of differing temperatures or salinities. These confluences produce nutrient-rich upwellings, drawing baitfish, and thus are successful feeding areas for the white marlin and other predatory fishes. White marlins do not tend to travel in schools, but are usually observed swimming alone or in pairs. While swimming they commonly display a technique known as “tailing,” in which only the dorsal lobe of the caudal fin is visible above the surface of the water. It is not uncommon to cast a live scup or eel with spinning gear to a fining white marlin that’s sunning itself here in the Northeast. An important prey item for white marlin is squid. Bony fishes, especially dolphins, blue runner, ballyhoo, mackerels, flying fish, and bonito are also commonly eaten. Herring, which is abundant along the North Atlantic coast, is commonly consumed in the region. Much of the white marlin’s distribution coincides with that of the yellowfin tuna and the blue marlin. Dolphins, Dorado or Mahi Mahi as they are sometimes referred to, are often found on these trips and are a tasty and fun bonus for anglers.  Your chances for a White Marlin are best from mid August to mid September.  Read more about fishing for white marlin at GoFISHn.

Technique

Captain Eric typically fishes for them by trolling with rigged ballyhoo in the warm water eddies that spin off the Gulf Stream which turns East, South of Nantucket. Read more about white marlin fishing techniques at GoFISHn.

Limit

Hairball Charters adheres to the Massachusetts recreational fishing limit on white marlin: 62″ minimum length, 1 fish limit.

Call 617-755-1847 to book your Cape Cod fishing charter today