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At Paradise Outfitters, we take great pride in putting our clients on the best Marlin fishing the Gulf of Mexico has to offer. Captains Hunter Cabllero, Scott Leger, and Rene Luminais are knowledgeable, experienced, and honed in on the Marlin bite year round. On most charter fishing trips for Marlin out of Venice, LA – multiple bites are common as these pelagic predators hang near current rips and large schools of tuna which can be found year round near underwater structure.
Marlin fishing is a challenging endeavor which is a true test of an anglers skill and ability. It’s common to catch blue and white marlin while fishing in Venice, LA with specimens ranging from 60 pounds to 400 pounds.
Blue Marlin are among some of the most majestic fish in the ocean. It’s name is believed to have derived from its resemblance to a sailor’s marlinespike, although they are commonly referred to as “The Man in the Blue Suit”. They are large, lightning fast, powerful, and graceful swimmers with tremendous acrobatic capability – making them one of the most challenging and satisfying catches in the sea.
Blue marlin are especially prominent in the Gulf of Mexico. They can reach lengths of 17 feet, and can swim at speeds up to 70 miles per hour! Male specimens usually max out at about 300 pounds, while females have been known to get larger than 2,000 pounds! Not much is known about their breeding habits, but we do know that marlins make long migrations while feeding on squid, blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and frigate mackerel.
If you’re looking for a sport fishing challenge, marlin is by far the most intense and exhilarating pelagic species to target. These incredibly powerful fish can grow to weights over one thousand pounds and are relentless when hooked with stand up tackle. To be hooked to a blue marlin running full steam towards the horizon is one of the greatest thrills in the world of sportfishing – nothing compares to the ferocity of that first run. Marlin hooked in the Gulf of Mexico requires an angler to fight the fish for hours before line can be gained. Bringing one of these fish boatside is an achievement honor, and common occurrence when fishing with Paradise Outfitters.
Casting topwater lures to pelagic fish that are aggressively feeding on the surface is an unparalleled thrill in the world of sportfishing. Predatory fish that actively feed on surface baits are ferociously powerful and often attracted to the “injured” motion a lure can present when skipping across the surface. This fishing style requires long-distance casting and rapid retrieval of large lures – making use of heavy-duty spinning tackle which can withstand immense pressure. Many pelagic species caught at the surface can be extremely acrobatic once hooked. Watching a “fired up” fish charge a surface lure is an incredible experience that should not be missed.
The traditional style of creating a “chum line” of chunk baits is commonly used around oil rigs, pumping stations, and drillships to attract a variety of pelagic species. Essentially, this is essentially “handlining” for deep water species, which requires the angler to pull 3 to 4-foot segments of line off the reel at a time, allowing the rigged bait to float with the current. This technique requires some practice but is incredibly effective when fish are feeding in the top level of the water column. Once a fish strikes the bait, the angler must “lock-up” the drag smoothly and swiftly, in order to allow a circle hook to set. With patience and dedication, almost any angler can master this technique.
Tried and true, trolling for pelagic species requires deploying artificial or rigged dead baits and dragging them behind the boat at varying speeds. This can be a highly effective method for enticing large pelagic predators to bite and is usually employed during specific weather conditions or fishing around oil rigs or pumping stations. Occasionally, slow trolling live baits that are specially bridled can produce bites when tunas do not actively feed.
This is the preferred method for catching larger pelagic species. When fishing out of Venice, LA – mullet, pogies, threadfin herring, hardtails, and small tunas are exceptional live baits if properly rigged. There is no more effective technique to entice a large pelagic fish to feed than by presenting a frisky live bait at the surface. Catching live bait, depending on the time of year, can be a “must” before heading offshore. Live bait is typically caught by throwing a cast net or by using a sabiki rig. You will never find yourself in a situation where having live bait isn’t a decisive advantage when targeting pelagic species.
The most physically demanding of all fishing techniques, this requires the use of heavy lead jigs that are specifically designed to sink fast and reach fish several hundred feet down. The angler must rapidly retrieve the jig while creating a “fluttering” motion with the rod – this mimics the behavior of a baitfish fleeing to the surface. Vertical Jigging can be the most effective method for catching fish that are holding tight to structure, deep beneath the waves.
These “kings” of the open ocean can be found patrolling deep water floating oil rigs or grass lines in search of food.These “kings” of the open ocean can be found patrolling deep water floating oil rigs or grass lines in search of food.
Marlin can be caught year round, but the summer and fall months are considered the best time of year.
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