How To Catch Any Fish
  How To Catch Any Fish
  • Home
  • Species Guides
    • Saltwater Fish >
      • Barracuda >
        • Great Barracuda
        • Pacific Barracuda
      • Barramundi
      • Bass >
        • Calico Bass
        • Sand Bass
        • Spotted Bay Bass
        • White Sea Bass
      • Billfish >
        • Black Marlin
        • Blue Marlin
        • Pacific Sailfish
        • Striped Marlin
      • Black Drum
      • Bonefish
      • Groupers >
        • Broomtail Grouper
        • Goliath Grouper
        • Leopard Grouper
        • Tropical Cods
      • California Sheepshead
      • Dorado
      • Emperor Fishes
      • Giant Needlefish
      • Halibut (California)
      • Halibut (Pacific)
      • Lingcod
      • Mackerels >
        • Cero Mackerel
        • King Mackerel
        • Pacific Sierra
      • Napoleon Wrasse
      • Pink Salmon
      • Redfish
      • Rockfish
      • Snappers >
        • Barred Pargo
        • Golden Snapper (Fingermark)
        • Green Jobfish
        • Mullet Snapper
        • Mutton Snapper
        • Pacific Cubera Snapper
        • Red Bass
        • Yellow Snapper
        • Yellowtail Snapper
      • Sheepshead
      • Silver Salmon
      • Snook
      • Speckled Trout
      • Tarpon
      • Trevallies and Jacks >
        • African Pompano
        • Amberjack
        • Blacktip Trevally
        • Bluefin Trevally
        • Brassy Trevally
        • California Yellowtail
        • Giant Trevally
        • Jack Crevalle
        • Longnose Trevally
        • Queenfish
        • Rainbow Runner
        • Roosterfish
      • Tuna >
        • Albacore
        • Bonito
        • Dogtooth Tuna
        • Skipjack Tuna
        • Yellowfin Tuna
      • Wahoo
      • Yelloweye Rockfish
    • Freshwater Fish >
      • African Tigerfish
      • Arctic Grayling
      • Arowana (South American)
      • Bass >
        • Hybrid Striped Bass
        • Largemouth Bass
        • Peacock Bass
        • Rainbow Bass
        • Smallmouth Bass
        • Striped Bass
        • White Bass
      • Catfish >
        • Blue Catfish
        • Channel Catfish
        • Redtail Catfish
        • Suribim Catfish
        • Vundu Catfish
      • Clown Knifefish (Featherback)
      • Dolly Varden
      • Jacunda
      • Jaguar Cichlid
      • Machaca
      • Muskellunge
      • Panfish >
        • Bluegill
        • Crappie
        • Central American Cichlids
      • Payara
      • Pike
      • Piranha
      • Sardinata
      • Sheefish
      • Trout >
        • Brown Trout
        • Lake Trout
        • Rainbow Trout
      • Walleye
      • White Sturgeon
      • Wolf Fish
  • Tackle Guide
    • Lure Reviews >
      • Bomber Fat Free Shad
      • Heddon Super Spook
      • Heru Bobara Lure Review
      • Heru Cubera Popper
      • Sebile Stick Shadd
      • Surface Iron Review
      • Yo Zuri Crystal Minnow Review
    • Recommended Baitcasting Reels
    • Recommended Spinning Reels
    • Recommended Saltwater Conventional Reels
    • Recommended Freshwater Rods
    • Recommended Saltwater Rods
    • Recommended Line and Leaders
    • Recommended Terminal Tackle
    • Recommended Lodges and Guides
    • Fishing Apparel
  • Fishing Advice
    • Gear Selection
    • Fishing Knots
    • How to Release Fish
    • Lure Fishing
    • Bait Fishing
    • Tackle Tips
    • Pound for Pound Fight Ratings
    • Miscellaneous Tips
    • Seasickness
    • Getting Kids Into Fishing
    • California Party Boat Fishing
    • Float Tube Fishing
    • Fishing Travel Tips
    • Preventing Insect Bites
    • Spear Fishing Link
  • Trip Reports
    • US and Canada >
      • God's Lake Canada - Pike, Trout, and more
      • Colorado Trouting
      • Admiralty Island, Alaska Lings and Things
      • Lake Tawakoni - Catfish and Stripers
      • Shallow Water Bull Redfish - Louisiana
      • Lake O the Pines Texas Crappie
      • Cocodrie Louisiana Marshes
      • Alaska Sportsman's Lodge - Rainbows, Salmon, and Bears
      • South Florida Freshwater Exotics
      • Aniak River, Alaska - Trout, Salmon, Sheefish
      • Calcasieu and Venice Louisiana - Redfish and Trout
      • Southern California - A Summer of Party Boat Fishing
      • White River Arkansas - Brown Trout
      • Dry Tortugas, Florida - Massive Reef Variety
      • Boca Grande - Goliaths and Much More
      • Hawk Lake Ontario - Bass, Pike Walleye
    • Central America >
      • Quepos Marlin and Roosterfish
      • Drake Bay, Costa Rica - Inshore Quick Trip
      • Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica and Punta Burica, Panama - Offshore and Inshore
      • Osa Peninsula Costa Rica - Inshore Pargo and Roosters
      • San Quintin, Mexico - Yellowtail and Calico Bass
      • Cebaco Bay, Panama - Inshore Popping and Jigging
      • Rio Indio Nicaragua - Tarpon, Rainbow Bass, and More
      • Lake Agua Milpa Mexico - Family Bass Trip
      • Puerto Vallarta - Marlin, Mahi, Tuna, Pargo
      • Puerto Vallarta - Big Offshore Giants and Pargo
      • San Quintin, Mexico - White Seabass and Barracuda
      • Puerto Vallarta - Roosterfish Mania and Freshwater Bass
      • Puerto Vallarta - Inshore/Offshore Slam
      • Puerto Vallarta - Summer Inshore Monsters
      • San Evaristo Mexico - Baja Inshore Variety
      • Rio Parismina, Costa Rica - Tarpon
      • Mariato Panama Fall Giants
      • Mariato, Panama Inshore Bonanza
      • Mariato, Panama - Wind and Tuna
    • South America >
      • Colombia - Amazon Peacocks and Payara
      • Trinidad Tarpon Madness
      • Colombia Pacific Coast
      • Amazon Bolivia - Big Payara and Variety
      • Amazon, Brazil - Peacock Bass, Wolffish, and Catfish
      • Amazon Brazil - Peacock Bass and Exotics
    • Australia and the Pacific >
      • Burdekin, Australia - Big Barramundi and Reef Variety
      • Great Barrier Reef Australia - Insane Reef Variety
      • Aitutaki, Cook Islands - Giant Trevally Popping and Napoleon Wrasse
      • New Caledonia - Popping Giant Trevally
      • Marshall Islands- Remote Reef Exotics
    • Africa and the Middle East >
      • Tanzania Offshore
      • Tanzanian Tigerfish
      • Oman GTs and Inshore Variety
  • About/Contact
  • Videos
    • How To Videos
  • Best Places to Fish
    • Aitutaki
    • Amazon
    • Belize
    • Bolivia
    • California
    • Costa Rica
    • Florida
    • Great Barrier Reef
    • Mexico Fishing - Baja
    • Panama
    • Puerto Rico
    • Puerto Vallarta
  • Trophy Gallery
Striped Marlin
Tetrapturus audax
HOME
Other Species

Striped Marlin Description

These are a great marlin to catch because they provide a good fight on the right gear but don’t take forever to land like their cousins the Black Marlin and Blue Marlin.  They are also sometimes found in high concentrations so you have a shot at landing several in a day if everything lines up right.

The Striped Marlin displays beautiful colors when excited and jumps repeatedly when hooked.  They are usually released.  They average about 90-130lbs, with anything over 150lbs being a nice size fish in most places although they can exceed 400lbs in New Zealand.  The most well known fisheries for them are Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and some parts of New Zealand.  Apparently there is also a significant population in the Galapagos islands off of Ecuador.

Striped Marlin Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 7.5 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale


Striped Marlin are strong fighters that usually make some big leaps and then settle in for some runs.  They can be landed on relatively light tackle since they don't live anywhere near structure, but it can take a while.

Striped Marlin Culinary Rating - Medium

I have released all of the Striped Marlin I have caught, but I have heard they are pretty good to eat.  That makes sense, since Black and Blue Marlin are both pretty tasty.

Striped Marlin Tackle

I have used a medium weight conventional setup.  If trolling I would use a 65lb braid setup, and if pitching a bait I would use a 50lb braid setup.  This usually allows for a short but fun fight and a healthy release.  A Shimano Trinidad 30 reel or a Daiwa Saltiga spinning reel would be good choices.  Click here for these and other recommended tackle.

Striped Marlin Techniques

Striped Marlin are usually located by trolling.  Their dorsal fin and/or bill can often be seen cutting through the water behind the trolled bait or lure, making for an exciting visual.  While trolling, you should scan the water for fish as they often sun themselves near the surface.  When a fish is spotted you can cast a bait in front of them and hope they decide to eat it.

Striped Marlin Lures

Most people troll rubber skirted lures when searching for Striped Marlin.  I have had good success using Zukers trolling lures in the 12” size. 

Striped Marlin Baits

Larger bait fish such as Pacific Mackerel can be used successfully for Striped Marlin.  You can wait until you see one eyeing your trolling lures and then drop a bait back.  Always have a casting bait handy in case a fish is spotted on the surface sunning itself.  Use circle hooks for a better hookup and better release.

Where to get the big Striped Marlin

The biggest ones are in New Zealand although I have never fished for them there.  The Cabo area of Baja sometimes sees huge numbers of these fish in the fall into the winter.  They migrate but if they are in the area some boats make some nice double digit scores.

Other Striped Marlin Resources

The above barely scratches the surface on how to catch Striped Marlin.  If you want to catch one, this is a good place to try:  www.rancholeonero.com.  Probably one of the cheapest good options for marlin.