Black marlin (Istiompax indica) is a saltwater species recorded in Taiwan, Malaysia, United States. It is found at depths of 0–915 m. The main season in Taiwan, Malaysia, United States runs winter.
Scientific name: Istiompax indica · Water: Saltwater · Season: Winter
Size: up to 465 cm
The black marlin is an oceanic billfish usually found in surface waters above the thermocline and often close to land masses, islands and coral reefs. It feeds on fishes, squid, cuttlefish, octopus and large decapod crustaceans, and where small tunas are abundant it takes mostly those. Its flesh is of good quality and is marketed refrigerated or frozen and prepared as sashimi in Japan. It ranges through subtropical and tropical waters between roughly 44 degrees north and 47 degrees south at about 15 to 30 degrees Celsius, and is oceanodromous; it occurs from the surface to about 915 m but usually within the top 200 m. In season in winter, it reaches about 465 cm fork length, commonly 380 cm, and up to about 750 kg. It supports commercial fisheries and is a game fish, selling in the highest price band. IUCN lists it as data deficient. Trophic level is 4.5, fishing vulnerability very high at 78 of 100, climate vulnerability very high at 76, and resilience low.
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