Southeast Florida Blue Marlin; Here's How It's Done

Along Florida’s Atlantic Coast, anglers venturing eastward from their local inlet typically have their eyes set on sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo, and kingfish. Among these familiar catches, blue marlin often remain a distant dream, mainly due to the limited catch reports and efforts directed toward targeting them in this area.

However, the month of May emerges as a promising opportunity, a time when the tides of fortune coincide with the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. What begins as a routine day of catching mahi on a vibrant weedline can suddenly take an exhilarating turn when a 200-pound blue marlin makes an unexpected appearance.

Traditionally, mahi tend to migrate closer to our coastline during the spring months, tracing the path along the edge of the Gulf Stream. This puts anglers in the Florida Straits, depths of around 200 to 800 feet, aligning with the 100-fathom curve, which is prime territory for blue marlin. While marlin are not commonly targeted by anglers in the offshore waters of Southeast Florida, the period just before and after the full moon in May and June presents the most favorable conditions of the entire year. However, before venturing offshore, thorough planning and preparation are essential to ensure the greatest chance of success.

In the northern Gulf of Mexico, offshore anglers make it a point to meticulously study satellite-based fishing forecasts before embarking on any fishing expedition. Surprisingly, many Southeast Florida anglers overlook this crucial step. This oversight is significant because satellite forecasting tools offer valuable insights, including a clear view of the Gulf Stream, as well as eddies and associated filaments of nutrient-rich water.

ROFFS has been a favorite for years. Another notable service is SiriusXM Fish Mapping, which delivers real-time updates of water temperature, clarity, color, chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen and more right to your MFD. It also combines all the oceanographic conditions known to attract specific types of gamefish; by accessing the menu and selecting “Billfish,” anglers can locate areas where optimal conditions for blue marlin are present.

In addition to utilizing forecasting tools, observing working birds, especially frigatebirds, serves as a dependable indicator of the presence of mahi and blackfin, and ultimately marlin. With experience, anglers can fine-tune open-array and dome radars to detect birds from miles away. Furthermore, many modern radar systems feature a “bird mode” that automatically adjusts settings for optimal detection.

For the elite crews of sportfishing, traveling the globe on luxurious game boats equipped with giant towers and enormous outriggers, hooking blue marlin is a routine affair. However, the majority of our fishing community operates in not-so-distant waters aboard outboard-powered center consoles. For these anglers, releasing a marlin is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Unfortunately, for many Florida anglers the encounter often results in tales of the one that got away.

Landing a blue marlin off the east coast of Florida is more common than many might imagine. The late Capt. Dennis Steele of Palm City, Florida, achieved an impressive feat by catching four blues at Push Button Hill, a mere 10 miles offshore Port St. Lucie Inlet.

During the 2021 Jimmy Johnson National Billfish Championship, team Jichi had an exceptional day 2 of fishing off Miami. They managed to catch and release 17 sailfish, along with a white and a blue marlin, all using live bait.

Then there was the time I was going swordfishing with Capt. Nick Stanczyk out of Bud N Mary’s Marina in Islamorada. While pushing off the dock we hollered to Nick’s dad on the BnM. “What are you going for today?” Nick asked. “I think I want to catch a blue marlin,” the elder Stanczyk shouted back. And indeed, he achieved his goal while trolling off Wood’s Wall, a sharp dip in the continental shelf about 20 miles off Key West.

Numerous tales of blue marlin encounters abound from Stuart to Key West. With the presence of juvenile dolphin, blackfin, and bonito year-round, there’s abundant forage for blue marlin in these waters. The savvy offshore angler is always prepared with appropriate tackle for such encounters, even while targeting schoolie mahi. With that said, a compact big-game reel such as the Shimano Tyrnos 30 loaded with braid backing and 30-pound monofilament mainline gives the typical 150- to 250-pound class fish encountered off the Southeast Florida coast plenty of room to run.

Among dedicated blue marlin anglers, sportfish yachts with diesel powerhouses are celebrated for their ability to raise fish through decreased transom deadrise (flatter wake) and better acoustics. Outboard center consoles lack the same level of on-the-water presence. If you’re ready to take on the challenge of catching a Florida marlin, ensure you have a spread designed for big mahi, baits and lures that deter small fish, and make sure to add some flair with a squid chain or dredge teaser, or both.

The broader beam and increased displacement of a sportfish boat creates a distinct wave pattern in its wake, contrasting sharply with the sleeker forms of narrow, lightweight center consoles. To amplify their wake, operators of open fishermen must push the throttle harder, consequently stirring up a more pronounced wash. The sportfish has the clear advantage of cleaner prop wash and larger, more defined wake. However, there are simple adjustments that can be made to clean the trolling alleys of outboard-powered vessels.

On platforms equipped with four outboard motors, a tried-and-true tactic involves running only the two inside motors, with some captains going so far as to completely trim the inactive motors out of the water. By having only two props turning in the water, the result is a notably reduced prop wash trailing behind the boat. Trim tabs should be raised fully, and the engine trim of the two engaged outboards should be lowered all the way down. Triple-engine boats can achieve a similar effect by trimming the center motor out of the water.

After addressing your prop wash, the next step is to strategically position baits, lures, and teasers within the spread. Squid chains are incredibly versatile tools utilized across marlin fisheries worldwide, comprising a sequence of soft-plastic squids rigged in-line; light enough to run smoothly from the outrigger. While pink squid chains stand as the traditional choice, blue/white flying fish chains also prove highly effective.

Dredge teasers are designed to run below the surface, and there’s a wide array of options available. From basic holographic Stripteasers that can be secured to a cleat to more compact and collapsible artificial dredge setups tailored for center consoles, the market offers various choices. However, don’t hesitate to utilize natural dredges as well, as long as you have the necessary hardware and crew to support them. Gunnel-mounted dredge booms and downriggers easily endure the strain that would be too intense for T-top mounted outrigger bases.

When trolling for mahi, anglers commonly use J-hooks. However, for the best chance of catching a blue marlin, it’s recommended to troll a spread of horse- to medium-size ballyhoo rigged with non-offset circle hooks. Two key factors contribute to successful trolling with circle-hooks: ensuring the hook remains exposed and allowing the fish enough time to consume the bait before gradually engaging the lever drag. With circle hooks, you must be prepared to put the reel in freespool as soon as you spot a fish in the spread or if the line pops out of the outrigger clip. Any tension felt by the fish could cause it to drop the bait and swim away. Minimizing resistance during the drop-back is crucial, and this can be enhanced with an outrigger release pin set to pop under the slightest tension. The objective is to remain vigilant, closely monitoring the spread, and ideally, beating the fish to the rod. Being proactive is essential in this fishery.

If your main objective is to catch a blue marlin off the east coast, and you’re not concerned about potential bycatch, you may opt for pulling a full spread of artificial lures. Although lure fishing hookup ratios might not match up to using circle hooks with natural bait, managing lure spreads can be easier with a smaller crew, as the fish essentially hooks itself with heavy drags set to strike. Snag-and-drag, some call it.

Utilize lures such as the Black Bart Mini 1656 Angle or Pakula Sprocket on the outriggers. For short lures fished flat off the transom, opt for aggressive chugging-style lures like the Black Bart Abaco Prowler, outfitted with a single J-hook stiff rig. If you see blackfin tuna, fish purple/black lures and when you come across peanut dolphin switch to lures with lumo skirts.

You can also include lures as part of a mixed spread by deploying them in the short-rigger positions, ensuring the leader is out of the water to maintain the lure’s action at somewhat slower speeds to keep natural baits from washing out too fast.

Ensuring an enticing spread is crucial, but even more critical to the outcome is the response once a fish is hooked and the line is rapidly peeling off the reel. At this point of controlled chaos, it’s imperative that everyone onboard understands their role. The initial step involves swiftly clearing the remaining lines and teasers, with the helmsman maintaining forward momentum to assist in setting the hook and stretching out the monofilament. Once the fish has settled in, execute a wide turn toward the fish while the stand-up angler moves toward the mid-ship position. Line should either be coming off the reel or going on at all times; there’s no time to rest.

While the prospect of hooking a blue marlin in the waters off South Florida may seem improbable to some, it’s precisely this element of chance that fuels the excitement of anglers. It’s a pursuit marked by patience, perseverance, and the unwavering belief that every trip offshore holds the potential to hook into the man in the blue suit.

Reminder on HMS Permits

Few if any Florida anglers these days head offshore intending to kill a blue marlin, but if a fish of legal size (99 inches lower jaw/fork length) is inadvertently killed, having a federal HMS Angling permit ensures you can lawfully keep that fish. And yes, they are good to eat! A landed (retained) blue marlin must be reported to NOAA Fisheries within 24 hours; same for swordfish. Contact (800) 894-5528. The permit is an annual vessel permit and it’s cheap: $27.

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• This article was featured in the May 2024 issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Click to subscribe.

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