atlantic blue atlantic blue species endemic atlantic_ocean atlantic blue blue feeds wide variety organisms near surface uses bill kill school fish prey returns eat injured stunned fish popular game fish relatively high fat content meat makes commercially valuable certain markets national fish featured coat arms blue distributed tropical subtropical waters atlantic indian fish spends majority life open sea far land blue wide variety marine organisms near surface bill prey females grow times weight males maximum published weight length adult blue predators apart man sought highly prized game fish taken commercial fishermen directed catch major industrial fisheries blue currently considered threatened species iucn historic english names blue cuban black ocean ocean guard taxonomy naming blue placed genus derived greek word meaning short sword bent dagger latin sword specific epithet latin black blue family perch like order addition member means new wings class includes ray fishes fishes includes bony fishes classification atlantic blue separate species debate genetic data suggest groups isolated species genetic exchange occurring migrate contribute genes atlantic population separate study graves indicated atlantic striking mitochondrial synonyms synonyms sic ambiguous ambiguous jordan jordan jordan jordan jordan description biggest females times heavy biggest males rarely exceed weight longest females reach length bill eye tip total body length body mass largest female specimens reported depending source large specimens scientifically verified largest blue caught rules brazil weighed fishermen refer individual reach exceed pounds sexes caudal dorsal fins anal fins fins supported bony spines known rays dorsal fin rays second dorsal fin seven rays anal fin similar shape size second dorsal fin rays second anal fin seven rays pectoral fins rays long narrow drawn sides body pelvic fins shorter poorly developed membrane ventral grooves anal fin pectoral caudal fins folded grooves fish reduces drag blue like rapidly change color effect created pigment containing light reflecting skin cells body blue black white underside rows pale colored stripes round dots thin bars located sides fish dorsal fin membrane dark blue black dots marks fins normally brownish black hint dark blue bases second anal fins hint white body covered thick bony elongated scales posterior points common form bill long stout jaws roof mouth covered small file like teeth lateral line system group rooted lateral line canals sense weak water motions large changes pressure appearance net obvious immature specimens unclear adults progressively embedded skin origin anal fin range migration blue found year round tropical oceanic waters atlantic range expands temperate waters northern warmer months contracts equator colder months warm currents western atlantic western indian_ocean major influence seasonal distribution atlantic blue range extends abundant eastern atlantic occurs africa latitudes largest numbers usually found waters warmer blue found surface water temperatures high low studies conventional recently pop satellite given researchers glimpse blue migration patterns habits tagged fish shown multiple movements venezuela bahamas west_africa travel notably blue tagged coast delaware recovered near island mauritius southeast coast africa indian_ocean voyage miles blue tagged pacific recovered indian_ocean fish recaptured general area tagged implying reverse migration years data insufficient accurately determine predators parasites blue reach maturity predators important probably large sharks great white shark blue parasites include parasites groups tissue headed worms sharks commonly found attached blue inside growth maturity atlantic blue reach sexual maturity age years males reach sexual maturity weight females blue breed late summer fall females spawn times season release seven million eggs diameter reach sexual maturity young drift freely ocean zone larvae inhabit west central atlantic georgia north_carolina florida jamaica bahamas dominican_republic puerto_rico southwest atlantic brazil larvae grow day sides dorsal surfaces blue black color white caudal fin caudal narrow fish body caudal tail fin attached clear blue patches occur head individuals darker spots backs dorsal fin large concave gradually reducing proportion body size continued growth males live years females diet feeding larvae feed variety drifting fish eggs larvae progress feeding wide range fishes particularly squid especially near oceanic islands coral reefs juvenile fish studies stomach contents atlantic pacific found smaller schooling frigate bullet substantial proportion diet squid deep sea fishes snake important prey items certain areas blue recorded prey large white range conversely capable feeding small numerous prey scientists fishermen long debated extent blue use elongated upper jaw feeding japanese study stomach contents fish captured commercial fishery found prey items obtained blue injuries judged inflicted bill economic importance commercial fishery commercial value world landings totalling metric tons particularly valued japan hawaii fish known blue meat smoked sold vendors blue caught fisheries recreational fishery sport fishermen encountered blue bahamas 1920s early 1930s pioneering big game fishermen began exploring waters offshore cat pacific blue known silver related black caught author 1930s blue renowned world greatest game fishes pursuit developed dollar industry includes hundreds companies thousands jobs boat operators boat builders fishing tackle manufacturers dealers established sport fisheries blue found eastern gulf_coast united_states bermuda bahamas caribbean islands notably puerto_rico recreational fishing blue takes place brazil venezuela atlantic coast mexico particularly peninsula eastern atlantic blue sport fisheries exist coast portugal north south include islands azores cape_verde international game fish association tackle world record blue currently stands fish captured brazil conservation blue intense pressure fishing caribbean region japanese cuban fishermen annually thousand tons vessels coastline required release caught survival rate released fish low damage capture listed threatened species added blue red list sport fishermen forefront efforts conserve blue populations initial efforts develop electronic tracking highly migratory fish carried hawaii collaboration hawaiian international tournament popular culture blue florida keys bahamas famously cuba wrote extensively pursuit old man sea fisherman named battles blue days coast cuba
Atlantic blue marlin