Species guide

Blue Marlin Fishing

Blue marlin is the largest Atlantic marlin species. To keep one it must be at least 99 inches lower jaw to fork length, and in federal waters a federal HMS permit is required.

Find blue marlin charters Explore destinations

Blue Marlin

Every charter here names blue marlin on its own website, checked on the captain's own site

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Seasons and limits are set state by state. The ones on this page are Florida's, copied from FWC and NOAA Fisheries in Sep 2026 and listed with their source at the foot of the page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the rule for the water you will fish with your captain or with that state's wildlife agency.

Where to fish for blue marlin

86 charters name blue marlin on their own website, across 42 towns in 1 state.

State records for blue marlin

The heaviest blue marlin each state has certified, biggest first.

StateWeightWhereYearAngler
North Carolina 1,228.5 lb Off Oregon Inlet 2008 Trey Irvinesource
New York 1,174.00 — 7/20 Bill Sweedler, Westport, CTsource
Alabama 1,145.56 lb — 2023 Scott Lee Anderson Jr.source
Maryland 1,135 lb 70 miles offshore near Washington Canyon 2021 Billy Gerlachsource
Mississippi 1,054.6 lb — 2002 Barry D. Carrsource
Florida 1,046 lb Panama City 2001 Conrad E. Hawkinssource
New Jersey 1,046 lb Hudson Canyon 1986 Phil Infantolinosource
Louisiana 1,018.5 lb — 1977 Linda Koernersource
Texas 972.7 lb Gulf of Mexico 2014 Richard Richardson Jr.source
South Carolina 881.81 lb Charleston 2005 W. C. Taylorsource
Massachusetts 873 lb — 2015 Dr. Ralph DeLaTorresource
Delaware 820 lb — 1986 Bruce Kingsource

Each from that state's own records page, linked on every row. A location links to its town only where the agency named that town — a record logged to "Gulf of Mexico" or an offshore block belongs to no city. Weights are printed as the agency prints them. Records are certified by the state and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeUp to 16 feet and 1,400 pounds
Where it livesOffshore
What it eatsFish and squid

FWC calls the blue marlin the largest Atlantic marlin species.

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • FWC says the federal HMS Angling permit is not required to fish for billfish in Florida state waters. NOAA says vessels need a valid HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit to fish for Atlantic billfish.
  • On a boat that holds an HMS permit, federal rules apply even in state waters, unless the state rule is stricter.
  • U.S. total landings of blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish combined are limited to 250 a year.
  • Land one and it must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours, at 800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.

Harvest rules

When can you keep one in Florida?

Blue marlin, Florida state waters

Florida state waters, Gulf and Atlantic.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
99 inches, lower jaw to forkSize limit
1 billfish per personDaily limit. FWC: no federal HMS permit is needed in state waters. On a boat that holds an HMS permit, federal rules apply unless the state rule is stricter.

Blue marlin, federal waters

Federal waters, under NOAA Fisheries' Atlantic billfish rules.

  • Anglers on a permitted vesselOpen, per NOAA's fishery status page when checked.NOAA Fisheries.
99 inches, lower jaw to forkSize limit
No set bag limitDaily limit. U.S. landings of blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish combined are limited to 250 a year. Billfish cannot be kept if a hammerhead or oceanic whitetip shark is already aboard or has been offloaded from the vessel.

Questions about blue marlin

How big does a blue marlin have to be to keep?

99 inches, measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.

Do we need a permit?

FWC says the HMS Angling permit is not required in Florida state waters. NOAA requires a valid HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit to fish for Atlantic billfish, and a boat that holds an HMS permit must follow federal rules in state waters unless the state rule is stricter.

Does a landed marlin have to be reported?

Yes, to NOAA within 24 hours of returning from the trip.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from NOAA Fisheries, recreational Atlantic billfish and NOAA Fisheries, HMS reporting and FWC, blue marlin profile and FWC, billfish, tuna and swordfish regulations in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.