Fish Tripper
Pelagic Game FishMakaira nigricans

Blue Marlin Fishing

Found in deep blue water year-round. More common in NSW and southern QLD. Trolled with skirted lures in 100m+ water.

Best Months

Feb

Best Time

Active through the day; tend to feed deeper in the heat of midday

Tide

Not tide-dependent; fish temperature and colour breaks in blue water

Top Locations

30 regions

How to Catch Blue Marlin

Active through the day; tend to feed deeper in the heat of middayNot tide-dependent; fish temperature and colour breaks in blue waterDeep blue water
Tides

Not tide-dependent; fish temperature and colour breaks in blue water

Time of Day

Active through the day; tend to feed deeper in the heat of midday

Conditions

Deep blue water, warm current, 24–28°C; look for debris, birds, and bait schools

Structure

Offshore canyons, seamounts, FADs, and deep-water drop-offs along the continental shelf

Technique

Troll at 6–9 knots with a varied spread; live mackerel on a bridle rig is deadly when fish are fussy

Pro Tip

Blue marlin respond to a teaser/switchbait setup — pull a hookless teaser, then switch to a live bait when the fish is fired up

Best Regions by Month

Seasonal ratings across all Australian regions. Click a region to see the full calendar.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak Good Fair Poor/None
Fishing Techniques
Live Baiting

Presenting live baitfish (yakkas, mullet, mackerel) to attract larger predators.

Trolling

Dragging lures or baits at speed behind a moving boat. Primary technique for pelagics.

When to Target
Jan
17 regions
Feb
22 regions
Mar
17 regions
Oct
8 regions
Nov
21 regions
Dec
17 regions

Bag & Size Limits

Regulations vary by state and change seasonally. Check the official fisheries website for current rules.

Australian Lure Fishing Podcast

Greg Vinall — Doc Lures

Browse all episodes on Spotify

Gear Guide

See the recommended tackle, lures, and equipment for this species.