It’s pretty much common knowledge now that many of the worlds greatest fish are in low supply thought the world. It’s not really surprising though, fish like swordfish and marlin taste great, and people love to eat. Eventually things need to change though, or species like marlin will be fishing to extinction. Enter, Take Marlin Off The Menu, a group of concerned citizens who want to make sure that doesn’t happen. How? By taking marlin off the menu of course! It’s an idea so simple, it may just work.
Why stop eating billfish?
1. Marlin populations throughout the world are being wiped out by commercial overfishing. Most marlin mortality is a result of incidental bycatch, in which marlin are caught by commercial fishermen targeting tuna, swordfish, and other types of fish. With millions of hooks and many miles of nets in the water, marlin and other billfish don’t stand a chance.
2. Marlin and other billfish populations are not sustainable based on current demand. Their decline is being fueled by the demand for marlin meat among consumers, which corresponds with the overall growing demand for seafood both in the United States as well as throughout the world. Unlike catfish and tilapia and other “farm-raised” seafood, marlin can’t be farm-raised, and therefore can’t keep up with the demand. Besides, farming top ocean predators actually results in a net loss of available seafood because the diets required to rear carnivorous fish are comprised mostly of wild-caught fish. It would be analogous to raising lions or tigers in pens for human consumption.
3. Marlin may be harmful to eat. Marlin and billfish often contain unhealthy levels of mercury and other toxins that may be harmful to humans who regularly eat marlin, billfish and other large fish predators.
Works for me, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten marlin before!
The only possession I have left that belonged to my father is his fishing album. He spent a lot of time on the water and was a fishing charter captain in the Caribbean for many years. In the 1970’s, long before I was born he was helping people catch marlin, tuna, sailfish and more. My father knew a lot of fishermen, but perhaps non as renowned as Capt. Cornelius Choy. Captain Choy was one of Hawaii greatest sport fishermen and holds the record for largest blue marlin caught on a rod and reel, weighing an incredible 1805 pounds!
As any good fisherman would, Choy took the opportunity to brag to my father about record fish…
This massive fish was never acknowledged as a record by the IGFA since it was reeled in by more then one person. The only marlin ever caught that was larger then Choy’s Monster, was caught by a commercial fisherman. This giant marlin is said to have weighed over 2200 pounds!
It’s sad to think the the likelihood anyone will ever catch a marlin over 2000 pounds on a rod and reel is basically non-existent. Overfishing of these incredible fish by commercial fishermen could easily lead to their extinction in the not so far off future.
There’s nothing quite like seeing large fish feeding, especially from underwater. I’ve seen plenty tarpon and jacks feed while snorkeling, but never been lucky enough to see a marlin in the wild.
Earlier this year, a good size swordfish washed up on a beach in south Wales and now an ever rarer fish has shown up, a blue marlin. This 9ft 6in specimen was found dead on a beach in West Wales and is said to be the first marlin ever ‘caught’ in Wales. Normally the blue marlin is found in the warmer waters of the Mid Atlantic and Caribbean.
“To find one on the beach in Britain is unheard of and I’ve been told this is the first one recorded in British waters.”
Holy Cheese n crackers! This website has to be my new favourite, I check in on a daily basis now just to see the crazy n cool stuff you guys have goin on! A true top notch site! keep up all the hard work(if you could call it that)! When i get my hard drive fixed i'll start to upload some of my pics! Finally some passion for fishing!
Thanks a lot for the article.I've been living King/Strachan for 10 years and never heard about fishing on TO Islands.Can't wait untill May.To Andrew: e-mail me for the good spot to catch carp in Toronto,please.Thanks again to Jonathon and Clive.
That's the trouble right there, the finish on these Lures!...I started buying Rapala jointed and when i had a couple i just had to buy them in all the different finishes (Hot Perch, Perch, Walleye etc etc), i had so many in the end it was like i was collecting them to put in a glass case or something, i didn't dare use them, a Pike won't care if your Lure cost 5 quid or 30 quid, it's still gonna scratch all that fancy artwork/paintwork either way!...I sold all mine as a set on ebay in the end as i [...]
I have a friend whose cottage is on Lake Chemong, never fished in it although I've heard all the stories. I was walking in it this weekend past, paddled it too, with Alexander directing.....check out the Curve Lake Powwow sometime!!!!
I worked so hard this weekend, the shirt fell right offen me, so I need that shirt more than ANYONE else!
Love your site!
Fishing Fury - A fishing blog about two guys with a serious passion for fishing, the great outdoors, crazy adventures, and heart-pounding entertainment.(3 months ago)
I'm not much for a pithy comment, but I thought I'd leave a note about how honored I be to wear Kromer on my upcoming annual pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota.
I'm sure that my hunting buddies will joke about how silly I look while they wear their stylized broad brim hunting caps, but I'll be laughing on the inside as my head stays nice and warm. I'll be laughing al the more when the stiff South Dakota wind picks up and Kromer is staying put.
Finally, with the fall bite on, I know my new Kromer will call the [...]
Hi all,
I am Dick van Hattem. The men who caught this wonderfull pike in the Netherlands.
The pike was actualy 120 cm long, weight exactly 16.5 kilo's and was caught on a death perch on 10 meter deep water on 27 december 2000.
But now.... the photo was shopped for fun. I had a reading for a fishingclub and this was the last picture of the reading I had for 100 quest. Name of the picture.... I have a dream..... Everybode was laughing. Really funny, never claimed the world record. Because it is not by far.
http://www.metersnoeken.nl/inde x.php?option=com_content&task=s ection&id=13&Itemid=48 here you can find [...]
It’s pretty much common knowledge now that many of the worlds greatest fish are in low supply thought the world. It’s not really surprising though, fish like swordfish and marlin taste great, and people love to eat. Eventually things need to change though, or species like marlin will be fishing to extinction. Enter, Take Marlin Off The Menu, a group of concerned citizens who want to make sure that doesn’t happen. How? By taking marlin off the menu of course! It’s an idea so simple, it may just work.
