Coral sea region billfish atlas

Seasonal Catch-Rates

BLUE MARLIN

Blue marlin do not show the intense seasonal concentrations in the Coral Sea region that they do in Micronesia and French Polynesian or that the blacks and stripes do in this region. Relatively high catch-rates do occur, however, throughout the northern half of the region during most of the year. In this area, higher-than-average catch-rates are recorded from the Solomon Strait area from February to April and off the northeast coast of the Solomons in May - June. From November to January, highest catch-rates of blue marlin are found south of 10°S, as a result of seasonal migration into more southern waters during summer. Seasonal concentrations occur around northern Vanuatu in November - December and in the northwest Coral Sea in January - February.

Blue marlin catch-rate charts

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Last updated - 22 August 98

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