White Marlin
Kajikia albida
The most abundant billfish off Virginia's canyons in summer — a lighter-tackle release fishery with federal reporting.
Typically present
Illustration: Duane Raver / USFWS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Public domainLong edge is 760px, below this project's 1600px preference. Accepted because it is the best rights-clear, correctly-identified photo found for this species — see SPECIES_PHOTO_AUDIT.md for the source search record.
- Habitat
- Offshore waters
- Methods
- Offshore
- Difficulty
- advanced
- Eating
- Usually released
Identification
Look for
- Rounded tips on the first dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins — the quickest tell versus the pointed fins of a blue marlin
- Lighter, greener back with a white belly and often spots on the dorsal fin; a much smaller fish than a blue
Local waters
Deep blue water canyons and current edges offshore
Primarily a boat fishery here — typically fished by offshore boat.
When to fish
Summer, in the offshore canyons — generally more abundant than blue marlin in this region.
Water temperature
The water, not the calendar, sets the season here — a warm October or a cold snap moves these bands.
Water temperature and the seasonsHow to catch it
Primarily a boat fishery here — typically fished by offshore boat. Technique notes for this species have not been written yet; the baits and rigs below are the documented starting points.
Bait & lures
- Trolled small-to-medium skirted lures and rigged ballyhoo, often on lighter tackle than blue marlin
Handling and release
Not a food-use species in this guide (catch-and-release or restricted) — release.
- Federally confirmed as of 2026-08-08: minimum retention size is 66" lower-jaw fork length, and white marlin shares the same combined 250-fish national annual landings cap as blue marlin and roundscale spearfish — in practice, the overwhelming majority caught recreationally are released, which is why this entry defaults to catch-and-release rather than 'commonly eaten.' Retaining one legally requires a federal HMS Angling or Charterboat/Headboat permit.
Where to try
