How to catch Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Also known as stripey.
The striped marlin is the acrobat of the billfish family, famous for greyhounding runs and for feeding in packs on bait balls across the Pacific.
🏆 World record: 494 lb IGFA all-tackle, Tutukaka, New Zealand (1986). IGFA all-tackle world record striped marlin, 494 pounds caught off Tutukaka, New Zealand in 1986. Records can change, so check igfa.org for the latest mark. All records →
Where to find them
Warm-temperate offshore waters, temperature breaks, and bait concentrations
Season
Peaks vary by region: late fall off Baja, summer in the South Pacific
Best baits & lures for Striped Marlin
Watch for tailing and feeding fish on the surface, then pitch a live bait ahead of them. Bait-and-switch behind teasers converts followers into bites.
Timing matters as much as tackle. Baitful reads the tide stage, pressure trend, solunar windows and weather at your spot and scores the bite, so you fish Striped Marlin when conditions line up.
Eating Striped Marlin
A highly regarded billfish gamefish that is almost always released. Handle carefully and revive before release to support the fishery.
Tip: Support the fish boatside, limit air exposure, and revive it fully before releasing.
Where to catch Striped Marlin
Book a Striped Marlin charter
Guides and charter boats that target Striped Marlin, by destination:
Catching Striped Marlin: FAQ
What's the best bait for Striped Marlin?
Proven options include live mackerel or caballito, rigged ballyhoo, swimming lures, teaser and pitch-bait spreads. Watch for tailing and feeding fish on the surface, then pitch a live bait ahead of them. Bait-and-switch behind teasers converts followers into bites.
When is the best time to catch Striped Marlin?
Peaks vary by region: late fall off Baja, summer in the South Pacific. Day to day, moving water and low-light periods around dawn and dusk usually fish best.
Where do you find Striped Marlin?
Look for Warm-temperate offshore waters, temperature breaks, and bait concentrations. Anglers target them at spots like San Cristóbal.
Anglers also target
Time your next Striped Marlin trip
Free live conditions, Bite Score, and what's biting now.
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