The Bahamas White Marlin

Description
While they fall on the smaller end of the scale in comparison to other bill fish, this species of marlin can grow up to 180 pounds in weight, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This marlin's bill and color will help you distinguish it from its relatives while you're Nassau deep sea fishing. This marlin's upper jaw, which is twice as long as the lower, forms a long and slender bill, according to the MDNR. This marlin is distinguished by a deep blue that paints its upper body, and a wash of blue and brown specs that covers its lower body -- all of its fins are blue and its body is completely covered in scale. The absence of vertical blue lines down it lower body distinguishes this marlin from the blue marlin.

Habitat
Roaming as far north as in the Atlantic Ocean as the 45th parallel and as far south as the 35th parallel, the white marlin population spans massive territory in sparse groups instead of schooling in large numbers across smaller ranges. These fish enjoy temperate waters, roughly 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and they inhabit the deep waters of the oceans. These fish spend the majority of their lives swimming in the thermocline, the temperate layer of water between the cold deep sea and the warm upper level, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. The warm waters of the Bahamas serve as a capital for this species of marlin and is where many of them choose to spawn once a year, according to the MDNR.

Feeding Pattern
White marlin feed in the daytime, making meals of other fish and cephalopods. The rely heavily on their vision when the hunt for food and they focus their efforts near transitional areas of the ocean, such as areas where the temperature or salinity of the ocean shifts, according to the FMNH. Along with their vision, this variety of marlin uses it's speed and agility to capture its food and may even use its bill to immobilize its prey, according to the FMNH. This species of fish generally swims the ocean alone or in pairs, only gathering in smalls schools of roughly a dozen on rare occasions, according to the MDNR. The only time you're likely to find them in groups larger than two, is when they're feeding on sizable schools of other fish.

Catching them in the Bahamas
The is no shortage of approaches to capturing white marlin while in Nassau deep sea fishing. This large, yet speedy fish can be cornered by light trolling of nets through the ocean's upper level, according to the MDNR. This marlin can be lured by small and medium-sized bait fish, such as mackerel and squid, according to the FMNH. YOu can also attract this species of marlin, using artificial lures. Because of their feeding habits, the best time to catch them is during the day and near transitional areas of the ocean.